Assessing sublethal levels of sediment contamination using the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus
- Maryland Dept. of the Environment, Baltimore (United States)
Recent emphasis on the incorporation of sublethal end points into sediment toxicity test methods follows the realization that acute lethality tests may not provide sufficient sensitivity for predicting subtle ecological effects of sediment contamination. To this end, a partial life-cycle test with the amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus Shoemaker was evaluated for solid-phase testing of contaminated estuarine sediments. Initially, juvenile and adult Leptocheirus plumulosus and the amphipod Hyalella azteca were exposed to gradients of chemical contamination prepared by diluting field-collected contaminated sediment with texturally similar reference sediment. Ten-day exposure results indicate juvenile Leptocheirus plumulosus is more sensitive than adult Leptocheirus plumulosus and Hyalella azteca, with significant mortality of juvenile Leptocheirus plumulosus occurring in sediment diluted to 12.5% of the adult lowest-observed-effect concentration (LOEC). Long-term exposure of juveniles to dilutions of the acute juvenile LOEC shows significant effects on growth in sediment concentrations below the lethal threshold. Effect of reproductive end points parallel growth effects. Evaluation of nontoxicant experimental variables indicates significant effects of temperature and feeding regime on sensitivity of juvenile Leptocheirus plumulosus to contaminated sediment. Trace element concentrations were determined for the following: As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn.
- OSTI ID:
- 6200717
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 12:3; ISSN 0730-7268; ISSN ETOCDK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540320* -- Environment
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560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARSENIC
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
CRUSTACEANS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ESTUARIES
INVERTEBRATES
LEAD
MERCURY
METALS
NICKEL
POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC