Viability of the marine amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis growth rate as an endpoint for chronic ecotoxicological tests

Resumo

There is a lack of suitable marine species for ecotoxicological tests. Parhyale hawaiensis is a marine amphipod with circumtropical distribution. Recently, acute ecotoxicological procedures were standardized for these model organisms. However, its potential for chronic toxicity assessment still unclear. Sediment quality assessments using sublethal responses of benthic organisms, such as growth and reproduction, have been used to successfully evaluate moderately contaminated areas. The aim of this work was to evaluate the viability of growth rate as an sublethal endpoint for chronic toxicity tests.