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Standards Development
This document describes a method to expose test organisms (amphipods), directly on the field by a caging methodology, with the aim to measure bioaccumulation of chemical substances on a monitoring station, i.e. the concentrations of metals and/or organic compounds accumulated in the organisms. The use of invasive species should be avoided at areas where they are not considered like indigenous species. A summary table is proposed in Annex A to reference for each species its indigenous area. Further species could be added in this annex. Freshwater or marine species could be used.
This document also describes the specifications for test organism selection and conditioning, in situ exposure, and finally sorting and conditioning of the surviving organisms after exposure.
The application domain of method is depending on the characteristics of the used species. A summary table is proposed in Annex B to reference for each species the main indications about exposure time, matrix, physicochemical parameters for optimal exposure, range of average weight per individual, organisms’ density in cage. Further species could be added in this annex.
The organism preparation methods (freeze-drying, extraction, mineralization) and quantification of the chemical substances do not fall within the scope of this document.
In regard to bioaccumulation and integrative character, biota (living organisms) represent a suitable matrix to monitor most of the chemical contaminants entering into aquatic environment. In addition, substances accumulated in tissues of organisms have a high biological significance because they are identified as potentially toxics. Some chemicals, particularly metals and hydrophobic organic contaminants, are well accumulated by organisms. Therefore, the measurement of levels of chemical compounds in biota has been proven to be a relevant approach to monitor chemical contamination with the Mussel Watch Program by USA and France and, the OSPAR Program by Europe for examples from the marine environment.
Two biomonitoring strategies are applicable for measuring chemical compounds in biota: passive approach that relies on the harvesting of native organisms at the field station, or the active approach based on transplantation, by caging, of organisms from a reference source population. Active biomonitoring allows: 1) to overcome the absence of native organisms on studied stations or stations of interest; and 2) to minimize the natural variability of measured responses (bioaccumulation, biochemical or physiological endpoints). This variability related to the impact of confounding factors such as life history, duration of exposure, size, reproductive and physiological status, age, or sex of used organisms is fully controlled with caging, thus allowing a robust and accurate comparison of results between stations and programs.
Amphipods represent important keystone species in aquatic ecosystems, they play a key role in carbon cycle (e.g., litter breakdown processes) and constitute an important element in food webs by providing prey for secondary consumers. In crustaceans both cladocerans (e.g., daphnids) and amphipods are ranked among the most sensitive aquatic invertebrate species, both for metal and organic toxic compounds and oil spills.
In this context, the purpose is to propose technical specifications for active biomonitoring (by caging) to several benthic amphipods species (including Gammarus fossarum, Gammarus pulex, Hyalella azteca, …) according to their native areas across the world.
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