Behavior and morphology combine to influence energy dissipation in mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda).

Animals deliver and withstand physical impacts in diverse behavioral contexts, from competing rams clashing their antlers together to archerfish impacting prey with jets of water. Though the ability of animals to withstand impact has generally been studied by focusing on morphology, behaviors may also influence impact resistance. Mantis shrimp exchange high-force strikes on each other's coiled, armored telsons (tailplates) during contests over territory. Prior work has shown that telson morphology has high impact resistance. I hypothesized that the behavior of coiling the telson also contributes to impact energy dissipation. By measuring impact dynamics from high-speed videos of strikes exchanged during contests between freely moving animals, I found that approximately 20% more impact energy was dissipated by the telson as compared with findings from a prior study that focused solely on morphology. This increase is likely due to behavior: because the telson is lifted off the substrate, the entire body flexes after contact, dissipating more energy than exoskeletal morphology does on its own. While variation in the degree of telson coil did not affect energy dissipation, proportionally more energy was dissipated from higher velocity strikes and from strikes from more massive appendages. Overall, these findings show that analysis of both behavior and morphology is crucial to understanding impact resistance, and suggest future research on the evolution of structure and function under the selective pressure of biological impacts.

A brief and updated introduction to the neuroendocrine system of crustaceans.

The neuroendocrine system of crustaceans is complex and regulates many processes, such as development, growth, reproduction, osmoregulation, behavior, and metabolism. Once stimulated, crustaceans' neuroendocrine tissues modulate the release of monoamines, ecdysteroids, and neuropeptides that can act as hormones or neurotransmitters. Over a few decades, research has unraveled some mechanisms governing these processes, substantially contributing to understanding crustacean physiology. More aspects of crustacean neuroendocrinology are being comprehended with molecular biology, transcriptome, and genomics analyses. Hence, these studies will also significantly enhance the ability to cultivate decapods, such as crabs and shrimps, used as human food sources. In this review, current knowledge on crustacean endocrinology is updated with new findings about crustacean hormones, focusing mainly on the main neuroendocrine organs and their hormones and the effects of these molecules regulating metabolism, growth, reproduction, and color adaptation. New evidence about vertebrate-type hormones found in crustaceans is included and discussed. Finally, this review may assist in understanding how the emerging chemicals of environmental concern can potentially impair and disrupt crustacean's endocrine functions and their physiology.

Exploring the underwater life in transitional environments: Benthic foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts - Biotic trends and EcoQS assessment in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian sea, southern Italy).

Coastal areas have historically thrived as centers of human activities due to their resources, economic opportunities, and natural allure. The rapid growth of coastal populations has however brought forth a multitude of challenges to tackle, with pollution emerging as a significant and far-reaching issue. Our study focuses on the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy), a lagoon-like coastal basin (separated in two sub-basins) that, since decades, has been heavily affected by human activities and aquaculture, leading to environmental deterioration. Although past studies have looked at environmental conditions in the Mar Piccolo from a chemical perspective, the biological component (e.g., biological indicators) has been mostly neglected. In this study, we firstly aim to examine the distribution and diversity of foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts in December 2016 and compare our findings with data collected in December 2011. Foraminiferal and ostracod communities exhibit similar patterns in the two sampling campaigns, while the communities of encysted dinoflagellates show differences concerning both densities and diversity. Then, we evaluate the Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) using ecological indices. While the indices in the inner basin appear to reflect an actual ecological degradation, they yield conflicting results in the outer basin. In the outer basin, indeed, the indices overestimate the EcoQS. This study highlights the potential of these indices for characterizing the EcoQS but emphasizes the need for improvements in their reliability. This research also contributes to a more holistic understanding of environmental condition in the Mar Piccolo and underscores the importance of integrating biological quality elements into ecosystem management and remediation strategies.

Complexity of trophic relationships between Gammarus aequicauda (Amphipoda) and Eucypris mareotica (Ostracoda) in a hypersaline lake.

In the hypersaline lakes of Crimea, only 5-7 species of animals are common including Gammarus aequicauda (Amphipoda) and Eucypris mareotica (Ostracoda). Two experiments were carried out to characterize the trophic interactions between these species. In one, G. aequicauda were used freshly caught from the lake, and in the other, after they were starved for 2.5 days in the laboratory. The experimental options were one male or female G. aequicauda and either 10, 20, or 30 ostracods. The gammarids actively fed on the ostracods, and significant differences were between females and males. The feeding intensity of males was higher than that of females. However, ostracods are not passive prey, they can actively attack their predator and are capable of causing them harm. Ostracods attacked a Gammarus only if it had captured one of the ostracods. Sex differences in G. aequicauda were also evident in the reaction to the group's aggressive behavior of ostracods. Interactions between Ostracoda and Gammarids cannot be considered unidirectional; they both may be prey or predators depending on the situation.

Biological and functional responses of the benthic surf zone community to different beach types.

In this study, we analyzed the biological descriptors and functional traits of the benthic community inhabiting the water/bottom layer in the surf zones of three sandy beaches: a tide-dominated flat, and two intermediate beaches, from tide-modified to wave-dominated. Samples were collected seasonally in the inner surf zone by hand-towing a benthic sledge equipped with two nets, one above the other, across transects parallel to the shore, capturing the benthic community in two levels, close to the seafloor. A total of 116 species were collected, with a total of 327,678 specimens. Arthropods were 99.63% of all individuals caught across the three beaches, mainly represented by peracarid crustaceans. An important species turnover was detected along the shore, with a significant change in community composition. The biological descriptors and some functional traits vary among beaches: the total density, the density of individuals of small (5-10 mm length) and very small sizes (<5 mm length), the density of larval forms, and the presence of colonial species were higher in the tide-dominated flat (sometimes also in the tide-modified beach). More arthropods and more mobile individuals were found in those beaches, while mollusks and sedentary individuals were found in high number in the wave-dominated beach. Stratification was present across the three studied beaches, with higher densities in the near-bottom layer. In the tide-dominated beach, there was also a higher richness in this layer, with a nested community between levels. In the wave-dominated beach, similar richness was registered between levels, with a different community composition (and some differences in functional traits), indicating that some species can maintain their position close to the bottom despite the turbulent conditions experienced on this beach. Differences in wave conditions among beach types could be an important factor driving the biological descriptors and functional traits of the benthic community in surf zone ecosystems. Therefore, acknowledging their role is crucial in deciphering global patterns in surf zone biodiversity.

Full-length transcriptome reveals the circularly polarized light response-related molecular genetic characteristics of Oratosquilla oratoria.

The mantis shrimp is the only animal that can recognize circularly polarized light (CPL), but its molecular genetic characteristics are unclear. Multi-tissue level full-length (FL) transcriptome sequencing of Oratosquilla oratoria, a representative widely distributed mantis shrimp, was performed in the present study. We used comparative transcriptomics to explore the critical genes of O. oratoria selected by CPL and the GNß gene associated with CPL signal transduction was hypothesized to be positively selected. Furthermore, the FL transcriptomes of O. oratoria compound eyes under five light conditions were sequenced and used to detect alternative splicing (AS). The ASs associated with CPL recognition mainly occurred in the LWS, ARR and TRPC regions. The number of FL transcripts with AS events and annotation information also provided evidence that O. oratoria could recognize LCPL. Additionally, 51 sequences belonging to the LWS, UV and Peropsin gene families were identified based on conserved 7tm domains. The LWS, UV and Peropsin opsins have similar 3D structures with seven domains across the cell membrane and conserved KSLRTPSN, DRY, and QAKK motifs. In conclusion, these results are undoubtedly valuable for perfecting the vision theory of O. oratoria and other mantis shrimp.

Physiological and behavioral evidence for multiple spectral channels in the larval stomatopod visual system.

Larval stomatopods have generally been described as having a typical larval crustacean compound eye, which lacks the visual pigment diversity and morphological specializations of the well-studied stomatopod adult eye. However, recent work has suggested that larval stomatopod eyes are more complex than previously described. In this study, we provide physiological and behavioral evidence of at least three distinct photoreceptor classes in three species of larval stomatopods: Gonodactylellus n. sp., Gonodactylaceus falcatus and Pullosquilla n. sp. First, electroretinogram recordings were used to measure the spectral sensitivity of each species. Evidence for at least three spectral classes were identified in each: an ultraviolet, peaking at 340-376 nm; a short-wavelength blue, peaking at 455-464 nm; and a long-wavelength orange, peaking at 576-602 nm. Next, the behavioral response to light was investigated. We found that each species demonstrated positive phototactic responses to monochromatic stimuli across the UV-visible spectrum. In wavelength preference trials, distinct preferences among species were identified when different colored light stimuli were presented simultaneously. All species displayed a strong response to the UV stimulus, as well as responses to blue and orange stimuli, although at different response strengths, but no response to green. The results of this study demonstrate that larval stomatopods not only have multiple physiologically active spectral classes but they also display clear and distinct responses to wavelengths across the spectrum. We propose that the spectral classes demonstrated in each are related to visually guided ecological tasks of the larvae, which may differ between species.

Investigation of the ultrastructures and retinal arrangements of larval stomatopod eyes.

Though the transparent apposition eyes of larval stomatopod crustaceans lack most of the unique retinal specializations known from their adult counterparts, increasing evidence suggests that these tiny pelagic organisms possess their own version of retinal complexity. In this paper, we examined the structural organization of larval eyes in six species of stomatopod crustaceans across three stomatopod superfamilies using transmission electron microscopy. The primary focus was to examine retinular cell arrangement of the larval eyes and characterize the presence of an eighth retinular cell (R8), which is typically responsible for UV vision in crustaceans. For all species investigated, we identified R8 photoreceptor cells positioned distal to the main rhabdom of R1-7 cells. This is the first evidence that R8 photoreceptor cells exist in larval stomatopod retinas, and among the first identified in any larval crustacean. Considering recent studies that identified UV sensitivity in larval stomatopods, we propose that this sensitivity is driven by this putative R8 photoreceptor cell. Additionally, we identified a potentially unique crystalline cone structure in each of the species examined, the function of which is still not understood.

A tunable reflector enabling crustaceans to see but not be seen.

Many oceanic prey animals use transparent bodies to avoid detection. However, conspicuous eye pigments, required for vision, compromise the organisms' ability to remain unseen. We report the discovery of a reflector overlying the eye pigments in larval decapod crustaceans and show how it is tuned to render the organisms inconspicuous against the background. The ultracompact reflector is constructed from a photonic glass of crystalline isoxanthopterin nanospheres. The nanospheres' size and ordering are modulated to tune the reflectance from deep blue to yellow, enabling concealment in different habitats. The reflector may also function to enhance the acuity or sensitivity of the minute eyes by acting as an optical screen between photoreceptors. This multifunctional reflector offers inspiration for constructing tunable artificial photonic materials from biocompatible organic molecules.

Divergence in rates of phenotypic plasticity among ectotherms.

An individual's fitness cost associated with environmental change likely depends on the rate of adaptive phenotypic plasticity, and yet our understanding of plasticity rates in an ecological and evolutionary context remains limited. We provide the first quantitative synthesis of existing plasticity rate data, focusing on acclimation of temperature tolerance in ectothermic animals, where we demonstrate applicability of a recently proposed analytical approach. The analyses reveal considerable variation in plasticity rates of this trait among species, with half-times (how long it takes for the initial deviation from the acclimated phenotype to be reduced by 50% when individuals are shifted to a new environment) ranging from 3.7 to 770.2 h. Furthermore, rates differ among higher taxa, being higher for amphibians and reptiles than for crustaceans and fishes, and with insects being intermediate. We argue that a more comprehensive understanding of phenotypic plasticity will be attained through increased focus on the rate parameter.

Crustacean conundrums: a review of opsin diversity and evolution.

Knowledge of crustacean vision is lacking compared to the more well-studied vertebrates and insects. While crustacean visual systems are typically conserved morphologically, the molecular components (i.e. opsins) remain understudied. This review aims to characterize opsin diversity across crustacean lineages for an integrated view of visual system evolution. Using publicly available data from 95 species, we identified opsin sequences and classified them by clade. Our analysis produced 485 putative visual opsins and 141 non-visual opsins. The visual opsins were separated into six clades: long wavelength sensitive (LWS), middle wavelength sensitive (MWS) 1 and 2, short wavelength or ultraviolet sensitive (SWS/UVS) and a clade of thecostracan opsins, with multiple LWS and MWS opsin copies observed. The SWS/UVS opsins were relatively conserved in most species. The crustacean classes Cephalocarida, Remipedia and Hexanauplia exhibited reduced visual opsin diversity compared to others, with the malacostracan decapods having the highest opsin diversity. Non-visual opsins were identified from all investigated classes except Cephalocarida. Additionally, a novel clade of non-visual crustacean-specific, R-type opsins (Rc) was discovered. This review aims to provide a framework for future research on crustacean vision, with an emphasis on the need for more work in spectral characterization and molecular analysis. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods'.

Colour vision in stomatopod crustaceans.

The stomatopod crustaceans, or mantis shrimps, are colourful marine invertebrate predators. Their unusual compound eyes have dorsal and ventral regions resembling typical crustacean apposition designs separated by a unique region called the midband that consists of from two to six parallel rows of ommatidia. In species with six-row midbands, the dorsal four rows are themselves uniquely specialized for colour analysis. Rhabdoms of ommatidia in these rows are longitudinally divided into three distinct regions: an apical ultraviolet (UV) receptor, a shorter-wavelength middle tier receptor and a longer-wavelength proximal tier receptor. Each of the total of 12 photoreceptors has a different spectral sensitivity, potentially contributing to a colour-vision system with 12 channels. Mantis shrimps can discriminate both human-visible and UV colours, but with limited precision compared to other colour-vision systems. Here, we review the structure and function of stomatopod colour vision, examining the types of receptors present in a species, the spectral tuning of photoreceptors both within and across species, the neural analysis of colour and the genetics underlying the multiple visual pigments used for colour vision. Even today, after many decades of research into the colour vision of stomatopods, much of its operation and its use in nature remain a mystery. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods'.

Functional importance of the mandibular skeleto-muscular system in the bivalved arthropod Heterocypris incongruens (Crustacea, Ostracoda, Cyprididae).

Arthropods with a pair of mandibles (Mandibulata) emerged by the end of the Cambrian period. The mandible is one of the apomorphic characteristics of this monophyletic clade, which is composed of Pancrustacea and Myriapoda. Acquisition of the mandible is one of the important events of the evolutionary pathway of arthropods because the powerful masticatory system provides benefits to individuals regarding food selection. Ancestral mandibulates are well known as so-called Cambrian bivalved arthropods, and a few of them provide a pair of valid mandibles with a broad molar process. However, extant bivalved arthropods can only be found in a few lineages of crustaceans, though all of them are equipped with mandibles. This study focuses on the neuroanatomy of the mandibular skeleto-muscular system of Heterocypris incongruens (Ostracoda, Crustacea), a millimeter-sized bivalved crustacean. Electron microscopy reveals that numerous mechanoreceptive sensilla are distributed inside the mandibular gnathal edges and that there are two types (heterodynal and monodynal) of sensilla, which differ in the number of dendrites and their probable function. This sensory nervous system in the gnathal edges contributes to the precise interdigitation of the right and left mandibles to allow for powerful omnivorous mastication, and the mandibular interdigitation plays a role as the fulcrum of triggering action to open the valves. Therefore, by reversing its fulcrum and load, the mandibular skeleto-muscular system in podocopid ostracods has two sub-systems with different functions, namely the "mandibular masticatory system" and the "valve opening system." Furthermore, this investigation provides significant information on the feeding mode of Cambrian bivalved arthropods, from the view of the functional morphology of the mandibular skeleto-muscular system.

Porcellanid crab Pachycheles stevensii parasitized by rhizocephalans Lernaeodiscus spp.: population biology in the northwestern Sea of Japan.

We examined the population and reproductive characteristics of the anomuran crab Pachycheles stevensii Stimpson, 1858 (Decapoda: Porcellanidae) heavily infested by 2 rhizocephalans of the genus Lernaeodiscus in the northern part of the species range (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) in 2020-2021. The prevalence of infestation reached 32.3%, and L. rybakovi proved to be much more numerous than L. kasyanovi. The sex structure of the P. stevensii population was represented by males (38.8%), females (50.6%), and modified specimens (10.6%), which were extremely feminized males. The latter had a broadened abdomen, smaller chelae, shortened gonopod, and 3 additional pairs of female-type pleopods. Thus, the initial sex ratio in the P. stevensii population approximated the expected 1:1, as in most porcellanid crabs. No significant modifications of the secondary sex characters of the female hosts were observed. The size structures of males and females did not significantly differ. P. stevensii produced 1 clutch yr-1. Oviposition and incubation lasted from summer to early fall; recruitment was noted in the fall. There was a correlation between the reproductive cycles of the host and parasites: rhizocephalans with mature externae were found from June-October. A large number of ovigerous female P. stevensii simultaneously carried parasitic externae of L. rybakovi; fecundity was considerably higher in non-infested females.

In situ determination of the extreme damage resistance behavior in stomatopod dactyl club.

The structure and mechanical properties of the stomatopod dactyl club have been studied extensively for its extreme impact tolerance, but a systematic in situ investigation on the multiscale mechanical responses under high-speed impact has not been reported. Here the full dynamic deformation and crack evolution process within projectile-impacted dactyl using combined fast 2D X-ray imaging and high-resolution ex situ tomography are revealed. The results show that hydration states can lead to significantly different toughening mechanisms inside dactyl under dynamic loading. A previously unreported 3D interlocking structural design in the impact surface and impact region is reported using nano X-ray tomography. Experimental results and dynamic finite-element modeling suggest this unique structure plays an important role in resisting catastrophic structural damage and hindering crack propagation. This work is a contribution to understanding the key toughening strategies of biological materials and provides valuable information for biomimetic manufacturing of impact-resistant materials in general.

Colour vision in stomatopod crustaceans: more questions than answers.

Stomatopod crustaceans, or mantis shrimps, are known for their extensive range of spectral sensitivity but relatively poor spectral discrimination. Instead of the colour-opponent mechanism of other colour vision systems, the 12 narrow-band colour channels they possess may underlie a different method of colour processing. We investigated one hypothesis in which the photoreceptors are proposed to act as individual wave-band detectors, interpreting colour as a parallel pattern of photoreceptor activation, rather than a ratiometric comparison of individual signals. This different form of colour detection has been used to explain previous behavioural tests in which low-saturation blue was not discriminated from grey, potentially because of similar activation patterns. Results here, however, indicate that the stomatopod Haptosquilla trispinosa was able to easily distinguish several colours, including blue of both high and low saturation, from greys. The animals did show a decrease in performance over time in an artificially lit environment, indicating plasticity in colour discrimination ability. This rapid plasticity, most likely the result of a change in opsin (visual pigment) expression, has now been noted in several animal lineages (both invertebrate and vertebrate) and is a factor we suggest needs attention and potential re-examination in any colour-based behavioural tests. As for stomatopods, it remains unclear why they achieve poor colour discrimination using the most comprehensive set of spectral sensitivities in the animal kingdom and also what form of colour processing they may utilise.

Comparative Toxicity of Oil Spill Herding Agents to Aquatic Species.

Chemical herding agents are surfactant mixtures used to coalesce spilled oil and increase slick thickness to facilitate mechanical recovery or in situ burning. Only two herders are currently listed on the United States' National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan or National Contingency Plan product schedule for potential use in spill response: the surface collecting agents Siltech OP-40™ and ThickSlick 6535™. Toxicity data for spill response agents are frequently available only for two estuarine species, mysid shrimp (Americamysis bahia) and inland silversides (Menidia beryllina), and are particularly limited for herding agents. Toxicity can vary over several orders of magnitude across product type and species, even within specific categories of spill response agents. Seven aquatic species were tested with both Siltech OP-40™ and ThickSlick 6535™ to evaluate acute herder toxicity and relative species sensitivity. The toxicity assessment included: acute tests with A. bahia and M. beryllina, the freshwater crustacean Ceriodaphina dubia, and the freshwater fish Pimephales promelas; development of the echinoderm Arbacia unctulate; and growth of a freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata and marine alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. Siltech acute toxicity values ranged from 1.1 to 32.8 ppm. ThickSlick acute toxicity values ranged from 2.2 to 126.4 ppm. The results of present study show greater toxicity of Siltech compared to ThickSlick with estimated acute hazard concentrations intended to provide 95% species protection of 1.1 and 3.6 ppm, respectively, on empirical data and 0.64 and 3.3 ppm, respectively, with the addition of interspecies correlation data. The present study provides a greater understanding of species sensitivity of these two oil spill response agents. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1311-1318. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Ultraviolet vision in larval Neogonodactylus oerstedii.

Stomatopod crustaceans have among the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom, with up to 12 different color detection channels. The capabilities of these unique eyes include photoreception of ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths (<400 nm). UV vision has been well characterized in adult stomatopods but has not been previously demonstrated in the comparatively simpler larval eye. Larval stomatopod eyes are developmentally distinct from their adult counterpart and have been described as lacking the visual pigment diversity and morphological specializations found in adult eyes. However, recent studies have provided evidence that larval stomatopod eyes are more complex than previously thought and warrant closer investigation. Using electroretinogram recordings in live animals we found physiological evidence of blue- and UV-sensitive photoreceptors in larvae of the Caribbean stomatopod species Neogonodactylus oerstedii. Transcriptomes of individual larvae were used to identify the expression of three distinct UV opsin mRNA transcripts, which may indicate the presence of multiple UV spectral channels. This is the first paper to document UV vision in any larval stomatopod, expanding our understanding of the importance of UV sensitivity in plankton. Larval stomatopod eyes are more complex and more similar to adult eyes than expected, showing previously uncharacterized molecular diversity and physiological functions.

Crayfish co-introduced symbiotic ostracod found on native crab in Japan: The first record of epibiont ostracod found a new host.

Ankylocythere sinuosa (Rioja, 1942), a symbiotic ostracod native to North America, was found from the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica (De Haan, 1835), a species native to Japan, collected from a pond in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. Introduced North American crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), which is a host of A. sinuosa in their native range, inhabits ponds sympatrically with Japanese mitten crabs, and it is thought that the ostracods transferred from the exotic crayfish to the native crabs. In recent years, along with the artificial transportation of crayfish around the world, their symbiotic ostracods also have been found on the body surfaces of exotic crayfish in Europe and Japan. However, no studies have confirmed the infestation of exotic ostracods on native crustaceans in the field. A wide range of developmental stages of A. sinuosa from juveniles to adults were found in Japanese mitten crabs, and mating individuals were also found. This strongly suggests that they can reproduce on the body surface of Japanese mitten crabs. In the future, it will be necessary to strengthen measures against alien species to prevent these exotic symbionts from infestating native ecosystems, and we also need to investigate the exact impact of this symbiont on Japanese mitten crabs.

Susceptibility of the Non-Targeted Crustacean Eurytemora affinis to the Endocrine Disruptor Tebufenozide: A Transcriptomic Approach.

Copepods are zooplanktonic crustaceans ubiquitously widespread in aquatic systems. Although they are not the target, copepods are exposed to a wide variety of pollutants such as insect growth regulators (IGRs). The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular response of a non-targeted organism, the copepod Eurytemora affinis, to an IGR. Adult males and females were exposed to two sub-lethal concentrations of tebufenozide (TEB). Our results indicate a sex-specific response with a higher sensitivity in males, potentially due to a differential activation of stress response pathways. In both sexes, exposure to TEB triggered similar pathways to those found in targeted species by modulating the transcription of early and late ecdysone responsive genes. Among them were genes involved in cuticle metabolism, muscle contraction, neurotransmission, and gametogenesis, whose mis-regulation could lead to moult, locomotor, and reproductive impairments. Furthermore, genes involved in epigenetic processes were found in both sexes, which highlights the potential impact of exposure to TEB on future generations. This work allows identification of (i) potential biomarkers of ecdysone agonists and (ii) further assessment of putative physiological responses to characterize the effects of TEB at higher biological levels. The present study reinforces the suitability of using E. affinis as an ecotoxicological model.