Use of Gammarus pulex (L.) in safety evaluation tests: Culture and selection of a sensitive life stage

Abstract

A simple and effective method for the laboratory culture of Gammarus pulex is described. Over 70% of juveniles survived, reaching sexual maturity within 130 days at 13°C, and animals of different ages were available for toxicity tests throughout the year. The acute toxicity of cadmium to cultured animals of several known ages and to field-collected animals of unknown age was determined. Juveniles (1 day old, 48 hr LC 50 0.019 mg Cd liter −1) were found to be almost 250 times more sensitive than the oldest age group tested (220 days old, 48 hr LC 50 4.7 mg Cd liter −1). In view of its ease of culture and sensitivity to pollutants, it is proposed that G. pulex should be more widely employed as a standard toxicity test species in the hazard evaluation process.