The marine water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis as an emerging model for ocean health research: A review

Diaphanosoma celebensis, a marine water flea, has gained recognition as a valuable model organism in marine ecotoxicology, ecophysiology, and epigenetics. This review highlights the significance of D. celebensis in environmental research, emphasizing its high-quality genomic and transcriptomic resources, adaptability to environmental stressors, and sensitivity to pollutants. The species' utility in studying molecular responses to contaminants such as microplastics, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors is underscored by its ability to provide insights into detoxification pathways, stress response mechanisms, and epigenetic modifications. Diaphanosoma celebensis serves as a critical tool for advancing our understanding of the ecological impacts of pollution and the adaptive capacities of marine invertebrates. This review synthesizes existing research, explores the species' strengths as a research model, and identifies future research directions. All evidence suggests D. celebensis can complement traditional freshwater models and enhance our capacity to monitor and protect marine health.