Synthesis of Miscellaneous Invertebrate Toxicity Tests

The increasing problem of toxic materials reaching aquatic ecosystems has stimulated interest in the development of standardized bioassay procedures for the purpose of protecting aquatic life. For a variety of reasons, fish have been the most frequently preferred organism for bioassay. However, the insistence of various agencies on using the most sensitive locally important species in a particular aquatic ecosystem opens the door for examining a variety of microinvertebrates and macroinvertebrates as potential standard bioassay animals. Many invertebrates are extremely sensitive to a broad spectrum of organic and inorganic toxicants, and most of the species tested exhibit graded responses to increasing or decreasing concentrations of specific toxicants. Commercial availability and the ease of culturing and maintenance frequently make invertebrates attractive alternatives to fish as bioassay animals. The species richness of invertebrate communities and cosmopolitan distribution of many species are additional factors that are attractive for potential bioassay animals. Finally, the life history characteristics and behavioral attributes of many invertebrates make them attractive for both acute and chronic bioassays.