Hazard evaluation of lead effects using marine protozoan communities

Protozoan communities developed in laboratory microecosystems were used to evaluate the toxic effects of lead ion. The lead was added as lead acetate in different concentrations (50 g · l^–1, 20 g · l^–1, 10 g · l^–1 and 1 g · l^–1). The protozoans were taxonomically identified and classified into functional groups according to their common nutritional type. The population dynamics of protozoa has been studied. In the control the most frequent groups were bacterivore-detritivores and photosynthetics (more than 75% of abundance). Noticeable lead effects were observed after 24 hours of exposure to metal in all fractions. In general, the lead caused reductions in the number taxa, in total protozoan abundance and in protozoan biomass. The diversity values decreased in more than two nep respect to control in the different fractions. At the end of assay, the protozoan communities structure was simplified in the fractions with lead and some species of little flagellates were dominant. The information provided by this microecosystems of protozoan community was more complex than the one provided by single-species bioassays. Community protozoan bioassays may give more information about the toxic effects to compare with actual ecosystems.