Selection of optimal measures of growth and reproduction for the sublethal Leptocheirus plumulosus sediment bioassay

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1897/1551-5028(1998)017<2288:SOOMOG>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:675444

Gray, B R; Wright, R B; Duke, B M; Farrar, J D ^[1]; Emery, Jr, V L; Brandon, D L; Moore, D W ^[2]

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1. AScI Corp., Vicksburg, MS (United States)
2. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS (United States). Waterways Experiment Station

This article describes the selection process used to identify optimal measures of growth and reproduction for the proposed 28-d sublethal sediment bioassay with the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus. The authors used four criteria (relevance of each measure to its respective endpoint, signal-to-noise ratio, redundancy relative to other measures of the same endpoint, and cost) to evaluate nine growth and seven reproductive measures. Optimal endpoint measures were identified as those receiving relatively high scores for all or most criteria. Measures of growth scored similarly on all criteria, except for cost. The cost of the pooled (female plus male) growth measures was substantially lower than the cost of the female and male growth measures because the latter required more labor (by approx. 25 min per replicate). Pooled dry weight was identified as the optimal growth measure over pooled length because the latter required additional labor and nonstandard software and equipment. Embryo and neonate measures of reproduction exhibited wide differences in labor costs but yielded similar scores for other criteria. In contrast, brooding measures of reproduction scored relatively low on endpoint relevance, signal-to-noise ratio, and redundancy criteria. The authors recommend neonates/survivor as the optimal measure of L. plumulosus reproduction because it exhibited high endpoint relevance and signal-to-noise ratios, was redundant to other reproductive measures, and required minimal time.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 675444
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 17; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ANIMAL GROWTH
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CRUSTACEANS
REPRODUCTION
SEDIMENTS
WATER POLLUTION