1. Suitability for Toxicity Tests
Mysids are an important component of both the pelagic and epibenthic communities. They are preyed upon by many species of fish, birds, and larger invertebrate species, and they are predators of smaller crustaceans and larval stages of invertebrates. In some cases, they feed on algae. Mysids are sensitive to both organic and inorganic toxicants. The ecological importance of mysids, their wide geographical distribution, ability to be cultured in the laboratory, and sensitivity to contaminants make them appropriate toxicity test organisms.1–8 Juvenile mysids used in these tests are taken from cultures shortly after release from the brood and exposed to varying concentrations of a toxicant in static or flow-through conditions. These procedures are useful for conducting toxicity tests with other species of mysids, although modifications may be necessary. The tests are applicable to most chemicals, either individually or in formulations, commercial products, and known or unknown mixtures, and with appropriate modifications can be used to conduct tests on such factors as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. These methods also can be used to assess the toxicity of potentially toxic discharges, such as municipal wastes, oil-drilling fluids, produced water from oil well production, and other types of industrial wastes.