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The suitability of Corophium orientale (Crustacea, Amphipoda)
in harbour sediment toxicity bioassessment
F. Onoratia,
N. Bigongiarib, D. Pellegrinia,
S. Giulianib
aInstituto
Centrale per La Ricerca scientifica e technologica Applicata
al Mare (ICRAM) via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Roma, Italy
bCentre Interuniversitario
di Biologia Marina ed ecologia applicata (CIBM) Piazzale Mascagni,
1 57100 Livorno, Italy
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Abstract
Eco-toxicology represents an important integrative tool
of environmental risk assessment. Amphipods is a taxcon much recommended
for bioassay, but species used are generally from the Atlantic Ocean
or the North Sea. None of the Mediterranean species has ever been
examined.
In an eco-toxicological evaluation of harbour sediment,
Corophium orientale, an endemic Mediterranean species, was
investigated for suitability to determine sediment quality. Physical-chemical
analyses and amphipod bioassays on several contaminated Italian
harbour samples were carried out. Two amphipod populations with
different sensitivities were used. Microtox®, a sensitive and
reproducible assay procedure, was used in parallel with C. orientale
assay in order to ascertain an agreement and/or disagreement between
responses. The results of the two bioassay procedures supported
the hypothesis that C. orientale, as part of a battery of
bioassays, is sensitive to hydro-soluble pollutants contaminating
the water column due to dredging activities. © 1999 Elsevier
Science Ltd and AEHMS. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Microtox®; Corophium orientale; Bioassessment;
Sediment toxicity
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