Effects of Chlorpyrifos Over Reproductive Traits of Three Sympatric Freshwater Crustaceans

Abstract

The exposure to environmentally relevant chlorpyrifos concentrations (0.03, 0.06 and 0.12 µg chlorpyrifos L−1) causes increases in precopulatory guardian behavior time, amplexus reformulation after exposure and in the number of ovigerous females in the amphipod Hyalella curvispina. Effects in incubation period, effective hatching and median lethal concentration on the decapods Macrobrachium borellii and Aegla uruguayana, both in adults and embryos, were achieved at higher concentrations than those found in the environment. Environmentally relevant chlorpyrifos concentrations appear not to affect decapods but several effects in reproductive traits of amphipods were observed.