Fluctuating asymmetry of invertebrate populations as a biological indicator of environmental quality.
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of populations of the shrimp, Palaemon elegans, and the blood worm, Chironomus salinarius, was used to assess the environmental impact of a fertilizer manufacturing facility on the surrounding marine and freshwater ecosystems, respectively. Populations of both species were found to have elevated levels of asymmetry compared with control populations, indicating that the facility was having a significant impact on organism development. The use of FA of invertebrate populations as a simple, sensitive and cost-effective biomonitoring system for the detection of environmental stress is discussed.
Clarke
G M
GM
CSIRO Division of Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.