[Research progress on sensitivity of indices for ecotoxicological assays using rotifers.]

Human activities have severely polluted environments during industrialization. Rotifers are commonly used as model species for ecotoxicological assays. The sensitivities of ecotoxicological indices of rotifers highly depend on different pollutants. We summarized available ecotoxicological indices of rotifers, and reviewed their sensitivity to commonly investigated pollutants. Under the stress of heavy metals, the life-table demographic parameters, physiological and biochemical indices generally show high sensitivity. In response to persistent organic pollutants, sexual indices generally show higher sensitivity than asexual ones. Some studies showed that swimming speed revealed higher sensitivity after exposure to several pollutants compared with life-table demographic and population growth indices. We suggested to consider swimming speed of rotifer as an alternative index for ecotoxicological assays. Overall, this study would provide a guideline for rotifer ecotoxicological studies in the future.