title: Relative sensitivity of an amphipod Hyalella azteca, a midge Chironomus dilutus, and a unionid mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea to a toxic sediment.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relative sensitivity of test organisms in exposures to dilutions of a highly toxic sediment contaminated with metals and organic compounds. One dilution series was prepared using control sand (low total organic carbon [TOC; <0.1%, low binding capacity for contaminants]) and a second dilution series was prepared using control sediment from West Bearskin Lake, Minnesota, USA (high TOC [∼10% TOC, higher binding capacity for contaminants]). Test organisms included an amphipod (Hyalella azteca; 10-d and 28-d exposures), a midge (Chironomus dilutus; 20-d and 48-d exposures started with <1-h-old larvae, and 13-d and 48-d exposures started with 7-d-old larvae), and a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea; 28-d exposures). Relative species sensitivity depended on the toxicity endpoint and the diluent. All 3 species were more sensitive in sand dilutions than in West Bearskin Lake sediment dilutions. The <1-h-old C. dilutus were more sensitive than 7-d-old C. dilutus, but replicate variability was high in exposures started with the younger midge larvae. Larval biomass and adult emergence endpoints of C. dilutus exhibited a similar sensitivity. Survival, weight, and biomass of H. azteca were more sensitive endpoints in 28-d exposures than in 10-d exposures. Weight and biomass of L. siliquoidea were sensitive endpoints in both sand and West Bearskin Lake sediment dilutions. Metals, ammonia, oil, and other organic contaminants may have contributed to the observed toxicity.
authors: US Geological Survey, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors: Chris G
authors: CG
authors: Ingersoll
authors: James L
authors: JL
authors: Kunz
authors: Jamie P
authors: JP
authors: Hughes
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Wang
authors: D Scott
authors: DS
authors: Ireland
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Mount
authors: J Russell
authors: JR
authors: Hockett
authors: Theodore W
authors: TW
authors: Valenti
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000187:drug effects*; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Benthic macroinvertebrates; Metals; Oil; Sediment quality guideline; Sediment toxicity