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FIELD VALIDATION OF LABORATORY-DERIVED MULTISPECIES AQUATIC TEST SYSTEMS
Citation:
Livingston, R., R. Diaz, AND D. White. FIELD VALIDATION OF LABORATORY-DERIVED MULTISPECIES AQUATIC TEST SYSTEMS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/4-85/039.
Description:
A three-year study was carried out to determine the feasibility of using multispecies microcosms of benthic microorganisms and infaunal macroinvertebrates to predict the responses of estuarine systems to toxic substances. Criteria were developed to evaluate the field validation of laboratory microcosms. Simultaneous laboratory/field experiments were carried out in the Apalachicola Bay system, Fla., and York River estuary, Va., to test the potential for extrapolation of validation results from one ecological system to another. The study demonstrated that microcosm of microorganisms and infaunal macroinvertebrates can be established for short periods (5-6 weeks) and that the microcosms can be used to simulate specific features of field assemblages within the range of uncertainty that is characteristic of natural systems.