The potential role of the estuarine amphipod Gammarus duebeni in sub-lethal ecotoxicology testing

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of Gammarus duebeni as an indicator of estuarine pollution. This involved the development of sub-lethal pollution bioassays monitoring respiration rate, swimming efficiency and precopula pairing; assessment of the sensitivity of the assays to copper pollution and comparison of the suitability of the assays. Significant impairment of respiration rate, as measured by changes in pleopod beat, was determined at a copper concentration of 600 μg 1−1. Significant impairment to swimming ability was determined after exposure to copper pollution at a concentration of 600 μg 1−1 and precopula pairing was significantly reduced at a concentration of 600 μg 1−1. Of the assays, swimming efficiency and pleopod beat frequency appear to offer the most potential for further development. The lower limit of sensitivity of the bioassays developed in this study is yet to be determined. However, the levels of copper shown to induce an effect can be experienced in the natural environment. The study has shown thatGammarus duebeni can be used in sub-lethal pollution assays, at relatively high Cu concentrations, and indicates that it is potentially a useful species with which to assess estuarine water and sediment pollution.

Impact of copper, pentachlorophenol and benzo[a]pyrene on the swimming efficiency and embryogenesis of the amphipod Chaetogammarus marinus

“…For example, using an avoidance behaviour assay Benfield & Aldrich (1994) found that Penaeus aztecus was able to detect and avoid PCP at a concentration of 91 µg l -1 . The results also support the contention that these behavioural assays are useful in ecotoxicological testing (Miller 1980, Gerhardt 1995, Lawrence & Poulter 1996, Lawrence & Hemingway 2001. They are rapid indicators of stress and allow an evaluation of the functional integrity of a number of physiological processes including respiration, energy metabolism, motor function and swimming coordination.…”

“…In previous studies a number of sub-lethal bioassays for a range of representative pollutants were developed and tested using the estuarine amphipod Gammarus duebeni (Lawrence & Poulter 1996. G. duebeni is generally widely distributed in North Sea estuaries (Bulnheim 1979, Ritz 1980, Sheader 1983.…”

“…Until recently, estimation of toxic impacts in estuarine areas was predominantly derived from experiments using marine species. However, recent studies have increasingly used estuarine species as test organisms (Lawrence & Poulter 1996, Roast et al 1998, 2000a,b, Baron et al 1999. This is important because estuarine species may have distinctly different responses to pollution from their marine counterparts.…”

“…This is important because estuarine species may have distinctly different responses to pollution from their marine counterparts. Through their adaptation to the estuarine environment, they may either be pre-adapted to tolerate pollution stress or be more susceptible to any additional stress (Lawrence & Poulter 1996).…”

“…Indeed, the studies by Lawrence & Poulter (1996 indicate that swimming efficiency in Gammarus duebeni is significantly impaired at concentrations of 45 µg l -1 Cu, 20 µg l -1 PCP and 8 µg l -1 B[a]P. On the Humber, these Cu concentrations are periodically experienced at a number of sites. These studies further highlight the potential use of behavioural endpoints in ecotoxicology.…”