Modern trends in the development of bioassay methodologyof aquatic environments
A. S. Olkova
Section: Research methods. Models and projects
Bioassay is now an integral part of the “Effect-directed analysis” (EDA). We analyzed current research in the field of
biodiagnostics and environmental monitoring programs, which used bioassay methods. The modern bioassay methodol
-
ogy is developing in the following areas: the development and implementation of new bioassay methods, the development
of special bioassay devices, the detection of new informative test-functions based on the accounting of sublethal effects in
laboratory organisms, the evaluation and interpretation of the results of toxicological analysis of environmental components.
We propose three directions for evaluation and optimizing bioassay approaches and methods. First, we propose an algorithm
for selecting protocols of bioassay. This algorithm is based on the ranking of sensitivity of bioassay methods to the most
important pollutants in the territory of research. This approach will allow using only the most informative and sensitive
bioassay protocols in the further researches. The second direction in optimization of bioassay methods is strict standardiza
-
tion of maintenance conditions of test-organisms. We recommend verification of the influence of abiotic and biotic factors
on the test culture during the entire life cycle of individuals of a biological species. Life expectancy and ability of individuals
to reproduce are universal criteria of health for many animals. The third part of our work is the development of a system of
test-functions for laboratory animals consistently evaluated during a toxicological experiment. This approach allows tak
-
ing into account the different effects (lethal, sublethal, chronic and delayed) in the process of testing various substances
or aquatic environments. We tested this system of bioassay using
Daphnia magna
. The system of test-functions includes
14 response effects, which we took into account in three generations of crustaceans. The earliest responses of
D. magna
are
estimated from changes in motor activity and trophic activity of crustaceans. Delayed effects are diagnosed by changes in
fertility in the F
2
and F
3
generations, as well as the emergence of abortive eggs. Implementation of the proposed directions
of bioassay optimization will allow taking into account the multiplicity of obtaining objective results of ecotoxicological
analyses. Researchers can consistently use three parts of evaluation and optimizing of bioassay approaches at the planning
stage of enviro
Keywords: bioassay, bioassay methodology, methods of bioassay, test-function, laboratory test-organism
Article published in number 3 for 2018 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2018-3-019-026
ISSN 1995-4301
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