Chronic Reproduction Test with Gastropods (assigned to external lab)

Test organism

• New Zealand Spiresnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)

Test principle

• In Europe, the New Zealand Spiresnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) reproduces through parthenogenesis and is viviparous.
• The reproduction rate of the animals is determined based on the number of offspring.
• An increased or decreased number of embryos can be determined by comparing the number of offspring in controls with that of exposed animals.

Analysed parameters (impact)

• Number of offspring (number of shelled and unshelled embryos in the brood pouch of adult animals) (reproduction toxicity)
• Mortality of parent animals

Test duration

• 28 days and/or 56 days

Relevance

• The reproduction rate is controlled by sexual hormones and influenced by endocrine substances.
• Generally toxic, androgenic and anti-estrogenic substances cause a decrease in the number of embryos.
• Estrogenic substances specifically cause an increase in the number of embryos.

Guidelines and literature

• No international standard available
• Duft M, Tillmann M, Schulte-Oehlmann U, Markert B, Oehlmann J (2002). Entwicklung eines Sedimentbiotests mit der Zwergdeckelschnecke Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia). Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung 14: 12-17.