Abstract
This scientific briefing has been prepared in response to a request from the
Danish Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Environment, with the assignment of assessing the utility of sub-lethal effect measurements, i.e. reproductive disorders, in amphipods Gammarus spp., as an indicator for toxic stress from environmentally hazardous substances in Danish coastal waters. HELCOM EG HZ working group has recommended this indicator: “Reproductive disorders: malformed embryos of amphipods” as a supplementary indicator for toxic stress (HELCOM, 2018). Sub-lethal effects detected in amphipods were compared with sub-lethal effects detected in fish species eelpout (Zoarces viviparus), sampled at the same field locations as the amphipods. This study was done by conducting field studies combined with laboratory microscopy analyses during the period of 2022-2023. Results are evaluated in relation to existing national and regional assessment criteria. It concluded that
Gammarus spp. has the potential to be used as a bioindicator for Danish coastal
waters due to the apparent sensitivity of its reproductive end-points and other
qualities, such as abundance and ease of sampling.
Danish Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Environment, with the assignment of assessing the utility of sub-lethal effect measurements, i.e. reproductive disorders, in amphipods Gammarus spp., as an indicator for toxic stress from environmentally hazardous substances in Danish coastal waters. HELCOM EG HZ working group has recommended this indicator: “Reproductive disorders: malformed embryos of amphipods” as a supplementary indicator for toxic stress (HELCOM, 2018). Sub-lethal effects detected in amphipods were compared with sub-lethal effects detected in fish species eelpout (Zoarces viviparus), sampled at the same field locations as the amphipods. This study was done by conducting field studies combined with laboratory microscopy analyses during the period of 2022-2023. Results are evaluated in relation to existing national and regional assessment criteria. It concluded that
Gammarus spp. has the potential to be used as a bioindicator for Danish coastal
waters due to the apparent sensitivity of its reproductive end-points and other
qualities, such as abundance and ease of sampling.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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| Forlag | Aarhus University, DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy |
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| Antal sider | 22 |
| Status | Udgivet - 1 mar. 2024 |
| Navn | Scientific note from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy |
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| Nummer | 10 |
| Vol/bind | 2024 |