Sensitivity patterns of aquatic species to toxicants: a pilot study

Abstract

This pilot study presents data on the acute toxicity of 26 chemicals for 196 aquatic species. For some chemicals there is a large variability in sensitivity between species, up to factors of 10,000 or more. Statistical analysis showed that differences in sensitivity are clearly related to the taxonomic classification of the species at the level of the class. Relationships at lower levels of the taxonomic classification could not be investigated due to the limited number of data from different orders, families and genera. The study will be continued by extending the data set and adding information on the mode of action of the chemicals and on biological attributes that might explain the variability in sensitivity between species. Future analyses will aim at the construction of Quantitative Species Sensitivity Relationships.