Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia (Nov 2021)

Effects of formaldehyde preservation time on the length-weight relationship of the ubiquitous neotropical cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii

  • Rafael Lacerda Macêdo,
  • Lorena Pinheiro-Silva,
  • Adriana Lamanna Puga,
  • Gabriel Klippel,
  • Betina Kozlowsky-Suzuki,
  • Odete Rocha,
  • Christina Wyss Castelo Branco

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/s2179-975x3321
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 33

Abstract

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Abstract: Aim In this study, the effect of preservation time on total body length and dry weight of adult specimens of the neotropical cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii preserved with 4% formalin solution were examined. Methods The relationship between these variables was examined under increasing gradual time effects (i.e. 7, 30, and 60 days) after preservation using linear models and analysis of variance. Results Total body length did not statistically differ between fresh and preserved cladocerans at any preservation time, whereas dry weight was drastically reduced with increasing preservation time, with 15, 47 and 57% weight losses. Length-weight relationships were significantly and positively related in all treatments, though higher values of slope were found for fresh and 7 days samples. Conclusions We highlight that, for Ceriodaphnia silvestrii, the use of the formalin solution as a preservation fixative is not adequate when the major interest is biomass estimation. Also, we recommend that dry weight estimations from preserved samples should be done as soon as possible. Finally, considering the preservation losses and intra-specific composition of organisms, the application of correction factors is advised since preserved samples are important in the evaluation of long-term changes of biological communities.

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