02545nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245013900055210006900194260001300263300001100276490000700287520173200294653001202026653001202038653002102050653001602071653001902087653001502106653001502121653001902136653003102155100001902186700002202205856005202227 2015 eng d a1432-070300aAmmonia toxicity to the freshwater planarian Polycelis felina: contrasting effects of continuous versus discontinuous exposures0 aAmmonia toxicity to the freshwater planarian iPolycelis felinai  c2015 May a689-950 v683 a

Aquatic animals can be exposed to fluctuating concentrations of toxicants. In fact, for some toxicants (i.e., pesticides, ammonia), discontinuous exposure is more environmentally relevant than constant exposure. Responses of aquatic animals to each type of exposure may be different. However, despite the high ecological relevance of behaviour, there is still scarce information on the effects of discontinuous exposure on behaviour. Our study focused on the assessment of unionized ammonia toxicity on the behaviour of a freshwater planarian under continuous exposure (3 days of exposure and 18 days of recovery) versus discontinuous exposure (3 pulses of 1 day with 6 days of recovery between pulses = total 3 days of exposure and 18 days of recovery). Behaviour was assessed as locomotion activity. Bioassays with continuous and discontinuous exposure were performed with one control and five unionized ammonia concentrations (0.14-0.35 mg N-NH3/L). Unionized ammonia in continuous exposure caused less impact on behaviour than equivalent concentrations provided in a discontinuous exposure. By contrast, continuous exposures caused more impact on survival. The discontinuous exposure may allow detoxification during recovery periods, thus increasing the probability of survival in the next pulse. Under continuous exposure, the mortality threshold could be exceeded, and animals could die in greater proportion during exposure as well as the recovery period. We conclude that behavioural activity was a sensitive endpoint to assess the contrasting effects of continuous versus discontinuous exposure and that the response of planarians to discontinuous exposure is different to its response to continuous exposure.

10aAmmonia10aAnimals10aBiological Assay10aFresh Water10aLethal Dose 5010aLocomotion10aplanarians10aToxicity Tests10aWater Pollutants, Chemical1 aAlonso, Alvaro1 aCamargo, Julio, A uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/172403050nas a2200313 4500008004100000022001400041245010100055210006900156260001300225300001100238490000700249520216500256653001202421653001202433653001702445653001502462653002302477653002302500653001502523653001702538653002302555653001202578653001102590100001702601700002102618700002502639700002002664856005202684 2014 eng d a1365-265600aPredator effects on a detritus-based food web are primarily mediated by non-trophic interactions0 aPredator effects on a detritusbased food web are primarily media c2014 Jul a953-620 v833 a

Predator effects on ecosystems can extend far beyond their prey and are often not solely lethally transmitted. Change in prey traits in response to predation risk can have important repercussions on community assembly and key ecosystem processes (i.e. trait-mediated indirect effects). In addition, some predators themselves alter habitat structure or nutrient cycling through ecological engineering effects. Tracking these non-trophic pathways is thus an important, yet challenging task to gain a better grasp of the functional role of predators. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that, in detritus-based food webs, non-trophic interactions may prevail over purely trophic interactions in determining predator effects on plant litter decomposition. This hypothesis was tested in a headwater stream by modulating the density of a flatworm predator (Polycelis felina) in enclosures containing oak (Quercus robur) leaf litter exposed to natural colonization by small invertebrates and microbial decomposers. Causal path modelling was used to infer how predator effects propagated through the food web. Flatworms accelerated litter decomposition through positive effects on microbial decomposers. The biomass of prey and non-prey invertebrates was not negatively affected by flatworms, suggesting that net predator effect on litter decomposition was primarily determined by non-trophic interactions. Flatworms enhanced the deposition and retention of fine sediments on leaf surface, thereby improving leaf colonization by invertebrates - most of which having strong affinities with interstitial habitats. This predator-induced improvement of habitat availability was attributed to the sticky nature of the mucus that flatworms secrete in copious amount while foraging. Results of path analyses further indicated that this bottom-up ecological engineering effect was as powerful as the top-down effect on invertebrate prey. Our findings suggest that predators have the potential to affect substantially carbon flow and nutrient cycling in detritus-based ecosystems and that this impact cannot be fully appreciated without considering non-trophic effects.

10aAnimals10aBiomass10aCarbon Cycle10aFood Chain10aGeologic Sediments10aModels, Biological10aplanarians10aPlant Leaves10aPredatory Behavior10aQuercus10aRivers1 aMajdi, Nabil1 aBoiché, Anatole1 aTraunspurger, Walter1 aLecerf, Antoine uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/172302050nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245014100055210006900196260000900265300001000274490000700284520122200291653001201513653002101525653001901546653001901565653001401584100002001598700002201618700002501640700002201665700002101687700002401708856005201732 2013 eng d a0015-549700aBehavioral, morphological and histopathological effects of sublethal doses of quercetin on the species Polycelis felina (Dalyell)0 aBehavioral morphological and histopathological effects of sublet c2013 a101-60 v613 a

The effect of quercetin was studied on the multi-eyed flatworm Polycelis felina (Daly.) in laboratory conditions. This is a very suitable test-organism available year-round in nature, easily maintained in the laboratory. The results showed that depending on the dose and recovery period quercetin caused locomotory (behavioral) changes in treated animals including aggregation in groups, resting and unsynchronized movements and twisting of particular body parts. Morphological changes in the form of depigmentation of certain body parts were the result of damage or deterioration ofreticular and parenchymal cells. Numerous basophilic bodies representing parts of damaged and decomposed cells were determined in the gastroderm between the third and seventh day after treatment. All histological preparations revealed significant deterioration of cellular material, and therefore a damaging effect of quercetin on the multi-eyed flatworm Polycelis felina (Daly.). We found an increased number of neoblasts and reticular cells on the third day after treatment, so we concluded that quercetin in the applied doses had a stimulating effect on cell division of neoblasts and reticular cells of treated flatworms.

10aAnimals10aBehavior, Animal10aMotor Activity10aPlatyhelminths10aQuercetin1 aRajević, Nives1 aMatković, Helena1 aGregorović, Gordana1 aKovacević, Goran1 aKnezović, Lejla1 aKalafatić, Mirjana uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/172202446nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245012000055210006900175260001300244300001000257490000700267520173400274653001202008653001202020653002902032653001602061653001502077653003102092100001902123700002202142856005202164 2011 eng d a1879-129800aThe freshwater planarian Polycelis felina as a sensitive species to assess the long-term toxicity of ammonia0 afreshwater planarian iPolycelis felinai as a sensitive species t c2011 Jul a533-70 v843 a

Behavioural endpoints are a good link between physiological and ecological effects. However long-term behavioural endpoints are not uniformly studied over all different organism groups. For example behaviour has been scarcely studied in planarians. Unionized ammonia (NH(3)) is one of the most widespread pollutants in developed countries, and is known to alter animal behaviour. In this study a long-term (30 d) bioassay was conducted to assess the effect of this pollutant on survival and behavioural activity (e.g. locomotion activity) of the freshwater planarian Polycelis felina. One control and three environmentally-realistic concentrations of unionized ammonia (treatments of 0.02, 0.05, and 0.09 mg N-NH(3) L(-1)) were used in quintuplicate. The behaviour of planarians was measured after 0, 10, 20 and 30 d of ammonia exposure. Mortality was recorded every 2 d. Unionized ammonia increased mortality in the two highest NH(3) concentrations and the locomotory activity was depressed in all treatments after 20 d of exposure. Behavioural effect was observed at concentrations 20 times lower than the short-term LC50 for this species. Previous studies proposed safe concentrations of unionized ammonia of 0.01-0.10 mg N-NH(3) L(-1) to aquatic ecosystems, but our study has shown that these concentrations will affect planarians. Because planarians play a key role in streams (as predator/scavenger), safe concentrations should be below 0.02 mg N-NH(3) L(-1) to protect this species in the freshwater community. Our results can contribute to improve the knowledge about ammonia toxicity to freshwater ecosystems, we recommend that safe concentrations of unionized ammonia should be based on very sensitive species.

10aAmmonia10aAnimals10aEnvironmental Monitoring10aFresh Water10aplanarians10aWater Pollutants, Chemical1 aAlonso, Alvaro1 aCamargo, Julio, A uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/172102832nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245016400055210006900219260001300288300001100301490000700312520206900319653001402388653001202402653001402414653001902428653001302447653001502460653003102475100001402506700001802520856005202538 2008 eng d a0090-434100aAmeliorating effect of chloride on nitrite toxicity to freshwater invertebrates with different physiology: a comparative study between amphipods and planarians0 aAmeliorating effect of chloride on nitrite toxicity to freshwate c2008 Feb a259-650 v543 a

High nitrite concentrations in freshwater ecosystems may cause toxicity to aquatic animals. These living organisms can take nitrite up from water through their chloride cells, subsequently suffering oxidation of their respiratory pigments (hemoglobin, hemocyanin). Because NO(2)(-) and Cl(-) ions compete for the same active transport site, elevated chloride concentrations in the aquatic environment have the potential of reducing nitrite toxicity. Although this ameliorating effect is well documented in fish, it has been largely ignored in wild freshwater invertebrates. The aim of this study was to compare the ameliorating effect of chloride on nitrite toxicity to two species of freshwater invertebrates differing in physiology: Eulimnogammarus toletanus (amphipods) and Polycelis felina (planarians). The former species presents gills (with chloride cells) and respiratory pigments, whereas in the latter species these are absent. Test animals were exposed in triplicate for 168 h to a single nitrite concentration (5 ppm NO(2)-N for E. toletanus and 100 ppm NO(2)-N for P. felina) at four different environmental chloride concentrations (27.8, 58.3, 85.3, and 108.0 ppm Cl(-)). The number of dead animals and the number of affected individuals (i.e., number of dead plus inactive invertebrates) were monitored every day. LT(50) (lethal time) and ET(50) (effective time) were estimated for each species and each chloride concentration. LT(50) and ET(50) values increased with increases in the environmental chloride concentration, mainly in amphipods. Results clearly show that the ameliorating effect of chloride on nitrite toxicity was more significant in amphipods than in planarians, likely because of the absence of gills (with chloride cells) and respiratory pigments in P. felina. Additionally, this comparative study indicates that the ecological risk assessment of nitrite in freshwater ecosystems should take into account not only the most sensitive and key species in the communities, but also chloride levels in the aquatic environment.

10aAmphipoda10aAnimals10aChlorides10aLethal Dose 5010aNitrites10aplanarians10aWater Pollutants, Chemical1 aAlonso, A1 aCamargo, J, A uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/172002247nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245005800055210005700113260000900170300001000179490000700189520167600196653001201872653001501884653002101899100002401920700002201944700002301966856005201989 2006 eng d a0015-549700aResistance of two planarian species to UV-irradiation0 aResistance of two planarian species to UVirradiation c2006 a103-80 v543 a

The aim of this work was to determine the effects of 20, 25 and 30 minute UV-irradiation periods lambda = 253.5 nm to two planarian species Dugesia tigrina (Gir.) and Polycelis felina (Daly.). In vivo, UV light effects have been reported to affect intracellular receptors and disrupt simple behaviour. The effects of UV-rays on mortality and behavior as well as morphological, cytological and histological changes in the two planarian species were assessed, and the course and the dynamics of regenerative processes were compared between them. Experimental populations of Dugesia tigrina and Polycelis felina species were maintained in laboratory conditions at room temperature. Mortality, behavioral and morphological changes were monitored daily by means of a light stereomicroscope. For cytological and histopathological analysis, planarians were fixed in Bouine fixative on the first, second, third, fifth and seventh day after exposure to UV-irradiation, respectively. They were embedded in paraffin, cut on a microtome, stained with toluidin blue and embedded in Canada-balsam. UV-rays caused mortality, behavioral, morphological, cytological and histological changes in each planarian species. In regeneration of damaged body parts reticular cells and neoblasts played the main role. Neoblasts as totipotent cells extremely increased in number in the area of damaged tissue, immediately after UV-exposure. Dugesia tigrina was more sensitive to UV-rays than Polycelis felina due to possession of less pigmented cells. The course of regeneration in both species was similar. Most individuals of both species regenerated in 5 to 12 days after UV-irradiation.

10aAnimals10aplanarians10aUltraviolet Rays1 aKalafatić, Mirjana1 aKovacević, Goran1 aFranjević, Damjan uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/171901830nas a2200253 4500008004100000022001400041245007000055210006900125260001300194300000900207490000700216520113500223653001401358653001201372653001901384653001301403653001501416653001101431653001001442653003101452100001901483700002201502856005201524 2006 eng d a1520-408100aToxicity of nitrite to three species of freshwater invertebrates.0 aToxicity of nitrite to three species of freshwater invertebrates c2006 Feb a90-40 v213 a

Nitrite is a compound with a high toxicity to aquatic animals. Several anthropogenic pollution sources are increasing the concentrations of this component of the nitrogen cycle. Despite this toxicity, there is little available literature on its effects on freshwater invertebrates. Laboratory bioassays were performed to obtain data on the lethal effects of nitrite to three species of freshwater invertebrates: the planarian Polycelis felina and the amphipods Echinogammarus echinosetosus and Eulimnogammarus toletanus. The LC(50), LC(10), and LC(0.01) values (mg/L NO(2)--N) at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h were calculated for each species. E. toletanus and E. echinosetosus were the most sensitive species, with 96 h LC(50) values of 2.09 and 2.59 mg/L NO(2)--N, respectively. In contrast, the planarian P. felina showed a higher tolerance to nitrite, with a 96 h LC(50) value of 60.0 mg/L NO(2)--N. The obtained results were compared with the reported nitrite data for other freshwater invertebrates. This study may contribute to a more appropriate assessment of the ecological risk of this compound in freshwater ecosystems.

10aAmphipoda10aAnimals10aLethal Dose 5010aNitrites10aplanarians10aRivers10aSpain10aWater Pollutants, Chemical1 aAlonso, Alvaro1 aCamargo, Julio, A uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/171803033nas a2200325 4500008004100000022001400041245012800055210006900183260001600252300001100268490000700279520209300286653001202379653001602391653001202407653001502419653003702434653001502471653002802486653001502514653001402529653001502543653001602558653001702574100001402591700001802605700001402623700001802637856005202655 2005 eng d a0166-445X00aToxicity testing of herbicide norflurazon on an aquatic bioindicator species--the planarian Polycelis felina (Daly.)0 aToxicity testing of herbicide norflurazon on an aquatic bioindic c2005 Jul 30 a342-520 v733 a

Norflurazon is a bleaching, preemergence herbicide. Due to its mobility and long half-life it presents a potential for groundwater contamination. The aim of our study was to investigate toxic effects of norflurazon on non-targeted aquatic bioindicator organism, the planarian Polycelis felina (Daly.). Animals were exposed to water solutions of norflurazon in concentrations 200, 20, 2 and 0.2 microM. Mortality, locomotive and morphological changes were monitored. Histological changes were studied both on treated and control animals with light microscopy. The primary DNA damage on single planarian cells was studied using the alkaline comet assay. Three comet parameters were studied: tail length, percentage of DNA in comet tail and tail moment. The results showed that norflurazon caused mortality, locomotive, morphological and histological changes in treated animals compared to corresponding controls. The most prominent histological changes were damage of the outer mucous layer, lack of rhabdites, damage to epidermis and extensive damage to parenchyma cells. The results of alkaline comet assay indicated that norflurazon in concentrations of 2 and 0.2 microM induces significant increase of primary DNA damage in planarian cells compared to the corresponding control animals. The mean values of all three measured parameters were significantly elevated on the fourth day of the treatment compared with the first and the seventh day. Based on the results of mortality and locomotive observations, we conclude that the fourth day of the treatment represents a certain threshold within planarian metabolism followed by the beginning of detoxification and recovery. However, histological preparations and comet data statistics show results indicating that high toxicity on the seventh day of the treatment gave the results of decrease of DNA damage due to the tissue/cell damage (apoptosis) and not recovery. The present study showed the ability of norflurazon to induce a wide range of different toxicological responses in freshwater planarian Polycelis felina (Daly.).

10aAnimals10aComet Assay10aCroatia10aDNA Damage10aDose-Response Relationship, Drug10aHerbicides10aHistological Techniques10aLocomotion10aMortality10aplanarians10aPyridazines10aTime Factors1 aHorvat, T1 aKalafatić, M1 aKopjar, N1 aKovacević, G uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/171701487nas a2200289 4500008004100000022001400041245011200055210006900167260000900236300001000245490000700255520065000262653001200912653001600924653001200940653001400952653001600966653001500982653002400997100002401021700002001045700001801065700001701083700002201100700002301122856005201145 2004 eng d a0015-549700aKaryological analysis of two allopatric populations of planarian Polycelis felina (Daly.) in Croatia0 aKaryological analysis of two allopatric populations of planarian c2004 a131-30 v523 a

The results of preliminary karyological investigations of two geographically distant and morphologically slightly different Polycelis felina (Daly.) populations from central Croatia are reported. The results have shown that individuals of both populations are diploids, with the same chromosome number in their neoblasts (2n=18). Their karyotypes were composed of nine chromosome pairs, three of them are metacentric and the other six are submetacentric. Statistical evaluation of data indicated that both populations of Polycelis felina (Daly.), despite minor differences observed between them, belong to the same karyological biotype.

10aAnimals10aChromosomes10aCroatia10aGeography10aKaryotyping10aplanarians10aSpecies Specificity1 aKalafatić, Mirjana1 aKopjar, Nevenka1 aZrna, Gordana1 aZupan, Irina1 aKovacević, Goran1 aFranjević, Damjan uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/171602708nas a2200397 4500008004100000022001400041245014900055210006900204260001300273300001100286490000700297520155200304653001201856653002101868653002201889653001801911653002701929653001201956653003701968653003302005653001102038653001602049653001202065653001802077653001402095653002302109653001502132653001702147653001302164653001302177653001702190100001802207700001402225700001902239856005202258 2004 eng d a0887-233300aThe impairments of neoblast division in regenerating planarian Polycelis felina (Daly.) caused by in vitro treatment with cadmium sulfate0 aimpairments of neoblast division in regenerating planarian iPoly c2004 Feb a99-1070 v183 a

The effects of cadmium sulfate on the neoblast mitotic activity in regenerating planarian Polycelis felina (Daly.) were investigated. Mitotic abnormalities and chromosomal aberrations were evaluated after 6-h treatment and 24-h recovery period. The blastema were fixed, and examined cytologically through routine lactoorceine squash preparations. Mitotic indices were also determined. Cadmium sulfate induced a dose-dependent decrease in neoblast mitotic activity, accompanied with disturbances in distribution of cells over mitotic phases. Different cytological abnormalities with varying frequency were observed. Marked mitotic depression was concentration-dependent. Toxic effects of cadmium in regenerating planarian were mainly associated with mitotic spindle disturbances. Immediately after treatment mitotic abnormalities were prevalent over chromosomal and C-mitosis was the most prominent one. After 24-h recovery period a prevalence of mitotic over chromosomal aberrations was still present in animals treated with two higher concentrations of cadmium sulfate. However, the proportions of cells with chromosome stickiness in all treated animals were significantly increased compared to their post-treatment values. Observed mitotic impairments could be related to mitotic arrest contributing to retardations and delays, especially in animals treated with the highest concentration tested. The results obtained indicated usefulness of short term invertebrate assays as an alternative to in vitro pre-screening of toxic chemicals.

10aAnimals10aBiological Assay10aCadmium Compounds10aCell Division10aChromosome Aberrations10aCroatia10aDose-Response Relationship, Drug10aDrug Evaluation, Preclinical10aFemale10aForecasting10aMitosis10aMitotic Index10aMortality10aOxygen Consumption10aplanarians10aregeneration10aSulfates10aSurvival10aTime Factors1 aKalafatić, M1 aKopjar, N1 aBesendorfer, V uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/1715