Effects of ultra-violet filters oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor on different life-history traits of the copepod Acartia tonsa Dana

The UV filters 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, or benzophenone-3 (BP3), and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, or enzacamene (4-MBC), are recognised as toxicants that might impair different life-history traits in marine invertebrates and threaten the resilience of critical ecosystems such as coral reefs. Their effects on different life-traits of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa were tested, including (i) hatching, early-life stages mortality and larval development from the egg to the copepodite-I stage, (ii) the attainment of sexual maturity and reproduction in young adult copepods, (iii) the reproduction of mature copepods (F0 generation) and hatching, larval mortality and larval development in their offspring (F1 generation). The chemicals exerted effects on different life traits of the copepods, with BP3 displaying clearer and more consistent impacts than 4-MBC. BP3 did not affect larval survival and development of the parental generation and reproduction and feeding up to 500–600 μg L−1. At the same time, it severely delays the larval development of the offspring at a concentration as low as 7.4 μg L−1, showing a transgenerational effect at concentrations frequently measured in surface waters. Conversely, 4-MBC severely affected larval survival and development at a concentration of 46 μg L−1, caused mortality in the parent generation at 9.3 μg L−1, but did not inhibit larval survival and development of the offspring up to a concentration of 2.1 μg L−1. At the same time, it exerts a significant stimulatory effect on egg production by generation F0 and larval development of generation F1 compared to the control, suggesting a probable toxicant-mediated endocrine disruption.