A sublethal technique for assessing the effects of contaminants using Hydra littoralis
Stebbing, A.R.D.; Pomroy, A.J. (1978). A sublethal technique for assessing the effects of contaminants using Hydra littoralis. Wat. Res. 12(8): 631-635
In: Water Research. Elsevier: Oxford; New York. ISSN 0043-1354; e-ISSN 1879-2448, more
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| Keywords |
Pollution effects
Reproduction > Asexual reproduction
Tests > Bioassays
Hydra littoralis Hyman, 1931 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Stebbing, A.R.D.
- Pomroy, A.J.
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| Abstract |
A technique is described for estimating the biological effects of low levels of contaminants using as an index of response the rate of asexual reproduction of H. Littoralis. Preliminary experiments show the rate of reproduction becomes significantly inhibited by levels of 2-12 mu g Cu2+ l-1 , although it appears that the rate oscillates for some days after the initial exposure to inhibitory agents. A control mechanism appears to regulate the rate of asexual reproduction and within the range 0 . 5-2 . 5 mu g Cu2+ l-1 this mechanism enables the organism to counteract the inhibitory effect of copper, restoring growth to that of the controls after about 7 days. The concept of a quantifiable counter response is considered in a toxicological context. |
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