Assessment of behavioural and reproductive effects in marine amphipods exposed to silver

Abstract

Behavioural and reproduction responses related to chemical exposure are important endpoints because they allow to link effects obtained at biochemical/cellular levels to the impacts observed on population health and fitness. Nowadays, studies about silver effects in aquatic organisms are becoming important to better understand the effects and assess the risks of the silver release in the environment. Data on behavioural and reproduction consequences of silver exposure in invertebrates, such as amphipods, are still scarce, especially in marine organisms. The aim of this project is to learn behavioural and reproduction analysis in the marine amphipod Echinogammarus marinus and to use these endpoints to evaluate changes in animals exposed to silver. In addition, after the internship, the knowledge of these techniques will be adapted and used in the tropical Brazilian amphipod, Parhyale hawaiensis.