Toxicity Testing with Communities: Microcosms, Mesocosms, and Whole-System Manipulations

Cairns, John; Bidwell, Joseph R.; Arnegard, Matthew E.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-4058-7_2

Cited by 21 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Smaller larvae experience increased vulnerability to predation, starvation, and overwinter mortality [37,38]. While growth bioassays using larval fish are a quick, useful starting point in determining chronic toxicity of effluent, the results of these tests must be applied with caution to field situations, to other phases of an organism's life cycle, and to different species [39,40]. Based on laboratory results, larvae living in water from SCL sites might be predicted to grow larger and more quickly than fish living in unprocessed or natural sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth of Fathead Minnows in Oilsand-Processed Wastewater in Laboratory and Field

Siwik¹,

Meer²,

MacKinnon³

et al. 2000

Environ Toxicol Chem

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Abstract-Two waste products of Syncrude Canada Ltd. (SCL) oilsands mine are mature fine tailings (MFT), a toxic aqueous suspension of particles, organic acids, bitumen, and metals, and tailings pond water (TPW), a saline solution containing organic and inorganic contaminants. The chemical profiles of MFT interstitial water and TPW are very similar. Syncrude Canada has proposed disposing of MFT in constructed lakes, which would be lined with MFT and capped with clean water. As the MFT consolidates, MFT-associated water would be released into the overlying watercap. Prototype ponds support fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), but the long-term viability of these populations is unknown. This study attempts to determine if exposure to MFT and TPW, a related waste product, affected growth of fathead minnow larvae in the laboratory and field. Laboratory larval growth bioassays (7 and 56 d) on whole effluent from numerous prototype ponds yielded no significant differences in dry weight, but one 7-d bioassay showed reduced survival in two SCL sites. A 56-d growth bioassay showed significant increases in length of fish exposed to SCL wastewater at 7 d but not at 28 or 56 d. Larvae exposed as embryos and then introduced into field mesocosms did display significant differences in dry weight. In this instance, fish exposed to wastewater were significantly larger during the laboratory portion of the test (initial), but after 21 d in a field mesocosm (final), they were similar in size or smaller than fish growing in nonprocessed water.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth of Fathead Minnows in Oilsand-Processed Wastewater in Laboratory and Field

Siwik¹,

Meer²,

MacKinnon³

et al. 2000

Environ Toxicol Chem

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“…The most objective way to determine metric sensitivity is by experimental manipulation with a known environmental stressor and subsequent measurement of the response. The advent of the use of microcosms and mesocosms in ecotoxicologic research may further our understanding of the responses of community-and ecosystem-level metrics to various contaminants [23,24]. This may be due to the absence of experimental work using entire communities and ecosystems (but see [12,22]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity and variability of metrics used in biological assessments of running waters

Carlisle

Clements

1999

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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We evaluated the variability and sensitivity of a suite of biological metrics for detecting the ecological effects of metals in streams. The variability of these metrics was evaluated by partitioning the total variance in a three‐way analysis of variance among spatial, seasonal, annual, and temporal–spatial interaction components using data from 6 years of biomonitoring on the Arkansas River, Colorado, USA. We then calculated the statistical power of these metrics given a likely experimental design aimed at detecting metal‐pollution effects in streams and using estimates of variability from field data. Finally, we experimentally tested the sensitivity of these metrics to a metal mixture in stream microcosms. More than one half of the variation in richness and scraper functional feeding group metrics was explained by differences among sampling sites, which were presumably due to the presence of metal pollution. Statistical power was highest for richness measures and low for all other metrics examined. Experimental exposures revealed that richness measures were also more sensitive than functional group metrics. Our results support those of previous, comparative studies that show the superiority (in terms of sensitivity, variability, and statistical power) of taxa richness measures. Most abundance, ratio, and functional group metrics were either insensitive to metal pollution, highly variable, or both. We conclude that similar systematic testing on a variety of metrics with other stressors will greatly enhance the utility of biological metrics in assessing the ecological effects of contaminants and establishing biological criteria.

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“…Many authors stress today that traditional (eco)-toxicological methods are inadequate to found decisions aimed at planetary sustainable development, maintaining ecosystems services and life support, and their health (Cairns et al, 1996). A move to considering more integrated approaches to assess the effects of toxicant started about two decades ago especially because extrapolation from laboratory single-species toxicity tests to an ecosystem effects approach was found inadequate.…”

Section: Need For a Systemic Concept To Better Meet Protection Goalsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Challenging the current strategy of radiological protection of the environment: arguments for an ecosystem approach

Bréchignac

Doi²

2009

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Toxicity Testing with Communities: Microcosms, Mesocosms, and Whole-System Manipulations

Cited by 21 publications

References 57 publications

Growth of Fathead Minnows in Oilsand-Processed Wastewater in Laboratory and Field

Growth of Fathead Minnows in Oilsand-Processed Wastewater in Laboratory and Field

Sensitivity and variability of metrics used in biological assessments of running waters

Challenging the current strategy of radiological protection of the environment: arguments for an ecosystem approach

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