The acute toxicity of lindane to hyalella azteca and the development of a sublethal bioassay based on precopulatory guarding behavior

Acute and sublethal toxicity of the organochlorine insecticide lindane to the amphipod crustacean Hyalella azteca was investigated. Acute experiments were conducted for a maximum test exposure period of 240 h with adult and neonate H. azteca. Median lethal concentrations (LC50s) determined for adult Hyalella included a 48-h LC50 of 47.6 &mgr;g/L and 240-h LC50 of 26.9 &mgr;g/L. For neonate H. azteca 24-, 48-, and 240-h LC50s were 29.5, 14.8, and 9.8 &mgr;g lindane/L, respectively. Neonate H. azteca were approximately three times more sensitive than adults. Two sublethal toxicity bioassays were developed based on the direct and indirect disruption of the precopulatory or mate guarding behavior of Hyalella. This reproductive behavior is readily quantifiable and of ecological significance as it is a vital component of the mating success of the species. The direct disruption bioassay examined the separation of precopulatory pairs maintained in control water and a range of lindane concentrations during a 24-h exposure period. Median separation times (ST50s) were determined and the LOEC was 24.4 &mgr;g lindane/L. The indirect disruption bioassay consisted of a test exposure period of just 4 h after which an invertebrate anesthetic solution was administered to induce separation of precopulatory pairs. The LOEC was 17.3 &mgr;g lindane/L, suggesting that the indirect precopulatory separation bioassay was comparable to the 24-h direct separation study. Both bioassays are rapid, relatively simple to perform, and have yielded effect concentrations that correspond with LC50 values determined using adult and neonate H. azteca life stages over more prolonged lindane exposures. Following some modification, these behavioral bioassays may be suitable for use in the hazard evaluation of sediments and for deployment as in situ toxicity tests.