Ability of Standard Toxicity Tests to Predict the Effects of the Insecticide Diflubenzuron on Laboratory Stream Communities

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1273-1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Hansen ◽  
Ronald R. Garton
Keyword(s):  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Exact Nature ◽  
Interspecies Interactions ◽  
Community Effects ◽  
Test Species ◽  
Stream Communities ◽  
Freshwater Animal ◽  
Laboratory Stream

We assessed the ability of a standard set of freshwater single-species toxicity tests to predict accurately effects of the insecticide diflubenzuron (1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea) on complex laboratory stream communities. The single-species tests complied with requirements prescribed for establishing freshwater quality criteria and included nine freshwater animal acute tests, five freshwater animal chronic tests, and one freshwater algal test. The stream communities were stocked from a natural source, equilibrated for 3 mo and then treated with diflubenzuron for 5 mo. Effects on these stream communities were assessed at the functional group level using biomass and diversity for the analysis. The single-species tests adequately predicted the concentrations of diflubenzuron which affected these stream communities; the most-sensitive test species, insects and crustaceans, were up to an order of magnitude more sensitive than the observed community effects. The single-species tests were less successful in predicting the exact nature of the community level effects. Those effects resulting from direct lethality to component species were clearly predicted; indirect effects due to altered interspecies interactions could only be predicted with an a priori knowledge of the system's trophic dynamics.Key words: toxicity, diflubenzuron, streams, community effects, toxicity testing

Use of Biomonitoring to Control Toxics in the United States

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson A. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Chronic Toxicity ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Toxic Pollutants ◽  
Receiving Waters ◽  
Biological Field

A biomonitoring program has been developed in support of the National Policy for the Development of Water Quality-Based Permit Limitations for Toxic Pollutants. The program focuses on the use of laboratory toxicity tests on aquatic plants and animals to predict ecosystem impact caused by toxic pollutants. Both acute and chronic toxicity tests were developed to test effluents and ambient waters. Laboratory and biological field studies were conducted at nine sites. Single species laboratory toxicity tests were found to be good predictors of impacts on the ecosystem when two or more species were used. Biomonitoring can be undertaken either on effluents and/or on the receiving waters. In that toxicity related to seeps, leachates and storm sewers has often been found upstream from dischargers, it is beneficial to conduct both effluent and ambient biomonitoring.

scholarly journals Why are mayflies (Ephemeroptera) lost following small increases in salinity? Three conceptual osmophysiological hypotheses

2018 ◽  
Vol 374 (1764) ◽  
pp. 20180021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben J. Kefford
Keyword(s):  
Turnover Rate ◽  
Ph Regulation ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Rate Of Increase

The salinity of many freshwaters is increasing globally as a result of human activities. Associated with this increase in salinity are losses of Ephemeroptera (mayfly) abundance and richness. The salinity concentrations at which Ephemeroptera decline in nature are lower than their internal salinity or haemolymph osmolality. Many species also suffer substantial mortality in single species laboratory toxicity tests at salinities lower than their internal salinity. These findings are problematic as conventional osmoregulation theory suggests that freshwater animals should not experience stress where external osmolality is greater than haemolymph osmolality. Here I explore three hypotheses to explain salt sensitivity in Ephemeroptera. These conceptual hypotheses are based on the observations that as the external sodium ion (Na + ) concentration increases so does the Na + turnover rate (both uptake and elimination rates increase). Sulphate ( ) uptake in mayflies also increases with increasing external although, unlike Na + , its rate of increase decreases with increasing external . The first hypothesis is premised on ion turnover being energetically costly. The first hypothesis proposes that individuals must devote a greater proportion of their energy to ion homeostasis at the expense of other uses including growth and development. Lethal levels of salinity presumably result from individuals not being able to devote enough energy to maintain ion homeostasis without critical loss of other vital functions. The second hypothesis is premised on the uptake of Na + exchanged for (an outgoing) H + , leading to (localized) loss of pH regulation. The third hypothesis is premised on localized Na + toxicity or poisoning with increased Na turnover as salinity increases. None of the proposed hypotheses is without potential problems, yet all are testable, and research effort should be focused at attempting to falsify them. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects’.

Acute Toxicity of Copper, Cadmium, and zinc to Larvae of the Crab Paragrapus quadridentatus (H. Milne Edwards), and Implications for Water Quality Criteria

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ahsanullah ◽  
GH Arnott
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Metal Toxicity ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Water Quality Criteria ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Acute Toxicity Tests

Acute toxicity tests were carried out on the larvae of P. quadridentatus and 96-h LC50 values of 0.17, 0.49, and 1.23 mg/l were determined for copper, cadmium, and zinc respectively. Potency ratios of the three metals were as follows: Cu/Cd 3.1, Cu/Zn 7.2, and Cd/Zn 2.4. Larvae were found to be nine times more sensitive to zinc and at least 29 times more sensitive to cadmium than were adults. The larval 96-h LC50 values multiplied by an application factor of 0.01 (as recommended in Victorian water quality criteria) results in derived 'safe' concentrations, which in the case of copper and zinc are below the stated 'minimal risk concentrations' of 10 and 20 �g/I respectively. In view of the known greater sensitivity of larvae of many taxa to heavy metal toxicity, the validity of using the same application factor for both adult and larval stages is questioned.

Islands as refuges for threatened species: multispecies translocation and evidence of species interactions four decades on

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertram Ostendorf ◽  
Wayne S. J. Boardman ◽  
David A. Taggart
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Interspecies Interactions ◽  
Significant Preference ◽  
Extinction Rates

Australia has one of the worst mammal extinction rates in the world, with translocations to refuge locations increasingly being advocated to help address problems of species decline. Offshore islands can function as these refuges, removing species from threatening processes and providing a source of animals for reintroduction. Historically, the focus of many island translocations in Australia has been the conservation of a single species, with data on long-term translocation success and population dynamics after release generally lacking. Here we examine the results of a multispecies translocation onto Wedge Island, off the South Australian coast 30–40 years ago. Fewer than a dozen individuals of three species – southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), black-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis pearsonii), and brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) – were released. All three species have shown substantial population increase and wombat activity across the island has increased exponentially with >700 burrows detected. Substantial levels of co-use of wombat burrows by rock-wallabies and bettongs were observed, providing clear evidence for interspecies interactions. Rock-wallabies showed a significant preference for wombat-active burrows (45% co-used), whereas bettongs showed a significant preference for wombat-inactive burrows (10% used). This study suggests that islands have significant potential for long-term threatened species conservation and that translocation of an ecosystem engineer may increase habitat complexity and help improve habitat suitability for multiple species and thus increase the overall conservation benefit.

Effects of sediment-spiked lufenuron on benthic macroinvertebrates in outdoor microcosms and single-species toxicity tests

2016 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 464-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.C.M. Brock ◽  
D.A. Bas ◽  
J.D.M. Belgers ◽  
L. Bibbe ◽  
M-C. Boerwinkel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Toxicity Tests

An ecosystem modelling approach for deriving water quality criteria

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. De Laender ◽  
K.A.C. De Schamphelaere ◽  
C.R. Janssen ◽  
P.A. Vanrolleghem
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Toxicity Test ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Water Quality Criteria ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Ecosystem Modelling ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Modelling Approach

Ecological effects of chemicals on ecosystems are the result of direct effects of the chemical, determined in single-species toxicity testing, and indirect effects due to ecological interactions between species. Current experimental methods to account for such interactions are expensive. Hence, mathematical models of ecosystems have been proposed as an alternative. The use of these models often requires extensive calibration, which hampers their use as a general tool in ecological effect assessments. Here we present a novel ecosystem modelling approach which assesses effects of chemicals on ecosystems by integrating single-species toxicity test results and ecological interactions, without the need for calibration on case-specific data. The methodology is validated by comparing predicted ecological effects of copper in a freshwater planktonic ecosystem with an experimental ecosystem data set. Two main effects reflected by this data set (a decrease of cladocerans and an increase of small phytoplankton) which were unpredictable from single-species toxicity test results alone, were predicted accurately by the developed model. Effects on populations which don't interact directly with other populations, were predicted equally well by single-species toxicity test results as by the ecosystem model. The small amount of required data and the high predictive capacity can make this ecosystem modelling approach an efficient tool in water quality criteria derivation for chemicals.

Acute toxicity of chromium, mercury, molybdenum and nickel to the amphipod Allorchestes compressa

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ahsanullah
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Toxic Effect ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Water Quality Criteria ◽  
Acute Toxicity Tests

In acute toxicity tests on A. compressa, the 96-h LC50 values for mercury, chromium, nickel and molybdenum were: respectively, 0.08, 5.56,34.68 and 247.12 mg I-1. The results suggest that mercury has the most toxic effect on A. compressa, followed by chromium, nickel and molybdenum. The applicability of acute toxicity tests in establishing water-quality criteria is discussed.

A new method for early assessment of effects of exposing two non-target crustacean species, Asellus aquaticus and Gammarus fossarum, to pesticides, a laboratory study

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Lukančič ◽  
Uroš Žibrat ◽  
Tadej Mezek ◽  
Andreja Jerebic ◽  
Tatjana Simčič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Factors ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Asellus Aquaticus ◽  
Early Assessment ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Aquatic Animals ◽  
Test Species ◽  
Gammarus Fossarum ◽  
Ets Activity ◽  
Short Term Exposure

A reliable method is needed for assessing the condition of aquatic animals and their resistance to toxic pollutants. The physiological responses of two freshwater crustaceans, Asellus aquaticus and Gammarus fossarum, following in vitro exposure to two pesticides (atrazine and imidacloprid), were measured by a combination of electron transport system (ETS) activity and respiration (R). Short-term exposure concentrations were selected according to standard toxicity tests and ranged from 0.01 mg L—1 to 10 mg L—1. When pesticide concentration was greater than 1 mg l— 1 (which is below the LC50 [48 hours] determined for both species), A. aquaticus and G. fossarum responded to short-term exposure with elevated levels of R and/or lower levels of ETS activity. One hour exposure to concentrations of up to 10 mg L—1 showed an effect in both test species. Laboratory tests confirmed that G. fossarum is more sensitive to short-term pesticide exposure than A. aquaticus. The combination of these two methods provides a useful and effective tool for assessing the general condition of aquatic animals. It also enables to determine toxic effects on freshwater biota of specific or combined pollutants. ETS/R ratio may be used as a quick predictor of effects on organisms exposed to pesticides and other stress factors such as changes in temperature, light, salinity, oxygen concentration and food.

scholarly journals Comparative Aquatic Toxicity of Gold Nanoparticles and Ionic Gold Using a Species Sensitivity Distribution Approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarryn L. Botha ◽  
Tanyn E. James ◽  
Victor Wepener
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Species Sensitivity Distribution ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Species Sensitivity ◽  
Sensitivity Distribution ◽  
Hazardous Concentration ◽  
Toxic Potential ◽  
Ionic Gold

Gold nanoparticles (nAu) are used in drug delivery systems allowing for targeted cellular distribution. The effects of increased use and release of nanoparticles into the environment are not well known. A species sensitivity distribution (SSD) allows for the ecotoxicological hazard assessment of a chemical based on single species toxicity tests. Aquatic toxicity needs to be related to particle characterization in order to understand the effects. The behaviour of nAu in the medium changed as the concentration increased. The toxic potential of ionic gold and nAu was expressed as a hazardous concentration where 5% of species will be harmed (HC5). The HC5 for nAu was much higher (42.78 mg/L) compared to the ionic gold (2.44 mg/L). The differences between the hazard potentials of nAu and ionic gold were attributed to the nAu not releasing any Au ions into solution during the exposures and following an aggregation theory response. Exposures to ionic gold on the other hand followed a clear dose dependent response based on the concentration of the ionic metal. Although SSDs present an indication of the relative hazard potential of nanoparticles, the true worth can only be achieved once other nanoparticle characteristics and their behavior in the environment are also considered.

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