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CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT TESTING WITH THE BIVLVE, MULINIA LATERLALIS: CULTURE REFINEMENT FOR ORGANISM AVAILABILITY
Citation:
Cripe, G M. CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT TESTING WITH THE BIVLVE, MULINIA LATERLALIS: CULTURE REFINEMENT FOR ORGANISM AVAILABILITY. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL, 25(5):1332-1336, (2006).
Impact/Purpose:
The present study was conducted to identify conditions that enhance the survival of M. lateralis larvae and production of juveniles and that shorten the developmental time of those stages.
Description:
Availability of test species for estuarine benthic assessment is limited; therefore, a method was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for utilizing the dwarf surf clam, Mulinia lateralis, to identify adverse biological effects of bulk estuarine sediments. A multi-laboratory evaluation of the draft method resulted in favorable responses from the participants with respect to general testing and handling of the clam. However, availability of good quality test organisms was limited. An investigation of culture techniques determined that culture vessel topography dramatically influenced survival since larvae accumulated in bottom depressions. Conditioning of brood stock was enhanced by algae containing both 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 fatty acids. Survival of larvae to metamorphosis at 14 days post spawn was greatly increased by maintenance at 734 lux light with addition of gradually increasing amounts of Isochyris galbana and Chaetoceros calcitrans. Greater than 50 percent survival of 600 juveniles to testing size by 14 days was accomplished by intermittent delivery of algae 12 times per day in a total of thirteen liters of seawater. By 21 days, an additional 27 percent achieved testable size. As a result of identification of these culture parameters, test bivalves can be readily available to improve predictions of adverse biological effects on benthic communities beyond those presently determined through amphipod exposures.