Effect of endocrine disruptors on reproduction in daphniids

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals produced by humans that can affect a number of hormonally controlled processes in other organisms. This study will examine how reproduction is affected by endocrine disruptors in the aquatic daphniids (Crustacea).

E-use of treated effluent is commonly practiced in many countries. However, the effect of this treated water requires careful examination, as chemicals in the effluent can have unexpected effects on aquatic organisms because of so-called endocrine disrupting compounds in the effluent.  This study will undertake a detailed study of the effect that endocrine disrupting compounds have on reproduction in daphniids (Crustacea) to determine whether these microinvertebrates can be used as indicators of endocrine disrupting compounds in waterways.

Image of the Daphnia (water flea) by Hajime Watanabe (PLoS Genetics, March 2011) [CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons.