Comparison of recirculating, static, and elutriate aquatic sediment bioassay procedures

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 56; no. 5; pp. 742 - 749
• Main Authors: SCHUYTEMA, G. S, NEBEKER, A. V, CAIRNS, M. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag 01-05-1996
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay - methods; Daphnia; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Filtration; Fresh Water; Fresh water environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Soil - analysis; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Ecotoxicology; Toxicity; Cladocera; Recirculation; Sediments; Crustacea; Aquatic environment; Pollution; Investigation method; Test; Arthropoda; Elutriation; Invertebrata; Branchiopoda; Daphnia magna
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s001289900109

Acute sediment toxicity tests are commonly used to measure potential harm to biological communities. Results are presented from a study that compared the data from tests utilizing recirculating, static, and elutriate techniques for measuring the toxicity of various sediments to Daphnia magna. Each technique is described. The frequency of similar test conclusions for sediments contaminated primarily by metals ranged 0.73 0.82, and the frequency of similarity was higher for initial and final recirculating tests. For sediments contaminated primarily with organic pollutants, the average frequency of similarity of test conclusion ranged 0.33 0.80, and the initial and final static tests had a higher frequency of similarity. The overall data suggested that the three test types generally result in similar conclusions regarding toxicity approximately three-quarters of the time in the case of sediments contaminated primarily with metals, while similar conclusions may be reached less often in the case of organic contaminants.