Technical Reports and Proceedings Citations and Abstracts

This guideline describes a two-generation test with an estuarine mysid that considers reproductive fitness in parents and offspring as an integrated measure of toxicant exposure. It also enables measurement of a suite of other endpoints that allow for diagnostic and definitive evaluation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or other types of reproductive toxicants (Verslycke et al 2004). This guideline is intended to be applicable to the mysid (Americamysis bahia), but could be adapted to other mysid species. The mysid two-generation test is a relatively long-term (normally 60-d or longer) assay that assesses early development, growth, and reproduction in two generations (F0 and F1). The two-generation test described in this guideline is an extension of existing standard practice for conducting a mysid life-cycle test (ASTM 1997, McKenney 1986, 1998 and Nimmo et al 1977, 1978).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. Classification Framework for Coastal Systems. EPA/600/R-04/061. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, FL, and Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN. 69 p.

This report contains initial results from the Diagnostics Committee, produced under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Aquatic Stressors Framework (USEPA, 2002a). The goal of Diagnostics Research is to provide tools to simplify diagnosis of the causes of biological impairment, in support of State and Tribe 303(d) impaired waters lists. The Diagnostics Workgroup has developed conceptual models for four major aquatic stressors that cause impairment: nutrients, suspended and bedded sediments, toxics, and altered habitat. The conceptual models form the basis for classification of aquatic systems according to their sensitivity to these stressors. The proposed classification framework should enable a more refined approach for quantifying stressor-response relationships over broad geographical scales.

Summers, Kevin, Gerald Pesch, Henry Walker, John Kiddon, James Harvey, Corey Garza, Virginia Engle, Lisa Smith, Linda Harwell, Walter Nelson, Henry Lee, Janet Lambertson, Barry Burgan, Darrell Brown and Jeff Bigler. 2004. National Coastal Condition Report II. EPA/620/R-03/002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Office of Water. Washington, DC 20460. Pp. 285.

Coastal waters in the United States include estuaries, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, mangrove and kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and upwelling areas. Critical coastal habitats provide spawning grounds, nurseries, shelter, and food for finfish, shellfish, birds, and other wildlife. The nation’s coastal resources also provide nesting, resting, feeding, and breeding habitat for 85% of waterfowl and other migratory birds. Estuaries are bodies of water that provide transition zones between the fresh water from rivers and the saline environment of the ocean. This interaction produces a unique environment that supports wildlife and fisheries and contributes substantially to the economy of the United States. Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report periodically on the condition of the nation’s waters. As part of this process, coastal states provide valuable information about the condition of their coastal resources to EPA. However, because the individual states use a variety of approaches for data collection and evaluation, it is difficult to compare this information between states or on a national basis. To better address questions about national coastal condition, EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to participate in a multiagency effort to assess the condition of the nation’s coastal resources (U.S. EPA, 1998). The agencies chose to assess condition using nationally consistent monitoring surveys in order to minimize the problems created by compiling data collected using multiple approaches. The results of these assessments are compiled periodically into a National Coastal Condition Report. The first National Coastal Condition Report (NCCR I), published in 2001, reported that the nation’s estuarine resources were in fair condition. The NCCR I used available data from 1990 to 1996 to characterize about 70% of the nation’s estuarine resources. Agencies contributing these data included EPA, NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and USDA. This second National Coastal Condition Report (NCCR II) is based on available data from 1997 to 2000. These data are representative of 100% of estuarine acreage in the conterminous 48 states and Puerto Rico, and they show that the nation’s estuaries continue to be in fair condition. Agencies contributing data to this report include EPA, NOAA, FWS, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Several state, regional, and local organizations also provided information on the current condition of the nation’s coasts.

McLeay, D., F. Genthner, R. James, G. Lazarovits and D. Percy. 2004. Guidance Document for Testing the Pathogenicity and Toxicity of New Microbial Substances to Aquatic and Terrestrial Organisms. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. 171 p. (ERL,GB X1065).

The intent of this document is to provide guidance on preparing for and conducting singe-species tests to measure and evaluate the pathogenicity and/or toxicity of new microbial substances to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. It focuses on the information requirements with respect to laboratory tests for measuring the potential ecological effects of new microbial substances on the following six categories of test (host) organisms, that might be required by Environment Canada as part of the New Substances Notification (NSN) Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999: (1) an aquatic plant; (2) an aquatic invertebrate; (3) an aquatic vertebrate; (4) a terrestrial plant: (5) a terrestrial invertebrate; and (6) a terrestrial vertebrate. The guidance herein is intended for notifiers, environmental consultants, study directors, and principal investigators. It will assist in the selection of an appropriate series of biological test methods for measuring the pathogenicity and/or toxicity of new microbial substances, as well as in the planning, execution, and reporting phases associated with each test.