A 7‐D toxicity test for marine pollutants using the pacific mysid Mysidopsis intii. 2. Protocol evaluation

Abstract

AbstractThe sensitivity of the Pacific coast mysid Mysidopsis intii to pollutants was compared in 7‐d toxicity tests with that of the Gulf coast mysid M. bahia and the Pacific coast mysid Holmesimysis costata. Survival and growth responses of M. intii to zinc (maximum acceptable toxicant concentration [MATC] survival and growth, 152 μg/L) were as sensitive as survival of both M. bahia (MATC survival, 152 μg/L) and H. costata (MATC survival, 152 μg/L). In contrast, the 7‐d test for M. intii was less sensitive (MATC growth and survival, 4.99 mg/L) than the test for H. costata (MATC survival, 1.99 mg/L) when sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as the toxicant. Interlaboratory evaluation of the 7‐d test for M. intii exposed to SDS indicated that the test was reliable. The mean test results for the group of participating laboratories were not significantly different from those of a group of three in‐house tests, indicating that shipping and handling did not affect mysid sensitivity to SDS. Mysid growth was not as sensitive to SDS as survival in the interlaboratory tests. Although there were significant differences in median lethal concentration (LC50) values among participating laboratories, coefficients of variation of LC50 and MATC survival values among laboratories were 10.3 and 37%, respectively. These coefficients were comparable to those reported for interlaboratory tests with H. costata.