TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF CONSTRUCTED WETLAND HABITAT SEDIMENTS UTILIZING HYALELLA-AZTECA 10-DAY SEDIMENT TOXICITY TEST AND BACTERIAL BIOLUMINESCENCE

A toxicological evaluation was conducted on wetland habitats created a s a result of run-off from agricultural areas. These temporary wetland s were created by using drop pipes as a means of reducing erosional cu tting in agricultural fields. Toxicity bioassays utilizing bacterial b ioluminescence and Hyalella azteca were used to assess sediment pore w ater and whole sediment, respectively. Inhibition of bacterial biolumi nescence was initially used to determine relative toxicities of pore w ater from ten wetland sites. Constructed wetland sites were compared t o the University of Mississippi Biological Field Station, a relatively pristine reference site. The H. azteca ten day sediment toxicity test was utilized to assess sediment from four selected sites using surviv al and growth as toxicological endpoints. Results from the toxicologic al evaluation, along with extensive ecological evaluations, were used to assess the best approach for implementation of temporary wetland ha bitats with existing agricultural practices. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.