Do SCCPs Have Endocrine Disrupting Potential? Molecular And Population-Based Investigation In Brachionus calyciflorus

Rotifers are ubiquitous aquatic organisms which form one of the most populous zooplankton classes. Their efficient grazing of phytoplankton and high reproduction and turnover rates enable rapid nutrient cycling which feeds the upper levels of the food chain, making them a vital element of aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, their small size, short life cycle, ease of cultivation, and good sensitivity to various pollutants and endocrine disruptors make them good models for aquatic ecotoxicology assays.
Consequently, they are well suited for studying short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), toxic industrial pollutants which were recently added to annex 2 of the Stockholm Convention. Using multiple endpoints, combining RT-qPCR targeting known endocrine receptors as well as reproductive and lifespan measurement assays, the present study is devoted to uncovering molecular, individual, and population-level effects of environmentally realistic SCCP exposure at two temperature ranges on the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus.