The data obtained from biossays are useful in assessing the affects of toxicants in the aquatic environment. Bioassays utilize different measures of toxicity for various lengths of exposure, to determine whether a particular substance is harmful to the environment. This manual was designed for laboratories with limited facilities, equipment, and supplies. All tests described herein are stactic and for short-term duration (96 hours). They measure the acute toxicity of a single or complex solution of pollutants. The manual describes the preparation and procedures for tests with fresh water and marine phytoplankton, annelids, zooplankton, crustaceans, aquatic insects, mollusks, echinoderm larvae, and fish.
