ESTIMATING ECOTOXICOLOGICAL RISK AND IMPACT USING INDIGENOUS AQUATIC MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES

Emphasis has increased on accuracy in predicting the effect that anthropogenic stress has on natural ecosystems. Although toxicity tests low in environmental realism, such as standardized single species procedures, have been useful in providing a certain degree of protection to human health and the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 1992-08, Vol.237 (3), p.131-145
Main Authors: CAIRNS, J, MCCORMICK, PV, NIEDERLEHNER, BR
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Science & Technology
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Summary:Emphasis has increased on accuracy in predicting the effect that anthropogenic stress has on natural ecosystems. Although toxicity tests low in environmental realism, such as standardized single species procedures, have been useful in providing a certain degree of protection to human health and the environment, the accuracy of such tests for predicting the effects of anthropogenic activities on complex ecosystems is questionable. The use of indigenous communities of microorganisms to assess the hazard of toxicants in aquatic ecosystems has many advantages. Theoretical and practical aspects of microbial community tests are discussed, particularly in related to widely cited problems in the use of multispecies test systems for predicting hazard. Further standardization of testing protocols using microbial colonization dynamics is advocated on the basis of previous studies, which have shown these parameters to be useful in assessing risk and impact of hazardous substances in aquatic ecosystems.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/BF00005846