Hydrobia ulvae feeding rates: A novel way to assess sediment toxicity.
Standard acute toxicity tests are widely used to assess contaminated sediments. However, such tests last 10 d or more and only provide information regarding lethality. Here, we present data concerning the use of a 28-d growth test and a 24-h test using feeding rate, as measured by egestion rate, of the marine snail Hydrobia ulvae. The test was used to assess the toxicity of estuarine sediments from a gradient of heavy metal contamination, and its sensitivity and ease of use were compared with those of 10-d tests using the amphipod crustacean Corophium volutator. Mortality of C. volutator and H. ulvae in 10-d lethal toxicity tests showed similar patterns of sensitivity. Lethality tests with both species showed no effects when carried out using sediments from a number of sites at which ecological impacts are known to occur. By contrast, growth over 28 d in H. ulvae was reduced at all sites where other studies have detected adverse ecological effects. Feeding rate after 24 h also was decreased at moderately contaminated sites where sediments were not acutely toxic, and it was a very good predictor of 28-d growth (r2 = 0.74). Both tests were straightforward to carry out, so H. ulvae has considerable potential as a test organism for chronic toxicity.
Shipp
Emily
E
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom. emily_shipp@hotmail.com
Grant
Alastair
A
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004739:England; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D003300:Copper