Contaminant sensitivity in Neanthes arenaceodentata: The influence of worm age and food ration
- USAE Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (United States)
- AScI Corp., Vicksburg, MS (United States)
To evaluate the sensitivity of N. arenaceodentata to contaminated sediment the authors examined the survival and growth of newly emerged juveniles (EJ) and 3-week old (3WO) worms exposed to Black Rock Harbor sediment (BRH) diluted with uncontaminated control sediment (25, 50, 75, and 100% BRH). Worms were exposed for either 4 (EJs and 3WOs) or 7 (EJs) weeks to each concentration of BRH. Survival was significantly reduced in EJs exposed for 7 weeks to 25% BRH and for EJs and 3WOs exposed for 4 weeks to 100% BRH. Body weight, length, width, and projected area, were significantly reduced at 25% BRH. Setiger number was not reduced at 25% BRH. Calculation of the Minimum Detectable Difference (MDD) for each measure of growth indicated that body weight and projected area provided the most sensitive measure of effects. The MDD also indicated that statistical power and growth effects were of sufficient magnitude to distinguish much lower concentrations of BRH sediment (6--10% BRH). Both worm age and food ration influenced the nature of contaminant effects in Neanthes. EJs exposed to BRH showed greater effects of exposure than 3WOs. Previous work with Neanthes and BRH sediment, as well as subsequent experiments, indicate that high food ration can lessen contaminant effects. The results of this study emphasize that test animal age, food ration, and how growth measured can all influence the nature of contaminant effects and bioassay sensitivity.
- OSTI ID:
- 367428
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9640%%174
- 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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