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USE OF MARSH PLANTS FOR TOXICITY TESTING OF WATER AND SEDIMENT
Citation:
Walsh, G., D. Weber, L. Simon, AND L. Brashers. USE OF MARSH PLANTS FOR TOXICITY TESTING OF WATER AND SEDIMENT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/A-92/121 (NTIS PB92195882).
Description:
The freshwater wetland plants, Echinochlo crusgalli crusgalli andEchinocloa crusgalli zelayensis, and the saltmarsh plant, Spartina alterniflora, were exposed to the herbicides, metolachlor and norflurazon, in two types of toxicity tests: eed germination and early seedling growth in water, and seedling survival and growth in natural and artificial sediments. he artificial sediments were formulated to simulate the natural sediments with regard to particle size distribution and organic content. he herbicides did not affect rate of germination, but significantly inhibited rate of early growth, and survival and rate of growth of older seedling in sediments. Echinochloa was more sensitive than Spartina to both herbicides. Inhibition of the growth rates of the two varieties of E crusgalli was similar in natural and simulated sediments, but inhibition of growth of 5. alterniflora was greater in simulated than in natural sediment. It is concluded that the species tested may be used for estimation of potential effects of toxicants on wetland plants and that simulated sediments of known composition may be used in sediment toxicity tests.