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WETLAND PLANT SEEDLINGS AS INDICATORS OF NEAR-COASTAL SEDIMENT QUALITY: INTERSPECIFIC VARIATION
Citation:
Lewis, M A., D. E. Weber, AND R S. Stanley. WETLAND PLANT SEEDLINGS AS INDICATORS OF NEAR-COASTAL SEDIMENT QUALITY: INTERSPECIFIC VARIATION. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 50(1-5):535-540, (2000).
Description:
The toxicities of whole sediments collected from an urbanized Florida bayou-estuary were determined for the epibenthic mysid, Mysidopsis bahia, and the infaunal amphipod, Ampelisca abdita. In addition, the phytotoxicities of the same sediments were evaluated using rooted macrophytes, Scirpus robustus Pursh (saltmarsh bulrush) and Spartina alterniflora Loisel (smooth cordgrass). The results of the 24 bioassays conducted for 7 to 28 days, were compared for interspecific differences. Toxicity to the animal species was predicted to be likely in all cases, based on comparison to chemical analyses and effects-based sediment quality assessment guidelines. However, toxicity was uncommon and occurred at only 1 of the 6 sampling stations. In contrast, several sediments were either significantly phytostimulatory or phytoinhibitory (P=0.05) relative to a reference sediment. The results show the importance of interspecific variation and phytoassessment in contaminated sediment evaluations. Phytoassessment, the focus of this research provides useful information that is missing if only animal species are used. For this reason, the phytotoxicity data base needs to be increased to better evaluate the relevance of most current contaminated sediment evaluations and sediment quality assessment guidelines and criteria proposed for near-coastal areas.