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Effect of Hexagenia on Daphnia response in sediment toxicity tests
Author(s) -
Malueg K. W.,
Schuytema G. S.,
Gakstatter J. H.,
Krawczyk D. F.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620020109
Subject(s) - daphnia magna , daphnia , mayfly , microcosm , biology , cladocera , environmental chemistry , bioassay , sediment , toxicity , nymph , ecology , toxicology , chemistry , zooplankton , paleontology , organic chemistry
The toxicity of 12 freshwater sediments to the water flea, Daphnia magna Straus, and the mayfly nymph, Hexagenia , were tested in recycling laboratory microcosms. The organisms were tested both together and singly. Significant differences in Daphnia mortality between test and control sediments occurred in only two cases in which Daphnia was tested alone, and in five cases in which it was tested with Hexagenia. Significant Hexagenia mortality occurred in only two cases. The results imply that (a) Hexagenia is a less sensitive indicator of freshwater sediment toxicity than is Daphnia and (b) the presence of Hexagenia usually intensifies the Daphnia response. Tests that combine these two organisms are recommended, since Daphnia , although an open‐water species, responds not only to dissolved materials in the water but also to particulates released from the sediments by the physical activity of Hexagenia. These types of tests could be used, on a standardized, routine basis, as indicators of potential problems.