Laboratory technique for obtaining fathead minnow eggs for use in toxicity experiments
A laboratory technique for collecting freshly fertilized eggs of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) has been developed for use in toxicity testing of radioactive materials or other environmental pollutants. The fathead minnow egg was selected as a test organism because the period of embryogenesis is relatively short, the number of eggs per spawning is sufficiently large to provide a test group and a control group, and the size of the parent fish is compatible with laboratory facilities. Under a controlled laboratory environment, eggs are available all year. Nesting sites were constructed by cutting plastic pipe in half and covering the inside of the pipe with 1-mm-thick translucent polyethylene. The polyethylene with the eggs attached was removed from the shelter and cut into two pieces, each piece containing approximately the same number of eggs. One piece of polyethylene was floated in the test solution, and the other in spring water as a control. Hatching occurs in 168 h at 24/sup 0/C. Toxicity of the test solution may be scored on the percentage of eggs hatching, the number of abnormal larvae produced, and larval survival.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
- OSTI ID:
- 7112516
- Journal Information:
- Prog. Fish-Cult.; (United States), Journal Name: Prog. Fish-Cult.; (United States) Vol. 39:1; ISSN PFCUA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
EGGS
FISHES
HATCHING
LARVAE
MUTATION FREQUENCY
POLLUTION
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SURVIVAL TIME
TESTING
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION