Ammonia as confounding factor in toxicity tests with the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lmk) |
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Authors: | Arizzi Novelli Alessandra Picone Marco Losso Chiara Volpi Ghirardini Annamaria |
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Institution: | Department of Environmental Sciences , University of Venice , Campo della Celestia 2737/b, I-30122 Venice, Italy |
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Abstract: | The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of total ammonia towards sea urchin bioassays, in order to elucidate the role of ammonia as confounding factor in sediment quality assessment studies. New toxicity data, expressed as EC50, NOEC and LOEC are reported for Paracentrotus lividus based on experiments at differing pH values. Results confirmed that sperm cell toxicity test is not very sensitive to ammonia, while total ammonia embryotoxicity is strictly pH dependent. Accurate observations of embryotoxic effects at increasing total ammonia concentrations evidenced progressive shifts from malformed plutei to gastrula and blastula blockages. Toxicity data obtained for P. lividus are comparable with previous results with other echinoid species. |
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Keywords: | Sea urchin Bioassay Confounding factor Ammonia Toxicity |
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