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Monitoring Data - Bioeffects
Bioeffects Assessment Project (1986 to Present)
Assessment studies consist of sediment toxicity surveys, evaluation and application of biomarkers, development of effect-based numerical guidelines to infer toxicological relevance of sediment contamination, and formulation of indices to describe the condition of coastal ecosystems. Sediment toxicity surveys are conducted in specific coastal regions where contaminant monitoring data from the National Status and Trends Program, and other information from state and local sources, indicate that the potential for substantial environmental degradation and associated biological effects exists.
Sediment toxicity assessments are based on bioassays for acute toxicity to amphipods, impaired fertilization and abnormal larval development in sea urchins, and measures of physiological stress in bacterial cells or transformed cell lines. Biomarkers, which are responses to contaminant exposure at the histological, physiological or biochemical levels, are being developed or tested to validate their field performance using endemic or transplanted bivalves or demersal fish. In recent years, the bioeffects assessments studies have been expanded to develop an integrated approach to assessing sediment contamination and its ecological implications by measuring the differences in benthic biological community structure between contaminated and reference sites. The intent is to derive a composite index or indices of coastal environmental degradation that are comparable across regions, and address the concept of sustainable use resources.
The Coastal Ocean Assessment Status and Trends Team collaborates with other Federal, state, and local agencies to insure direct and immediate use of the study results.