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Early warning assays: an overview of toxicity testing with phytoplankton in the North American Great Lakes

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Abstract

The use of phytoplankton as test organisms in bioassays has recently gained momentum due to their simplicity, availability, sensitivity, rapidity of analysis, and cost-effectiveness. Increasing emphasis is currently being given to field and in situ experiments using indigenous populations, particularly ultraplankton/picoplankton (2–20 μm) which play a key role in the ‘microbial loop’ and food chain dynamics. Impact evaluation can be determined at the structural, ultra-structural, and functional level. An array of techniques is available for toxicity testing including the use of either algal cultures or natural assemblages in laboratory or in situ experiments, the selection of which depends on the objectives, precision required, and project budget of the particular study. An overview is presented of the various procedures using algae in toxicity testing with a focus on the Great Lakes and an emphasis on field techniques. The effective use and application of such sensitive technology has tremendous potential for early warning detection of ecosystem perturbations in concert with a multi-trophic battery of tests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Ecotoxicology Division, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Rd., P.O. Box 5050, L7R 4A6, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

    M. Munawar

  2. Plankton Canada, 685 Inverary Rd., L7L 2L8, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

    I. F. Munawar

  3. Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute, Lakes Research Branch, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, L7R 4A6, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

    G. G. Leppard

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Munawar, M., Munawar, I.F. & Leppard, G.G. Early warning assays: an overview of toxicity testing with phytoplankton in the North American Great Lakes. Hydrobiologia 188, 237–246 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027789

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