Using freshwater semi-field experiments to measure the effects of chemical substances on stickleback populations
Résumé
The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a model species commonly used in ecotoxicology to assess adverse effects of chemical substances not only at the individual level by laboratory and field studies using multi-biomarker approaches but also at the population level using freshwater semi-field studies. Although smaller and less complex than real world ecosystems, freshwater semi-field experiments which are more frequently called micro and mesocosms provide the opportunity to perform controlled and replicated experiments which enable to determine relationships between chemical exposure and biological effects at the individual, population, community and ecosystem levels. More specifically, the duration of these experiments allow to encompass seasonal changes and reproductive cycles of high trophic level organism such as fish. The mesocosm plateform located at INERIS in France is composed of twelve 20 meter long lotic channels which are set up with artificial sediments, macrophytes, periphyton, benthic and pelagic invertebrates, decomposers and one fish species (three-spined sticklebacks). During our experiments, fish individual physiological responses along with population dynamics are among the measured biological endpoints. In this poster, the overall experimental design will be presented along with the specific methodologies enabling to study the effects of chemical substances on three6spined sticklebacks at the individual and population levels. Results of certain experiments will also be presented.