Acute toxicity of selenium to three species of marine invertabrates, with notes on a continuous-flow test system

Abstract

Acute toxicity of selenium (as sodium selenite) to three invertebrates common in Victorian coastal waters was determined using a continuous-flow test system. A description of the system is given. The three species were a cumacean, Cyclaspis usitata; juveniles of the bivalve Notocallista sp.; and two stocks of the laboratory-cultured amphipod Allorchestes compressa. Stock 1 of A. compressa was originally collected from Middle Spit, Western Port, and stock 11 from Somers, Western Port. The 96-h LC50 values for C. usitata, Notocallista sp. and stocks 1 and 11 of A. compressa were 6.12, 2.88, 6.17 and 4.77 mg selenium per litre respectively. The results indicated that juveniles of Notocallista sp. were more sensitive to selenium than adult A. compressa. The lack of information on the toxicity of selenium to invertebrates is indicated.