Comparing toxicity endpoints on Lecane quadridentata (Rotifera: Monogononta) exposed to two anticholinesterases pesticides

Toxicity tests were performed on the freshwater rotifer Lecane quadridentata exposed to the pesticides carbaryl and methyl parathion (lethal, sublethal, and chronic) to compare the sensitivity between different endpoints: (a) 48‐h mortality; (b) 30‐min in vivo inhibition of esterase activity; (c) 5‐day inhibition of the instantaneous growth rate. The emphasis of this work was to find the most appropriate endpoint to evaluate the toxicity of these pesticides in view of their sensitivity, duration, and ecological relevance. The comparison between the three toxicity tests show that the 5‐day chronic tests have the lowest EC50 (2.22 and 6.6 mg/L), lowest‐observed‐effect concentration (2.5 and 2.5 mg/L), and no‐observed‐effect concentration (1.0 and 1.2 mg/L) values for carbaryl and methyl parathion, respectively. This indicates that the estimate of the instantaneous rate of natural increase r is the most sensitive endpoint regarding the toxicity of these pesticides. This sensitivity might be due to the effect on reducing the growth potential form the first generation on. Lethal and sublethal tests are closely related, suggesting that the immediate effect after inhibition of esterases is death. In general, the sensitivity of L. quadridentata is similar to other species of rotifers exposed to methyl parathion. Therefore, the 5‐day chronic toxicity test with the freshwater rotifer L. quadridentata should be considered a good candidate to evaluate the effect of anticholinesterase pesticides, due to its high sensitivity and ecological relevance. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2012.