Interspecies relationships in acute toxicity of chemicals to aquatic organisms

Abstract

Abstract The acute sensitivities of several species of aquatic organisms to chemicals categorized as nonpesticide organics, pesticides and metals were correlated using polynomial regression analyses. All species analyzed—fresh- and saltwater fish, invertebrates and algae—responded similarly to the toxicity of nonpesticide organics. Different groups of organisms responded differently to the pesticides. Different species of fish of the same family responded almost identically to the toxicity of pesticides, whereas fishes of different families responded similarly, but to a lesser degree. No relationship existed between the acute sensitivities of a fish and an invertebrate. A significant correlation was determined in acute sensitivities to metals between bluegill and fathead minnows, and between bluegill and Daphnia magna. The mode of toxicity of metals seems to be the same among species, although the degree of toxicity may differ.