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Consistency and sensitivity of community level endpoints in microcosm tests

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Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health

Abstract

We review microcosm toxicity tests with 12 chemical stresses and find that the relative sensitivity of certain endpoints is consistent over toxicant type. Changes in species composition occur at very low levels of chronic stress. Endpoints responding at increasing levels of stress are declines in species numbers relative to expected numbers, followed by decreased oxygen production and decreased total production. Other endpoints are quite sensitive in response to some toxicants but insensitive to others (e.g., autotrophic biomass). In addition, other endpoints respond unpredictably to stress, showing stimulation under some conditions and impairment under others. We compare our observations to the progressions of impact suggested from published whole ecosystem experiments and speculate about a general ecosystem distress syndrome and the implications for choosing endpoints in both toxicity testing and monitoring.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Center for Environmental and Hazardous Materials Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061-0415, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    B. R. Niederlehner & John Cairns Jr.

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  1. B. R. Niederlehner
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  2. John Cairns Jr.
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Niederlehner, B.R., Cairns, J. Consistency and sensitivity of community level endpoints in microcosm tests. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov 3, 93–99 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042939

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