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Bioassay techniques for toxicological studies on aquatic organisms
OLR(1979)26(12)
E. Biological Oceanography
meter and 3 shutters which open upon bottom contact and close automatically upon lift-off. The device is sturdy, reliable and collects a minimum of sediment. Data for filtered water volumes, special problems and future plans for improvements are presented. Dc~partement des Sciences biologiques, Universit~ de Montreal, Case postale 6128, Montrc~al, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada. (rlo) 79:6097 Collier, A. F., R. J. P. Burnham and P. J. Herring, 1979.A system for the collection of comparative emission spectra [from bioluminesccnt organisms] suitable for shipboard use. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 59(2): 489-495. 'A programmable calculator system is used to control a monochromator and to measure, record and graphically display' spectral emissions from bioluminescent animals. Results from calibration sources and three animals are described. Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, MSES, No. 1 Dock, Barry, S. Glamorgan, Wales. (mjj)
79:6098 Colquhoun, D., 1978. Critical analysis of numerical biological data. CODA TA Bull., 29: 26-33. Discussed are the design, subsequent statistical analysis, and sources of error in quantitative biological experiments intended to discover the mechanism of observed responses, not merely their magnitude. Department of Pharmacology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London, SWi7 ORE, U.K. (izs)
79:6099 Flores-Coto, Cesar, 1978. Eficiencia de la pipeta de Stempel para la obtenci6n de alicuotas de muestras de zooplancton. [Efficiency of the Stempel pipette for aliquot sampling of zooplankton.] An. Cent. Ciinc. Mar. Limnol., Univ. nac. aut6n. M~x., 5(I): 239-246. Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de M~xico, Centro de Preclasificaci6n Oce~inica de M~xico, Centro de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Mexico. 79:6100 Gray, J. S. and F. B. Mirza, 1979. A possible method for the detection of pollution-induced disturbance on marine benthic communities. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 10(5): 142-146. In unpolluted areas the log-normal distribution of individuals fits data from many benthic communities. Under slight pollution the data show a distinct break in the normally straight line log-normal plot, and the plot covers more geometric classes than data from unpolluted areas. Under more severe pollution stress the data show a return to a log-normal distribution, but with a shallower slope, and coverage of more geometric classes than data from less polluted areas.
793
An explanation for such patterns is given. Institutt for Marinbiologi og Limnologi, Universitetet i Oslo, Postboks 1064, Blindern, Oslo 3, Norway. 79:6101 Herbland, A. and B. Voituriez, 1977. Evaluation de la production primaire et de la chlorophylle a partir des donnc~es hydrologiques: application au golfe de Guin~e. [Evaluation of primary production and chlorophyll a from hydrological data: application to the Gulf of Guinea.] Doc. scient. Cent. Rech. oc~anogr., Abidjan, 8(I ): 73-84. Gulf of Guinea phytoplankton abundance is estimated and a relationship previously described between depth of the nitracline and depth of the maximum thermal gradient is confirmed. Oc~anographes de I'ORSTOM au C.R.O., B.P. V 18, ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast. (izs)
79:6102 Hinton, G. C. F. and A. D. Boney, 1978/79. An integrating sampler for quantitative ecological studies on surface waters. Meeresforschung ( Repts mar. Res. ), 27(I 7:48-5 I. A neuston sampler (to 5 cm depth) has been developed which combines the side-tracking, water-planing features of an earlier apparatus (Yami, 1970) with an ability to pump up to 60 L of sampled water to the towing vessel over a distance of about !.5 km. Botany Department, University of Glasgow, Scotland. (sir)
79:6103 lvanovici, A. M., 1978/79. Adenylate energy charge: potential value as a tool for rapid determination of toxicity effects. Fish. mar. Serv., tech. Rept, Can., 862: 241-255. The adenylate energy charge (AEC = [ATP + 1/2 ADP]/[ATP + ADP + A M P ] ) ofPyrazus ebeninus (Gastropoda) and Trichomya hirsuta (Bivalvia) was consistently between 0.8 and 0.9 in control animals and was 0.55 to 0.65 (significantly less) in animals stressed by reduced salinity, increased temperature, and exposure to hydrocarbons or power station outfall. Measurements of AEC, which are rapid, easy and have low variability, may be useful in toxicitv monitoring programs. Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602, U.S.A. (mij)
79:6104 Mayfield, C. I., W. E. lnniss and J. E. Thompson, 1978/79. Bioassay techniques for toxicological studies on aquatic organisms. Fish. mar. Serv., tech. Rept. Can., 862:225-231. Two techniques are described. The first involves u.v. fluorescence microscopy of sediment bacteria in incubation chambers after staining with 8-anilino-lnaphthalene sulfonic acid; periodic examination of the same sediment sample allows the effects of added toxicants to be assessed. The second technique uses
794
E. Biological Oceanography
the phase transition temperature of membranes from algae as an indicator of damage caused by the application of toxic materials; increases in this transition temperature after treatment of algae with toxic materials were observed. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3GI, Canada.
79:6105 Moed, J. R. and G. M. Hallegraeff, 1978. Some problems in the estimation of chiorophyll-a and phaeopigments from pre- and post-acidification spectrophotometric measurements. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr., 63(6): 787-800. Possible inaccuracies in discriminating between chlorophyll-a and phaeopigments by spectrophotometry are identified. Optimum conditions for pigment acidification applications include a pH range 2.6-2.8, the addition of dilute hydrochloric acid to organic solvents containing 10-20% water, and the omission of MgCO3 during filtration. Limnological Institute, Department Oosterzee. De Aakers 47, Oosterzee (Frl), The Netherlands. (izs)
79:6106 Oudot, Claude, 1978. lnt~r~t du concept NO (oxygene corrig6 de la respiration) pour 1'6tude de l'Ecosysteme de I'upwelling ¢xluatorial. [NOrespiration corrected oxygen: a useful concept for the study of the Equatorial Upwelling ecosystem.] Cah. ORSTOM, S~r. Oc~anogr., 16(2): 191-199. The parameter ' N O ' (respiration-corrected dissolved 02 content of a water mass) is a good hydrological tracer in the Equatorial Upwelling region. Meridional distributions of NO confirm previous ideas on Equatorial Upwelling dynamics and the organic production-remineralization cycle. O.R.S.T.O.M., C.R.O.B.P. V 18, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. (mjj)
79:6107 Peters, R. H., 1977/78. Empirical physiological models of ecosystem processes. Proc. inst. Ass. theor, appl. Limnol. (Verb. int. Verein. theor. Angew. Limnol.), 20(1): I lO-118. Equations which empirically describe physiological rates as a function of animal body weight are linked in a model which gives qualitative predictions about holistic ecosystem properties such as successional change or material flow. Results suggest that an organism's trophic position has little effect on ingestion or production rates, and that poikilothermy has little effect on production. Increased variation at small body sizes could be due to experimental artifacts. Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 McGregor Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3A I BI, Canada. (mjj)
OLR(1979)26(12)
79:6108 Scherer, E. and S. Harrison, 1978/79. Locomotor activity testing using sonar beam interruptions. Fish. mar. Serv., tech. Rept, Can., 862: 201-210. Two prototype actograph systems for monitoring changes in aquatic organisms' locomotor activity patterns and levels are described. Interruption of the sonar beam (200 kHz) by fish 20-60 cm in length caused a 90-99% drop on the receiving end of the signal. The systems may have application for monitoring toxicant effects on locomotor activity. Freshwater Institute, Department of Fisheries and Environment, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada. (smf)
79:6109 Shipton, H. W., 1979. The microprocessor, a new tool for the biosciences. A. Rev. Biophys. Bioengng, 8: 269-286. Potential applications of microcomputer methods are reviewed with an emphasis on signal acquisition, processing and control. Applications that are independent of computer size are excluded, as are those which require extensive or conventional peripherals. Implications of the development of this new technology are discussed. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, U.S.A. (rio)
79:6110 Swartz, R. C., W. A. DeBen and F. A. Cole, 1979. A bioassay for the toxicity of sediment to marine macrobenthos. J. Wat. Pollut. Control Fed.. 51 (5): 944-950. Presented are results of experiments that contributed to the development of the bioassay for dredged sediments required by the Ocean Dumping Regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency. Sediments from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the U.S., and the Gulf of Mexico, were used. Five species of macrobenthic invertebrates were selected as the best test organisms. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport, Oreg., U.S.A. (mjj)
79:6111 Throndsen, Jahn, 1978. Preservation and storage [of phytoplankton]. Monogr. oceanogr. Methodol., U.N., 6: 69-74. The critical stage in most phytoplankton work, i.e., the handling of samples after collection, is discussed as well as the minimization of quantitative and qualitative compositional changes before subsequent treatment of the samples. Staining procedures are briefly covered. Department of Marine Biology and Limnoiogy, Section of Marine Botany, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1069, Blindern, Oslo 3, Norway. (izs)
E. Biological Oceanography
meter and 3 shutters which open upon bottom contact and close automatically upon lift-off. The device is sturdy, reliable and collects a minimum of sediment. Data for filtered water volumes, special problems and future plans for improvements are presented. Dc~partement des Sciences biologiques, Universit~ de Montreal, Case postale 6128, Montrc~al, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada. (rlo) 79:6097 Collier, A. F., R. J. P. Burnham and P. J. Herring, 1979.A system for the collection of comparative emission spectra [from bioluminesccnt organisms] suitable for shipboard use. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 59(2): 489-495. 'A programmable calculator system is used to control a monochromator and to measure, record and graphically display' spectral emissions from bioluminescent animals. Results from calibration sources and three animals are described. Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, MSES, No. 1 Dock, Barry, S. Glamorgan, Wales. (mjj)
79:6098 Colquhoun, D., 1978. Critical analysis of numerical biological data. CODA TA Bull., 29: 26-33. Discussed are the design, subsequent statistical analysis, and sources of error in quantitative biological experiments intended to discover the mechanism of observed responses, not merely their magnitude. Department of Pharmacology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London, SWi7 ORE, U.K. (izs)
79:6099 Flores-Coto, Cesar, 1978. Eficiencia de la pipeta de Stempel para la obtenci6n de alicuotas de muestras de zooplancton. [Efficiency of the Stempel pipette for aliquot sampling of zooplankton.] An. Cent. Ciinc. Mar. Limnol., Univ. nac. aut6n. M~x., 5(I): 239-246. Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de M~xico, Centro de Preclasificaci6n Oce~inica de M~xico, Centro de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Mexico. 79:6100 Gray, J. S. and F. B. Mirza, 1979. A possible method for the detection of pollution-induced disturbance on marine benthic communities. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 10(5): 142-146. In unpolluted areas the log-normal distribution of individuals fits data from many benthic communities. Under slight pollution the data show a distinct break in the normally straight line log-normal plot, and the plot covers more geometric classes than data from unpolluted areas. Under more severe pollution stress the data show a return to a log-normal distribution, but with a shallower slope, and coverage of more geometric classes than data from less polluted areas.
793
An explanation for such patterns is given. Institutt for Marinbiologi og Limnologi, Universitetet i Oslo, Postboks 1064, Blindern, Oslo 3, Norway. 79:6101 Herbland, A. and B. Voituriez, 1977. Evaluation de la production primaire et de la chlorophylle a partir des donnc~es hydrologiques: application au golfe de Guin~e. [Evaluation of primary production and chlorophyll a from hydrological data: application to the Gulf of Guinea.] Doc. scient. Cent. Rech. oc~anogr., Abidjan, 8(I ): 73-84. Gulf of Guinea phytoplankton abundance is estimated and a relationship previously described between depth of the nitracline and depth of the maximum thermal gradient is confirmed. Oc~anographes de I'ORSTOM au C.R.O., B.P. V 18, ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast. (izs)
79:6102 Hinton, G. C. F. and A. D. Boney, 1978/79. An integrating sampler for quantitative ecological studies on surface waters. Meeresforschung ( Repts mar. Res. ), 27(I 7:48-5 I. A neuston sampler (to 5 cm depth) has been developed which combines the side-tracking, water-planing features of an earlier apparatus (Yami, 1970) with an ability to pump up to 60 L of sampled water to the towing vessel over a distance of about !.5 km. Botany Department, University of Glasgow, Scotland. (sir)
79:6103 lvanovici, A. M., 1978/79. Adenylate energy charge: potential value as a tool for rapid determination of toxicity effects. Fish. mar. Serv., tech. Rept, Can., 862: 241-255. The adenylate energy charge (AEC = [ATP + 1/2 ADP]/[ATP + ADP + A M P ] ) ofPyrazus ebeninus (Gastropoda) and Trichomya hirsuta (Bivalvia) was consistently between 0.8 and 0.9 in control animals and was 0.55 to 0.65 (significantly less) in animals stressed by reduced salinity, increased temperature, and exposure to hydrocarbons or power station outfall. Measurements of AEC, which are rapid, easy and have low variability, may be useful in toxicitv monitoring programs. Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602, U.S.A. (mij)
79:6104 Mayfield, C. I., W. E. lnniss and J. E. Thompson, 1978/79. Bioassay techniques for toxicological studies on aquatic organisms. Fish. mar. Serv., tech. Rept. Can., 862:225-231. Two techniques are described. The first involves u.v. fluorescence microscopy of sediment bacteria in incubation chambers after staining with 8-anilino-lnaphthalene sulfonic acid; periodic examination of the same sediment sample allows the effects of added toxicants to be assessed. The second technique uses
794
E. Biological Oceanography
the phase transition temperature of membranes from algae as an indicator of damage caused by the application of toxic materials; increases in this transition temperature after treatment of algae with toxic materials were observed. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3GI, Canada.
79:6105 Moed, J. R. and G. M. Hallegraeff, 1978. Some problems in the estimation of chiorophyll-a and phaeopigments from pre- and post-acidification spectrophotometric measurements. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr., 63(6): 787-800. Possible inaccuracies in discriminating between chlorophyll-a and phaeopigments by spectrophotometry are identified. Optimum conditions for pigment acidification applications include a pH range 2.6-2.8, the addition of dilute hydrochloric acid to organic solvents containing 10-20% water, and the omission of MgCO3 during filtration. Limnological Institute, Department Oosterzee. De Aakers 47, Oosterzee (Frl), The Netherlands. (izs)
79:6106 Oudot, Claude, 1978. lnt~r~t du concept NO (oxygene corrig6 de la respiration) pour 1'6tude de l'Ecosysteme de I'upwelling ¢xluatorial. [NOrespiration corrected oxygen: a useful concept for the study of the Equatorial Upwelling ecosystem.] Cah. ORSTOM, S~r. Oc~anogr., 16(2): 191-199. The parameter ' N O ' (respiration-corrected dissolved 02 content of a water mass) is a good hydrological tracer in the Equatorial Upwelling region. Meridional distributions of NO confirm previous ideas on Equatorial Upwelling dynamics and the organic production-remineralization cycle. O.R.S.T.O.M., C.R.O.B.P. V 18, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. (mjj)
79:6107 Peters, R. H., 1977/78. Empirical physiological models of ecosystem processes. Proc. inst. Ass. theor, appl. Limnol. (Verb. int. Verein. theor. Angew. Limnol.), 20(1): I lO-118. Equations which empirically describe physiological rates as a function of animal body weight are linked in a model which gives qualitative predictions about holistic ecosystem properties such as successional change or material flow. Results suggest that an organism's trophic position has little effect on ingestion or production rates, and that poikilothermy has little effect on production. Increased variation at small body sizes could be due to experimental artifacts. Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 McGregor Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3A I BI, Canada. (mjj)
OLR(1979)26(12)
79:6108 Scherer, E. and S. Harrison, 1978/79. Locomotor activity testing using sonar beam interruptions. Fish. mar. Serv., tech. Rept, Can., 862: 201-210. Two prototype actograph systems for monitoring changes in aquatic organisms' locomotor activity patterns and levels are described. Interruption of the sonar beam (200 kHz) by fish 20-60 cm in length caused a 90-99% drop on the receiving end of the signal. The systems may have application for monitoring toxicant effects on locomotor activity. Freshwater Institute, Department of Fisheries and Environment, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada. (smf)
79:6109 Shipton, H. W., 1979. The microprocessor, a new tool for the biosciences. A. Rev. Biophys. Bioengng, 8: 269-286. Potential applications of microcomputer methods are reviewed with an emphasis on signal acquisition, processing and control. Applications that are independent of computer size are excluded, as are those which require extensive or conventional peripherals. Implications of the development of this new technology are discussed. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, U.S.A. (rio)
79:6110 Swartz, R. C., W. A. DeBen and F. A. Cole, 1979. A bioassay for the toxicity of sediment to marine macrobenthos. J. Wat. Pollut. Control Fed.. 51 (5): 944-950. Presented are results of experiments that contributed to the development of the bioassay for dredged sediments required by the Ocean Dumping Regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency. Sediments from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the U.S., and the Gulf of Mexico, were used. Five species of macrobenthic invertebrates were selected as the best test organisms. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport, Oreg., U.S.A. (mjj)
79:6111 Throndsen, Jahn, 1978. Preservation and storage [of phytoplankton]. Monogr. oceanogr. Methodol., U.N., 6: 69-74. The critical stage in most phytoplankton work, i.e., the handling of samples after collection, is discussed as well as the minimization of quantitative and qualitative compositional changes before subsequent treatment of the samples. Staining procedures are briefly covered. Department of Marine Biology and Limnoiogy, Section of Marine Botany, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1069, Blindern, Oslo 3, Norway. (izs)