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Effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine in spiked-sediments on developmental and reproductive features of the polychaetes Capitella teleta and Capitella sp A

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Abstract

The cosmopolitan species-complex Capitella, a deposit-feeding polychaete, is widely used as an indicator of organic pollution and plays an important role in sewage waste cycling in marine and estuarine ecosystems. The antidepressant fluoxetine can be accumulated in sewage effluents and it could pose a hazard to infauna inhabiting surrounding areas. The study aimed to assess effects of fluoxetine on juveniles and adults of Capitella teleta and Capitella sp A. Sediments were spiked with four fluoxetine concentrations (0.001, 0.03, 0.3 and 3.3 µg/g dry wt. sediment). Chronically exposed worms of C. teleta showed delay of maturity, delay or inhibition of copulation and morphological abnormalities (genital spines in males and juveniles) with adverse physiological consequences. Alternatively, in C. teleta fluoxetine enhanced proteroginous individuals that may be beneficial for the population. Worms of Capitella sp A only showed delay or inhibition of copulation. Observed fluoxetine adverse effects could have important ecological implications in natural populations of aquatic invertebrates due to the possible alteration or even inhibition of reproductive processes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Dirección General de Apoyo al Personal Académico, UNAM, Mexico. We want to thank Cristian García and Silvia Lacorte for their help with fluoxetine extraction and HPLC analyses. Capitella sp A was collected thanks to Jordi Flos, Agustí Montserrat and Agustí Cruelles. Capitella teleta specimens were provided by Henriette Selck from the University of Roskilde, Denmark.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Invertebrados Bentónicos. Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 811, 82000, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico

    Nuria Méndez

  2. Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Carlos Barata

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  1. Nuria Méndez
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Correspondence to Nuria Méndez.

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Méndez, N., Barata, C. Effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine in spiked-sediments on developmental and reproductive features of the polychaetes Capitella teleta and Capitella sp A. Ecotoxicology 24, 106–118 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1362-z

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