title: Mesocosm validation of the marine No Effect Concentration of dissolved copper derived from a species sensitivity distribution.
abstract: The Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC) for dissolved copper based on the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) of 24 marine single species tests was validated in marine mesocosms. To achieve this, the impact of actively maintained concentrations of dissolved copper on a marine benthic and planktonic community was studied in 18 outdoor 4.6m(3) mesocosms. Five treatment levels, ranging from 2.9 to 31μg dissolved Cu/L, were created in triplicate and maintained for 82days. Clear effects were observed on gastropod and bivalve molluscs, phytoplankton, zooplankton, sponges and sessile algae. The most sensitive biological endpoints; reproduction success of the bivalve Cerastoderma edule, copepod population development and periphyton growth were significantly affected at concentrations of 9.9μg Cu/L and higher. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) derived from this study was 5.7μg dissolved Cu/L. Taking into account the DOC concentration of the mesocosm water this NOEC is comparable to the PNEC derived from the SSD.
authors.affiliation: IMARES Wageningen UR, PO Box 57, 1780 AB Den Helder, The Netherlands. Electronic address: edwin.foekema@wur.nl.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Foekema
authors.affiliation: IMARES Wageningen UR, PO Box 57, 1780 AB Den Helder, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N H B M
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kaag
authors.affiliation: Mermayde, P.O. Box 109, 1860 AC Bergen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K J M
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Regulatory Compliance Limited, Bilston Glen, Midlothian, EH20 9LZ, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D049872:Bivalvia; D033342:Copepoda; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017753:Ecosystem; D008974:Mollusca; D010839:Phytoplankton; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D015048:Zooplankton
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper
keywords: Copper; Ecosystem; Marine mesocosm; Species sensitivity distribution