title: Development and application of a sediment toxicity test using the benthic cladoceran Chydorus sphaericus.
abstract: This study reports on the development and application of a whole sediment toxicity test using a benthic cladoceran Chydorus sphaericus, as an alternative for the use of pelagic daphnids. A C. sphaericus laboratory culture was started and its performance under control conditions was optimised. The test was firstly validated by determining dose-response relationships for aqueous cadmium and copper and ammonia, showing a sensitivity of C. sphaericus (96 h LC(50) values of 594 microg Cd/L, 191 microg Cu/L and 46 mg ammonia/L at pH 8) similar to that of daphnids. Next, sediment was introduced into the test system and a series of contaminated sediments from polluted locations were tested. A significant negative correlation between survival and toxicant concentrations was observed. It is concluded that the test developed in the present study using the benthic cladoceran C. sphaericus is suitable for routine laboratory sediment toxicity testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Ecology & Ecotoxicology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 320, 1098 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Ter Laak
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Boivin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Veuger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gortzak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dumfries
authors.forename: S M G
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lücker
authors.forename: M H S
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kraak
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Admiraal
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: van der Geest
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D033361:Cladocera / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013696:Temperature; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D000641:Ammonia; D003300:Copper