Development of a chronic sublethal sediment bioassay using the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus (Shoemaker)
- Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS (United States). Waterways Experiment Station
- AScI Corp., Vicksburg, MS (United States)
Based on the need for a test to evaluate chronic sublethal toxicity in estuarine sediments, a 28-d sediment bioassay with the estuarine amphipod, Leptocheirus plumulosus (Shoemaker) was developed. The test was initiated with animals less than 2 weeks old. Test endpoints included survival, growth, and reproduction. Factors with the potential to influence test animal performance such as artificial sea salts, salinity, food ration, size at test initiation, intraspecific density, sediment grain size, and diet were evaluated. For example, intraspecific densities between 10 and 60 animals/beaker did not affect survival, growth, or reproduction. Similarly, L. plumulosus were tolerant of a wide range of sediment grain sizes with only extremely fine grained or coarse grained material significantly affecting survival, growth, and reproduction. Test performance criteria included control survival (> 80%) and reproduction and response to a reference toxicant test with cadmium chloride in a control chart format.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 556551
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 16; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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