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Probing ecosystem health: a multi-disciplinary and multi-trophic assay strategy

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Environmental Bioassay Techniques and their Application

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 54))

Abstract

The ecosystem health of stressed environments in the Great Lakes has been evaluated simultaneously by means of a battery of structural and functional tests based on current technology and involving various trophic levels. These tests attempt to assess ecosystem health at the organism level and simultaneously focus on water-borne and sediment-bound toxicities. The use of structural indicators has been successfully demonstrated. Similarly, functional tests were selectively chosen across various trophic levels and included size-fractionated primary productivity (filtered versus unfiltered assays), and Colpidium, Daphnia, Hyalella, and Pontoporeia assays. Some of the emerging techniques such as in situ plankton cages (I.P.C.), microcomputer-based chlorophyll fluorescence (Video Analysis System), and other assays are discussed. The multi-trophic and multi-disciplinary battery of tests followed in our laboratory adopts a field-to-laboratory approach. The availability of diverse bioassays have placed toxicologists and environmentalists in a position where they are now better equipped to probe the complexities of ecosystem health and its management.

Dedicated to the memory of my mother who was a great teacher, guide and an incredible source of inspiration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6

    M. Munawar & L. H. McCarthy

  2. Plankton Canada, 685 Inverary Road, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7L 2L8

    I. F. Munawar

  3. Biology Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1

    C. I. Mayfield

Authors
  1. M. Munawar
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  2. I. F. Munawar
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  3. C. I. Mayfield
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  4. L. H. McCarthy
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Editor information

M. Munawar G. Dixon C. I. Mayfield T. Reynoldson M. H. Sadar

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Munawar, M., Munawar, I.F., Mayfield, C.I., McCarthy, L.H. (1989). Probing ecosystem health: a multi-disciplinary and multi-trophic assay strategy. 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_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1896-2_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7346-2

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