Abstract
In vitro laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the toxicity (per cent survival and LC 50 ) of essential and non-essential heavy metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc) in four spirotrich ciliates: Euplotes sp., Notohymena sp., Pseudourostyla sp. and Tetmemena sp. isolated from three different freshwater ecosystems in the Delhi region, India. The toxicity of the heavy metals was found to vary among the different ciliates. Copper was most toxic (24 h-LC 50 value ranged between 0.125 and 0.74 mg/l) and zinc was least toxic (24 h LC50 value ranged between 46.98 and 144.32 mg/l) to each of the ciliates. Of the four ciliates, Notohymena sp. had the highest tolerance limit to three heavy metals (Cu, Cd and Pb) out of the five tested. This study shows the high potentiality of using freshwater ciliates for monitoring the intensity and potency of ecological damage caused by heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems.
Highlights
Assessment of heavy metal toxicity in four species of freshwater ciliates (Spirotrichea: Ciliophora) from Delhi, India
This study shows the high potentiality of using freshwater ciliates for monitoring the intensity and potency of ecological damage caused by heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems
We assess the toxicity of essential (Cu and Zn) and non-essential (Cd, Ni and Pb) heavy metals on ciliated protists isolated from three different freshwater ecosystems in the Delhi region, India
Summary
Assessment of heavy metal toxicity in four species of freshwater ciliates (Spirotrichea: Ciliophora) from Delhi, India. In vitro laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the toxicity (per cent survival and LC50) of essential and non-essential heavy metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc) in four spirotrich ciliates: Euplotes sp., Notohymena sp., Pseudourostyla sp. This study shows the high potentiality of using freshwater ciliates for monitoring the intensity and potency of ecological damage caused by heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems. We assess the toxicity of essential (Cu and Zn) and non-essential (Cd, Ni and Pb) heavy metals on ciliated protists isolated from three different freshwater ecosystems (river, lake and pond) in the Delhi region, India. Toxicity assays were carried out in vitro in order to determine the sensitivity and survival of Euplotes sp., Notohymena sp., Pseudourostyla sp. and Tetmemena sp. to different doses of heavy metals
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