Sexual Alteration in Littoraria Angulifera (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) Fed with an Organotin-Contaminated Artificial Diet

Abstract

Purpose: This study verified the presence of sexual morphological changes in Littoraria angulifera fed with an artificial diet with tributyltin (TBT). Theoretical framework: Littoraria angulifera (Lamarck, 1822) is a conspicuous estuarine gastropod from tropical regions. It shows generalist feeding habits and fulfills several selection criteria for estuaries monitoring. Method/design/approach: For 30 days female L. angulifera (n=360) were placed in culture plates and fed with paper fragments soaked with a control (sea water and Dimetil sulfoxid (DMSO)) and TBTCl (0.1 and 0.5 μg g−1) solutions. After this period, the specimens that survived were anesthetized (10% MgCl2) and euthanized for pallial oviduct length (POL) and distance between the anus opening to vulva (DAV) analysis. Results and conclusion: The paper consumption decreased after the first week of treatment in all groups, and the specimens fed with diet contaminated with TBT stopped eating during the second week. The specimens exposed to TBT exhibited elongated POL, while DAV was reduced, changes that might compromise reproductive function. Penial development was not detected in females fed with the diet contaminated with TBT. Research implications: L. angulifera can be an estuarine species for assessing organotin contaminants, which also elevates its importance in biomonitoring programs. Originality/Value: This study highlights the use of contamined artificial diet with paper is significant in proposing a material with low costs, widespread access, and ease of handling and measurement as a low cost alternative for invasive ecotoxicological experiments with L. angulifera.