Comparison Between Laboratory and “in Situ” Bioassays Using Chironomus xanthus in the Assessment of Sediment Toxicity in the Monjolinho River (São Carlos, SP)

Authors

  • Carolina B. Dornfeld Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Engenharia Ambiental, Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
  • E. L. G. Espíndola Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
  • R. Fracácio Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Hidrobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
  • B. K. Rodrigues Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Engenharia Ambiental, Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
  • A. Novelli Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Engenharia Ambiental, Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5132/jbse.2006.02.014

Keywords:

“in situ” bioassay, sediment, Chironomus xanthus, Monjolinho river

Abstract

In situ” bioassays (96 h), using Chironomus xanthus, were conducted in October/03 and January/04, in 4 sampling stations at Monjolinho river. Laboratory bioassays were conducted using 60g of sediment and 240 ml of ASTM medium, for 96 h. Six organisms were added to each test-chamber and the toxicity evaluation was given by the mean survival. The “in situ” bioassay test chambers (PVC) were covered by a 300 μm mesh. The sediment of each sampling station was added to the chambers together with 10 organisms at IV instars. The laboratory bioassays showed survivals ranging between 0% (Federal, Oct/03) and 100% (Federal, Jan/04). The results “in situ” bioassays showed high mortality (between 84% and 97% in Oct/03 and between 60% and 70% in Jan/04). However, the results did not show, necessarily, that the sediments were toxic or not, because of the high mortality that occurred in the river ́s spring (over 60%), which may be associated to other factors, like screen saturation with suspended matter and different sediment textures. The presence of indigenous organisms may have influenced the results, due the competition and predation in the chamber. Thus, we can infer that the protocol for “in situ” bioassays using C. xanthus must be improved in order to minimize the influence of confounding factors on the tests results.

Published

20-12-2006

How to Cite

Dornfeld, C. B., Espíndola, E. L. G., Fracácio, R., Rodrigues, B. K., & Novelli, A. (2006). Comparison Between Laboratory and “in Situ” Bioassays Using Chironomus xanthus in the Assessment of Sediment Toxicity in the Monjolinho River (São Carlos, SP). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination, 1(2), 161–165. https://doi.org/10.5132/jbse.2006.02.014

Issue

Section

Original Articles