Co-encapsulation of Daphnia magna and microalgae in silica matrices, a stepping stone toward a portable microcosm

Mercedes Perullini (1) , Frédéric Orias (2) , Claude Durrieu (2) , Matias Jabbagy (1)

1 INQUIMAE - Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía [Buenos Aires]
2 Équipe 5 - Impacts des Polluants sur les Écosystèmes

We report on the ␣rst silica encapsulation of a metazoan (Daphnia magna), with a high initial viability (96% of the population remained active 48 h after encapsulation). Moreover, the co-encapsulation of this crustacean and microalgae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) was achieved, creating inside a silica monolith, the smallest microcosm developed to present. This arti␣cial ecosystem in a greatly diminished scale isolated inside a silica nanoporous matrix could have applications in environmental monitoring, allowing ecotoxicity studies to be carried out in portable devices for on-line and in situ pollution level assessment.

Keywords: Silica co-encapsulation; Microcosm; Daphnia; magna-microalgae

Domains: Environmental Sciences; Biodiversity and Ecology

Mercedes Perullini, Frédéric Orias, Claude Durrieu, Matias Jabbagy. Co-encapsulation of Daphnia magna and microalgae in silica matrices, a stepping stone toward a portable microcosm. Plant Biotechnology Reports, 2014, 4, pp.147-150. ⟨10.1016/j.btre.2014.10.002⟩. ⟨hal-01085030⟩