Reliability of toxicological biomonitoring for predicting ecological integrity in freshwater systems
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)
On-site biomonitoring studies were conducted on four freshwater systems that varied in order, gradient, substrate composition and community structure. One objective was to evaluate the reliability of toxicological monitoring in predicting ecological integrity. Impact from one or more point-source discharges varied among the stream systems from slight to severe in effluent receiving areas and decreased incrementally with downstream distance. Studies were performed at monitoring stations selected for comparable conditions, including upstream reference and downstream recovery areas. On-site toxicological evaluations were performed using Ceriodaphnia dubia three brood tests and fathead minnow embryo larval tests. Test water was changed daily with fresh collections. Ecological conditions were analyzed using the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol 3, Brillouin and Shannon-Weaver indices, cluster analysis and traditional methods (e.g., species richness, diversity, functional groups, indicator species). In streams with heavy to extreme impact near the effluent outfall, fathead minnow toxicity data correlated significantly with ecological parameters, giving good predictability of ecological condition. However, in other systems, toxicological endpoints were marginal to unreliable in predicting slight to moderate ecological impact or initial stages of recovery. Attrition of macroinvertebrate species by 20 to 30% occurred in areas in which there were no consistent trends in toxicity. Neither biodiversity nor abundance of aquatic life could be predicted with certainty using ambient toxicity tests under circumstances of moderate to slight ecological impact.
- OSTI ID:
- 390178
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9646%%463
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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