In Situ Exposure of Aquatic Invertebrates to Detect the Effects of Point and Nonpoint Source-Related Chemical Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems

Abstract

As an intermediate step between laboratory and (semi-)field experiments, in situ bioassays are a valuable active biomonitoring tool for the assessment of effects. By measuring lethal or sublethal responses of caged aquatic (in)vertebrates in the field, the biological consequences of point and nonpoint sources of pollution can be determined. As the test organisms—here we focus on aquatic invertebrates—and response variables selected can be diverse, we first provide some general considerations related to the experimental design including the selection of test species, sampling sites, response variables, replication, as well as data evaluation. Subsequently, a case study using leaf-shredding amphipods as model organisms for the assessment of point sources of pollution is presented to underpin these theoretical considerations by a practical example. Thereby, a more detailed protocol is provided to contextualize the results of this case study. All in all, this book chapter aims at providing guidance for researchers interested in employing in situ bioassays in their studies or monitoring efforts.

Keywords

Active biomonitoring; Chemical stress response; Feeding rate; Gammarids; In situ; Sublethal responses

Published in

Methods in pharmacology and toxicology
2022, pages: 159-178
Title: In Situ Bioavailability and Toxicity of Organic Chemicals in Aquatic Systems
Publisher: Humana Press Inc.

SLU Authors

• Bundschuh, Mirco

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Koblenz-Landau

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7653_2019_33
• ISBN: 978-1-0716-2352-7
• eISBN: 978-1-0716-2353-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129746