Zugl.: Frankfurt (Main), Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-61). Also available via the Internet.

Chironomus riparius are the least sensitive aquatic species in the U.S. EPA (2000) species sensitivity distribution (SSD) for cadmium (Cd). LC50 values over 25,000 times the Criterion Maximum Concentration suggest that chironomids have an extraordinary capacity to excrete or sequester cadmium as a means of increasing their overall tolerance to toxic metals. Using atomic absorption spectroscopy, we have shown saturable uptake of cadmium by whole chironomids and isolated guts. The transport of Cd from the gut lumen to the hemolymph exposes other tissues such as the nervous system and muscles to Cd. To quantify the movement of Cd2+ from the main point of entry, the digestive tract, we have identified regional differences of Cd transport along the gut using a Cd2+ -selective microelectrode in conjunction with the Scanning Ion Selective Electrode Technique (SIET). Cd2+ fluxes were determined in high mucosal or serosal Ca2+ to analyze the contribution of Ca2+ transporters to Cd2+ uptake. The major tissues responsible for elimination of Cd2+ from the hemolymph are the posterior midgut and the ileum. In addition, experiments using an isolated Malpighian tubule preparation (the Ramsay assay) have shown that the Malpighian tubules both sequester and secrete Cd2+. The tubules can secrete the entire hemolymph burden of Cd^2+ in~ 18 hours. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted with six populations of Chironomus riparius to test for variation among the populations in life history parameters such as growth. mortality and/or reproductive rates. Egg masses of C. riparius from five field populations and one laboratory population were obtained and used to initiate laboratory cultures for experimentation. Environmental effects on life history variations could be ruled out because experiments were conducted with larvae that had been reared in the laboratory for several generations under identical conditions. Populations were compared under a variety of experimental conditions to test whether they would respond similarly, if genetically similar. or differently, if their genotypes were different. The populations were subjected to a variety of experimental conditions in the laboratory in which temperature and food quality were manipulated. The population collected from Strouble''s Creek. Virginia demonstrated a pattern of high growth rate and low mortality rate. While the population collected from the final clarifier at the Madison, Wisconsin sewage treatment plant showed a pattern of low growth rate and high mortality rate. When several populations were transplanted into a high chlorine environment at the Blacksburg, Virginia sewage treatment plant, the population that had been previously exposed to the chlorine showed a significantly lower mortality rate than the other populations. A series of toxicity tests revealed different sensitivities among several populations to an experimental pesticide. Differences among populations were also found in numbers of egg masses produced, numbers of eggs per egg mass, length of time until the onset of adult emergence, and the overall length of the emergence period. The results of this study show the importance of genetic differences among populations of C. riparius. Many commonly measured life history parameters that are usually assumed to vary primarily from differences in environment have been shown to vary as well from underlying genetic differences between populations. The role of genetics should be assessed, whenever possible. in studies where comparisons between populations of aquatic insects are made, in order to determine the degree to which genetics and environmental variables contribute to observed population differences. / Ph. D.

The objective of this project was to investigate two mechanisms that are commonly thought to be responsible for heavy metal resistance in aquatic invertebrates. Data were generated based on comparisons of growth and respiration experiments using instar III and IV Chironomus riparius under the influence of 0.0, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 ppb zinc. Main comparisons were made between larvae that were cultured in clean water conditions and larvae from cultures that had been exposed to 10 ppb zinc for over a year and a half. Instar III larvae from clean water cultures showed significant reductions in growth and respiration rates when exposed to zinc concentrations of 62.5 ppb and greater; growth and respiration rates were significantly reduced in instar IV larvae at 125 and 62.5 ppb, respectively. Instar IV larvae from zinc cultures demonstrated increased tolerance to the metal while instar III larvae displayed no additional tolerance. To determine if the resistance was an acclimation or population adaptation phenomenon, additional growth and respiration experiments were conducted with F2 progeny of adults from zinc cultures that were reared in clean water. Results suggest that both acclimation and adaptation may be responsible for the increased tolerance to the metal. When growth and respiration data were converted to a caloric basis (calories respired per day and calories allocated as growth per day), non-tolerant individuals decreased the amount of energy assimilated per day and increased the proportion of energy respired vs. energy allocated to growth with increasing zinc concentration. Resistant individuals, as a result of changes in toxicological trends, demonstrated less dramatic versions of the previously described trends. / Master of Science

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Les variations de forme affectant le mentum et les ailes de Chironomus riparius (Insecte, Diptère), en réponse à un stress toxique, ont été analysées par morphométrie traditionnelle et par morphométrie géométrique. Afin de comprendre les causes et les mécanismes impliqués dans la genèse de ces variations phénotypiques, nous avons étudié : (1) la relation entre stress chimique, réponse cellulaire et variations de forme, (2) l'importance des variations de forme selon que le stress soit simple ou multiple, (3) l'évolution des variations de forme après la métamorphose des organismes ainsi que leur transmission à la génération suivante. Pour ce faire, nous avons exposé des larves de Chironomus riparius pendant l'intégralité de leur cycle larvaire, à du plomb (entre 3 et 500 mg/kg de MS), à du 4-nonylphénol (entre 0 et 200 mg/kg de MS), ainsi qu'à deux sédiments multi-contaminés provenant du milieu naturel : l'un caractérisé par une faible pollution d'origine urbaine, l'autre par une forte pollution d'origine urbaine et industrielle. Nous avons mesuré les effets du plomb sur la biochimie des organismes (réserves énergétiques, concentration en métallothionéines et dommages cellulaires). En outre, pour tous les essais, nous avons évalué les variations morphologiques (phénodéviations, asymétrie fluctuante et changement de la forme moyenne) affectant une pièce buccale du chironome : le mentum. Nous les avons également quantifiées, pour les essais portant sur les matrices provenant du milieu naturel, sur les ailes des adultes ainsi que sur le mentum des larves appartenant à la génération suivante. Enfin, dans la station dans laquelle le sédiment faiblement contaminé a été échantillonné, les variations phénotypiques affectant le mentum de la population en place, appartenant au genre Chironomus, ont été mesurées. Si le plomb affecte la biochimie de la larve de chironome, son action est, en revanche, peu visible au niveau de la forme du mentum. De même, nous n'observons que peu de variations morphologiques de cette pièce buccale après une exposition au 4-nonylphénol. Au contraire, nous notons une augmentation des phénodéviations du mentum chez les larves ayant crû dans le sédiment faiblement contaminé provenant du milieu naturel, ce qui suggère un effet toxique de cette matrice. Dans le sédiment fortement pollué, les faibles niveaux de phénodéviations et d'asymétrie fluctuante observés pourraient être expliqués par la sélection au cours du développement larvaire des individus présentant les phénotypes les plus stables. Cette hypothèse expliquerait, en outre, la ré-augmentation des instabilités de développement que nous observons chez la génération suivante placée dans un sédiment témoin. Aucune augmentation du niveau d'asymétrie fluctuante n'est détectée sur les ailes des adultes provenant de larves exposées. Enfin, nous remarquons que le niveau d'anomalies du mentum relevé dans le milieu naturel est similaire à celui observé sur la souche de laboratoire exposée au sédiment provenant de cette station. Les résultats obtenus mettent en évidence la faible réponse des biomarqueurs de forme étudiés en présence d'une pression toxique, qu'elle soit unique ou multiple. Ils soulignent, en outre, l'importance de la génétique de la population dans la réponse morphologique observée. Ces résultats suggèrent un intérêt limité de ces marqueurs ontogéniques pour révéler un stress chimique chez Chironomus riparius / Using traditional and geometric morphometrics, we analysed morphological variations of the mentum and the wings in Chironomus riparius (Insecta, Diptera) exposed to toxic stress. To understand both the causes and mechanisms involved in phenotypic changes, we studied: (1) the relationship between toxic stress, cellular response and shape variations, (2) the pattern of shape variations according to the type of stress: single vs toxic mixture, (3) the evolution of shape variations after metamorphosis and the transmission of the morphological defects to the next generation. To achieve this, Chironomus riparius larvae were exposed during their entire larval life cycle, first to sediment spiked with lead (from 3 to 500 mg/kg dry weight) or 4-NP (from 0 to 200 mg/kg dry weight), second to two sediments sampled in the wild. The first of the latter was characterized by light urban pollution and the other by heavy urban and industrial pollution. We measured the effects of lead on three biochemical markers (energy reserve content, concentrations of metallothionein and cellular damages). Furthermore, for all the bioassays, we assessed shape variations (phenodeviations, fluctuating asymmetry and mean shape changes) of the mentum, a mouthpart structure of the chironomid larvae. For both the sediments sampled in the wild, we also assessed the shape changes of imago wings and the shape changes of the mentum affecting the next generation. At the station where the sediment was characterized by light urban pollution, we also measured morphological variations of the mentum in the Chironomid population belonging to the genus Chironomus. Despite the adverse effects of lead observed at the biochemical level, only slight effects were observed in the mentum shape. Similarly, 4-NP exposure did not induce strong phenotypic defects. On the contrary, mentum deformities increased in Chironomid larvae exposed to slightly contaminated sediment sampled in the wild. This might have been due to the exposure to the toxic mixture. In the heavily contaminated sediment, the low levels of both deformities and fluctuating asymmetry observed might have been the result of selection acting during early developmental stages. This hypothesis could thus explain the increase of developmental instability observed in the next generation placed in a control sediment. In the imago from exposed larvae, no increases in fluctuating wing asymmetry were detected. We observed that the level of morphological variations observed in natural population was similar to that detected in the laboratory in our stock culture reared in the sediment from this station. These results underlined the weak response of the shape biomarkers studied to toxic stress, whether related to multiple toxic exposure or not. Moreover, they highlighted the importance of genetics in shape changes. Consequently, the use of these ontogenic biomarkers as indicators of toxic stress in Chironomus riparius seems to be of limited interest

Existing ecotoxicity data for chemicals vary to a high extent between the environmental compartments water and sediment, since the evaluation of contaminants has historically focused on water exposition. Many anthropogenic chemicals and waste materials, including toxic organic and inorganic chemicals, adsorb to particulate matter and accumulate in sediments, and may thus be a threat to organisms living in the sediment. The invertebrates Chironomus riparius and Lumbriculus variegatus were selected as representatives of endobenthic living organisms. Acute toxicity tests, via water-only exposure, and sediment toxicity tests were conducted with the two endobenthic invertebrates. In sediment toxicity tests, organisms are mainly exposed to sediment- and particle-bound chemicals and dissolved chemical in the pore water. Toxicity data for algae, daphnids, and fish (via water-only exposure) are available for many substances, whereas the existing sediment toxicity data are rather rare. Thus, the interest arises to predict sediment toxicity for sediment-dwelling invertebrates from existing acute toxicity data of tests with water-only exposure. The main emphasis of this work was placed on one metal compound and seven organic chemicals. The objective of this study was fivefold: (1) develop methods and improve existing procedures on acute and sediment toxicity testing of the two invertebrates; (2) conduct both acute toxicity tests via water exposure and long-term sediment toxicity tests for the selected model substances to generate data for comparative discussion; (3) assess correlations among acute toxicity data of the organisms exposed via water-only and correlations among sediment toxicity data of the two endobenthic invertebrates for the eight tested chemicals; (4) assess possible forecasting for sediment toxicity from acute toxicity (via water-only exposure) and (5) assess exposure effects to determine the main exposure route. Acute toxicity data of the eight tested chemicals of D. magna significantly correlated with data of L. variegatus and C. riparius (p<0.05). However, a prediction of toxicity based on D. magna data bears high uncertainty, due to the small data set and high variation in sensitivity of the organisms. Existing sediment toxicity test methods were improved to meet the demand for artificial sediments containing organic matter that serves sufficiently as internal food source for the test organisms, and thus representing natural exposure conditions. However, the sediments that were used for the two organisms to test the selected model substances differed in sediment composition. Therefore, a sediment with the same sediment composition and the same water-to-sediment ratio for both invertebrates was developed, to have similar exposure conditions. In sediment toxicity tests, C. riparius was observed to be more sensitive than L. variegatus and no correlation was observed among data of the invertebrates. For the selected substances, lowest effect concentrations were observed for 3,4-dichloroaniline, whereas effect concentrations were the highest for benzo[a]pyrene. No correlations were found between the acute toxicity data of exposure via the water phase and sediment toxicity data, thus making a prediction of sediment toxicity data impossible. From analytical measurements of chemicals concentration in the compartments overlying, pore water, and bulk sediment, partition coefficients on sediment water partitioning were calculated. The highest partition coefficient ratios for sediment water partitioning were found for the high lipophilic organic substances 4,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan (DDT) and benzo[a]pyrene. Further, it was found that the main exposure routes in the 28-day sediment toxicity tests were not only chemical but species-dependent. As a result of very differing exposure routes for the tested chemicals and the absence of correlations from the acute to sediment toxicity data, sediment toxicity tests are necessary to assess the toxicity of chemicals on sediment inhabiting organisms. / In den meisten standardisierten ökotoxikologischen Untersuchungen zur Abschätzung des Gefährdungspotentials von Chemikalien für Gewässer erfolgt die Exposition der Organismen über die Wasserphase. Viele Schadstoffe, die in die aquatische Umwelt gelangen, adsorbieren aufgrund ihrer physikalisch-chemischen Eigenschaften an die Oberflächen von Schwebstoffen, sedimentieren und erreichen Sedimentkonzentrationen, die möglicherweise eine Gefahr für sedimentbewohnende Organismen darstellen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden für benthische Invertebraten Testverfahren etabliert, bei denen eine Exposition der Organismen über das Sediment, hier hauptsächlich über die an ingestierte Sedimentbestandteile gebundene oder über die im Porenwasser gelöste Chemikalie (28-Tage Sedimenttoxizitätstest), und über dieWasserphase (Akuttoxizitätstest) erfolgte. Die Invertebraten Chironomus riparius und Lumbriculus variegatus wurden als typische Vertreter endobenthischer Organismen ausgewählt. Für viele Chemikalien liegen Daten zur akuten Toxizität für Algen, Daphnien und Fische für die Wasserexposition vor. Demgegenüber sind nur wenige Daten zur Toxizität für benthische Organismen weder mit einer Wasser- noch mit einer Sedimentexposition vorhanden. Als Modellsubstanzen wurden eine anorganische und sieben organische Substanzen für die Untersuchungen ausgewählt. Ziele dieser Arbeit waren: (1) die Entwicklung und Verbesserung von bestehenden Methoden zur Bestimmung der akuten Toxizität mitWasserexposition und der Sedimenttoxizität für die beiden Invertebraten; (2) die Durchführung der Tests mit den acht ausgewählten Modellsubstanzen zur vergleichenden Betrachtung; (3) die Beurteilung einer Korrelation der Daten zur Akuttoxizität innerhalb der verschiedenen Organismen mit Wasserexposition und einer Korrelation der Daten zwischen den beiden benthischen Organismen bei Sedimentexposition; (4) die Beurteilung einer Korrelation zwischen Daten der benthischen Invertebraten zur Akuttoxizität mit Wasserexposition und Sedimenttoxizität und (5) die Ermittlung und Bewertung der Expositionspfade. Die Akuttoxizitätsdaten von D. magna korrelieren significant (p<0.05) mit den Daten der beiden Invertebraten. Jedoch ist eine Vorhersage aufgrund des kleinen Datensatzes und der großen Unterschiede in der Empfindlichkeit der Arten abzulehnen. Um einer möglichst natürlichen Expositionssituation in Sedimenten zu entsprechen, wurden künstliche Sedimente mit interner Futterquelle, die auch mit der zu testenden Chemikalie kontaminiert wurde, entwickelt und für die Tests mit den Modellsubstanzen verwendet. Ein Nachteil war die unterschiedliche Sedimentzusammensetzung für die beiden Organismen. Um gleiche Expositionsbedingungen für beide Testorganismen zu gewährleisten, wurde ein artifizielles Sediment mit gleicher Zusammensetzung und gleichem Volumenverhältnis zwischen Sediment und Überstandswasser entwickelt. In den Sedimenttoxizitätstests reagierte C. riparius empfindlicher als L. variegatus. Die Effektkonzentrationen waren am niedrigsten für 3,4-Dichloraniline und am höchsten für Benzo[a]pyren. Die Korrelationen zwischen den Ergebnissen aus Akut- und Sedimenttoxizitstests waren nicht signifikant (p>0.05). Folglich läßt sich die Sedimenttoxizität nicht aus Daten zur akuten Toxizität mit Wasserexposition abschätzen. Aus den analytischen Messungen von Sediment-, Porenwasser- und Überstandswasserproben wurden die Koeffizienten für die Verteilung zwischen Sediment und Wasser berechnet. Für die stark lipophilen Stoffe, 4-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan (DDT) und Benzo[a]pyren wurden die höchsten Koeffizienten errechnet. Weiterhin wurde festgestellt, daß die Hauptexpositionspfade in Sedimenttoxizitätstests einerseits von der Chemikalie und andererseits von der verwendeten Spezies abhängen. Aufgrund der Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit und der Tatsache, daß Sedimente “Senken” für viele Schadstoffe sind, müssen zur Erfassung und Bewertung des Gefährdungspotentials von Chemikalien gegenüber Sedimentbewohnern weiterhin Sedimenttoxizitätstests durchgeführt werden.

Existing ecotoxicity data for chemicals vary to a high extent between the environmental compartments water and sediment, since the evaluation of contaminants has historically focused on water exposition. Many anthropogenic chemicals and waste materials, including toxic organic and inorganic chemicals, adsorb to particulate matter and accumulate in sediments, and may thus be a threat to organisms living in the sediment. The invertebrates Chironomus riparius and Lumbriculus variegatus were selected as representatives of endobenthic living organisms. Acute toxicity tests, via water-only exposure, and sediment toxicity tests were conducted with the two endobenthic invertebrates. In sediment toxicity tests, organisms are mainly exposed to sediment- and particle-bound chemicals and dissolved chemical in the pore water. Toxicity data for algae, daphnids, and fish (via water-only exposure) are available for many substances, whereas the existing sediment toxicity data are rather rare. Thus, the interest arises to predict sediment toxicity for sediment-dwelling invertebrates from existing acute toxicity data of tests with water-only exposure. The main emphasis of this work was placed on one metal compound and seven organic chemicals. The objective of this study was fivefold: (1) develop methods and improve existing procedures on acute and sediment toxicity testing of the two invertebrates; (2) conduct both acute toxicity tests via water exposure and long-term sediment toxicity tests for the selected model substances to generate data for comparative discussion; (3) assess correlations among acute toxicity data of the organisms exposed via water-only and correlations among sediment toxicity data of the two endobenthic invertebrates for the eight tested chemicals; (4) assess possible forecasting for sediment toxicity from acute toxicity (via water-only exposure) and (5) assess exposure effects to determine the main exposure route. Acute toxicity data of the eight tested chemicals of D. magna significantly correlated with data of L. variegatus and C. riparius (p<0.05). However, a prediction of toxicity based on D. magna data bears high uncertainty, due to the small data set and high variation in sensitivity of the organisms. Existing sediment toxicity test methods were improved to meet the demand for artificial sediments containing organic matter that serves sufficiently as internal food source for the test organisms, and thus representing natural exposure conditions. However, the sediments that were used for the two organisms to test the selected model substances differed in sediment composition. Therefore, a sediment with the same sediment composition and the same water-to-sediment ratio for both invertebrates was developed, to have similar exposure conditions. In sediment toxicity tests, C. riparius was observed to be more sensitive than L. variegatus and no correlation was observed among data of the invertebrates. For the selected substances, lowest effect concentrations were observed for 3,4-dichloroaniline, whereas effect concentrations were the highest for benzo[a]pyrene. No correlations were found between the acute toxicity data of exposure via the water phase and sediment toxicity data, thus making a prediction of sediment toxicity data impossible. From analytical measurements of chemicals concentration in the compartments overlying, pore water, and bulk sediment, partition coefficients on sediment water partitioning were calculated. The highest partition coefficient ratios for sediment water partitioning were found for the high lipophilic organic substances 4,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan (DDT) and benzo[a]pyrene. Further, it was found that the main exposure routes in the 28-day sediment toxicity tests were not only chemical but species-dependent. As a result of very differing exposure routes for the tested chemicals and the absence of correlations from the acute to sediment toxicity data, sediment toxicity tests are necessary to assess the toxicity of chemicals on sediment inhabiting organisms. / In den meisten standardisierten ökotoxikologischen Untersuchungen zur Abschätzung des Gefährdungspotentials von Chemikalien für Gewässer erfolgt die Exposition der Organismen über die Wasserphase. Viele Schadstoffe, die in die aquatische Umwelt gelangen, adsorbieren aufgrund ihrer physikalisch-chemischen Eigenschaften an die Oberflächen von Schwebstoffen, sedimentieren und erreichen Sedimentkonzentrationen, die möglicherweise eine Gefahr für sedimentbewohnende Organismen darstellen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden für benthische Invertebraten Testverfahren etabliert, bei denen eine Exposition der Organismen über das Sediment, hier hauptsächlich über die an ingestierte Sedimentbestandteile gebundene oder über die im Porenwasser gelöste Chemikalie (28-Tage Sedimenttoxizitätstest), und über dieWasserphase (Akuttoxizitätstest) erfolgte. Die Invertebraten Chironomus riparius und Lumbriculus variegatus wurden als typische Vertreter endobenthischer Organismen ausgewählt. Für viele Chemikalien liegen Daten zur akuten Toxizität für Algen, Daphnien und Fische für die Wasserexposition vor. Demgegenüber sind nur wenige Daten zur Toxizität für benthische Organismen weder mit einer Wasser- noch mit einer Sedimentexposition vorhanden. Als Modellsubstanzen wurden eine anorganische und sieben organische Substanzen für die Untersuchungen ausgewählt. Ziele dieser Arbeit waren: (1) die Entwicklung und Verbesserung von bestehenden Methoden zur Bestimmung der akuten Toxizität mitWasserexposition und der Sedimenttoxizität für die beiden Invertebraten; (2) die Durchführung der Tests mit den acht ausgewählten Modellsubstanzen zur vergleichenden Betrachtung; (3) die Beurteilung einer Korrelation der Daten zur Akuttoxizität innerhalb der verschiedenen Organismen mit Wasserexposition und einer Korrelation der Daten zwischen den beiden benthischen Organismen bei Sedimentexposition; (4) die Beurteilung einer Korrelation zwischen Daten der benthischen Invertebraten zur Akuttoxizität mit Wasserexposition und Sedimenttoxizität und (5) die Ermittlung und Bewertung der Expositionspfade. Die Akuttoxizitätsdaten von D. magna korrelieren significant (p<0.05) mit den Daten der beiden Invertebraten. Jedoch ist eine Vorhersage aufgrund des kleinen Datensatzes und der großen Unterschiede in der Empfindlichkeit der Arten abzulehnen. Um einer möglichst natürlichen Expositionssituation in Sedimenten zu entsprechen, wurden künstliche Sedimente mit interner Futterquelle, die auch mit der zu testenden Chemikalie kontaminiert wurde, entwickelt und für die Tests mit den Modellsubstanzen verwendet. Ein Nachteil war die unterschiedliche Sedimentzusammensetzung für die beiden Organismen. Um gleiche Expositionsbedingungen für beide Testorganismen zu gewährleisten, wurde ein artifizielles Sediment mit gleicher Zusammensetzung und gleichem Volumenverhältnis zwischen Sediment und Überstandswasser entwickelt. In den Sedimenttoxizitätstests reagierte C. riparius empfindlicher als L. variegatus. Die Effektkonzentrationen waren am niedrigsten für 3,4-Dichloraniline und am höchsten für Benzo[a]pyren. Die Korrelationen zwischen den Ergebnissen aus Akut- und Sedimenttoxizitstests waren nicht signifikant (p>0.05). Folglich läßt sich die Sedimenttoxizität nicht aus Daten zur akuten Toxizität mit Wasserexposition abschätzen. Aus den analytischen Messungen von Sediment-, Porenwasser- und Überstandswasserproben wurden die Koeffizienten für die Verteilung zwischen Sediment und Wasser berechnet. Für die stark lipophilen Stoffe, 4-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan (DDT) und Benzo[a]pyren wurden die höchsten Koeffizienten errechnet. Weiterhin wurde festgestellt, daß die Hauptexpositionspfade in Sedimenttoxizitätstests einerseits von der Chemikalie und andererseits von der verwendeten Spezies abhängen. Aufgrund der Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit und der Tatsache, daß Sedimente “Senken” für viele Schadstoffe sind, müssen zur Erfassung und Bewertung des Gefährdungspotentials von Chemikalien gegenüber Sedimentbewohnern weiterhin Sedimenttoxizitätstests durchgeführt werden.