Use of artificial streams for toxicological research.

A review of the literature pertaining to the use of artificial streams as research tools in both toxicant and nontoxicant studies was conducted. This document summarizes that review and provides an assessment of the value of artificial streams in toxicological research. Descriptions are presented of the major types of artificial streams including considerations for the physical design of those streams based on their intended use. Research representative of nontoxicant behavioral, productivity, and trophic relationship studies is summarized to provide a background for the more in-depth discourse on toxicant research. Toxicant research is reviewed in relation to environmental factors such as physical type of artificial stream, light, water, and substrate and experimental conditions including biota tested, method of biota introduction, measured parameters, and toxicant. Comparisons and assessment are presented concerning the use of the appropriate artificial system for addressing various types of toxicant research emphasizing simple vs. complex systems.