AMEG: the new SETAC advisory group on aquatic macrophyte ecotoxicology.
BACKGROUND
Primary producers play critical structural and functional roles in aquatic ecosystems; therefore, it is imperative that the potential risks of toxicants to aquatic plants are adequately assessed in the risk assessment of chemicals. The standard required macrophyte test species is the floating (non-sediment-rooted) duckweed Lemna spp. This macrophyte species might not be representative of all floating, rooted, emergent, and submerged macrophyte species because of differences in the duration and mode of exposure; sensitivity to the specific toxic mode of action of the chemical; and species-specific traits (e.g., duckweed's very short generation time).
These topics were addressed during the workshop entitled "Aquatic Macrophyte Risk Assessment for Pesticides" (AMRAP) where a risk assessment scheme for aquatic macrophytes was proposed. Four working groups evolved from this workshop and were charged with the task of developing Tier 1 and higher-tier aquatic macrophyte risk assessment procedures. Subsequently, a SETAC Advisory Group, the Macrophyte Ecotoxicology Group (AMEG) was formed as an umbrella organization for various macrophyte working groups. The purpose of AMEG is to provide scientifically based guidance in all aspects of aquatic macrophyte testing in the laboratory and field, including prospective as well as retrospective risk assessments for chemicals. As AMEG expands, it will begin to address new topics including bioremediation and sustainable management of aquatic macrophytes in the context of ecosystem services.
Arts
Gertie
G
Alterra WUR, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Gertie.Arts@wur.nl
Davies
Jo
J
Dobbs
Michael
M
Ebke
Peter
P
Hanson
Mark
M
Hommen
Udo
U
Knauer
Katja
K
Loutseti
Stefania
S
Maltby
Lorraine
L
Mohr
Silvia
S
Poovey
Angela
A
Poulsen
Véronique
V
D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000592:standards; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects*; D011050:Policy Making; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
D014873:Water Pollutants