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Title: Amphipod bioassay of selected sediments from Sequim Bay, Washington

Conference ·

Amphipod bioassays performed during reconnaissance surveys of Sequim Bay in 1983--1984 for the US Environmental Protection Agency suggested possible sediment toxicity at three sites. These findings were not supported by other biological analyses and tests (dominant infauna, oyster larvae test) nor by the finding of relatively low levels of priority pollutants. In 1988, a re-examination of the 1983--1984 sites demonstrated that the Sequim Bay sediments were clearly nontoxic. Mean survivorship ranged from 89 to 100%. It was hypothesized that earlier indications of toxicity may have been due to a relatively high percentage of fines ({ge}80%) and/or a relatively low interstitial salinity (24%) encountered at one or more of the 1983--1984 sites. The continued use of Sequim Bay as both a reference bay and a source of control sediment in future marine research is recommended. 13 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5517420
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-16636; CONF-8909128-2; ON: DE90001390
Resource Relation:
Journal Volume: 2; Conference: Oceans '89 conference, Seattle, WA (USA), 18-21 Sep 1989
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English