Abstract
Bioassays play a crucial role in assessing the actual or potential impacts of anthropogenic agents on the natural environment. They can be used to probe the extent to which an ecosystem is being or has been polluted, and to predict the ecological impact of agents before release. Problems associated with the choice and implementation of bioassays in both these modes are discussed. A major general conclusion is that the experimental method should play a prominent part in addressing the problems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baird, D. J., I. Barber, M. Bradley, P. Calow & V. M. Scares, 1989. TheDaphnia bioassay: a critique. In: M. Munawar, G. Dixon, C. I. Mayfield, T. Reynoldson & M. H. Sadar (eds.), Environmental Bioassay Techniques and Their Application. Hydrobiologia. This volume.
Bayne, B. L., R. F. Addison, J. M. Capuzzo, K. R. Clarke, J. S. Gray, M. N. Moore & R. M. Warwick, 1988. An overview of the GEEP Workshop. Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 46: 235–243.
Cairns, J., 1986. The myth of the most sensitive species. Bioscience, 36: 670–672.
Calow, P., 1976. Biological Machines. A Cybernetic Approach to Life. Edward Arnold, London. 134 pp.
Hellawell, J. M., 1986. Biological Indicators of Freshwater Pollution and Environmental Management. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London. 546 pp.
Hurlbert, S. H., 1984. Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecological Monographs, 54: 187–211.
Maltby, L. & P. Calow, 1989. The application of bioassays in the resolution of environmental problems; past, present and future. In: M. Munawar, G. Dixon, C. I. Mayfield, T. Reynoldson & M. H. Sadar (eds.) Environmental Bioassay Techniques and their Application. Hydrobiologia. This volume.
Metz, J.A.J. & O. Diekmann, 1986. The Dynamics of Physiologically Structured Populations. Springer Verlag, Heidelberg. 511 pp.
Naylor, C., L. Maltby & P. Calow, 1989. Scope for growth in Gammaruspulex, a freshwater benthic detritivore. In: M. Munawar, G. Dixon, C. I. Mayfield, T. Reynoldson & M. H. Sadar (eds.) Environmental Bioassay Techniques and their Application. Hydrobiologia. This volume.
Paine, R. T., 1977. Controlled manipulations in the marine intertidal zone and their contribution to ecological theory. The changing Scene in Natural Sciences, 1776–1976. Academy of National Science Special Publication, 12: 245–270.
Rand, G. M., 1985. Behaviour. In: G. M. Rand & S. R. Petrocelli (Eds.), Fundamentals of Aquatic Toxicology. Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Washington: pp. 221–263.
Underwood, A.J. & C. H. Peterson, 1988. Towards an ecological framework for investigating pollution. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 46: 227–234.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this paper
Cite this paper
Calow, P. (1989). The choice and implementation of environmental bioassays. In: Munawar, M., Dixon, G., Mayfield, C.I., Reynoldson, T., Sadar, M.H. (eds) Environmental Bioassay Techniques and their Application. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 54. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1896-2_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1896-2_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7346-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1896-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive