SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1985
STP36265S

Method for Early Life-Stage Toxicity Tests Using Three Atherinid Fishes and Results with Chlorpyrifos

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We have developed methods for obtaining embryos and conducting early life-stage toxicity tests (continuous exposure from the embryonic stage to approximately three weeks or more into the exogenous feeding stage) with three estuarine species of atherinid fishes. Early life-stage tests were conducted for 28 days with Menidia beryllina, M. menidia, and M. peninsulae and the insecticide chlorpyrifos. Responses of the three species were similar: upper chronic values (“effect” concentrations) ranged from 0.48 to 1.8 µg chlorpyrifos/L and lower chronic values (“no effect” concentrations) ranged from 0.28 to 0.75 µg/L. Chlorpyrifos exposure did not affect survival of embryos to hatching which averaged 91 to 93% for each species. In treatments in which no adverse effects were observed, combined survival of M. menidia embryos and hatched fish averaged 51% and fish weights averaged 23 mg; for M. peninsulae, 69% and 13.6 mg; and for M. beryllina, 81% and 8.7 mg. Chlorpyrifos bioconcentration factors (concentration in whole fish ÷ average measured concentration in water) averaged 220 for M. beryllina, 460 for M. peninsulae, and probably < 420 for M. menidia.

From these three species, toxicologists may select an Atlantic or Gulf Coast species that occurs in either high or low salinity.

Author Information

Goodman, LR
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Fla
Hansen, DJ
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Fla
Middaugh, DP
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Fla
Cripe, GM
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Fla
Moore, JC
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Fla
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Details
Developed by Committee: E47
Pages: 145–154
DOI: 10.1520/STP36265S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4922-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0410-5