ASTM E1366-23 PDF

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE 5.1 A microcosm test is conducted to obtain information concerning toxicity or other effects of a test material on the interactions among three trophic levels (primary, secondary, and detrital) and the competitive interactions within each trophic level. As with most natural aquatic ecosystems, the microcosms depend upon algal production (primary production) to support the grazer trophic level (secondary production), which along with the microbial community are primarily responsible for the nutrient recycling necessary to sustain primary production. Microcosm initial condition includes some detritus (chitin and cellulose) and additional detritus is produced by the system. The microcosms include ecologically important processes and organisms representative of ponds and lakes, but are non-site specific. To the extent possible, all solutions are mixtures of distilled water and reagent grade chemicals (see Section 8) and all organisms are available in commercial culture collections. 5.2 The species used are easy to culture in the laboratory and some are routinely used for single species toxicity tests (Guide E729; Practice D3978, Guides E1192 and E1193). Presumably acute toxicity test results with some of these species would be available prior to the decision to undertake the microcosm test. If available, single species toxicity results would aid in distinguishing between indirect and direct effects. 5.3 These procedures are based mostly on published methods (4-6), interlaboratory testing (7-10, 11), intermediate studies (12-23, 24), statistical studies (25-27) and mathematical simulation results (28). Newer studies on jet fuels have been reported (29)(See 15.1 for multivariate statistical analyses) and on the implications of multispecies testing for pesticide registration (30). Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) published similar microcosm tests (31). The methods described here were used to determine the criteria for A... SCOPE 1.1 This practice covers procedures for obtaining data concerning toxicity and other effects of a test material to a multi-trophic level freshwater community, independent of the location of the test. 1.2 These procedures also might be useful for studying the fate of test materials and transformation products, although modifications and additional analytical procedures might be necessary. 1.3 Modification of these procedures might be justified by special needs or circumstances. Although using appropriate procedures is more important than following prescribed procedures, results of tests conducted using unusual procedures are not likely to be comparable to results of many other tests. Comparison of results obtained using modified and unmodified versions of these procedures might provide useful information concerning new concepts and procedures for conducting multi-trophic level tests. 1.4 This practice is arranged as follows: Section Referenced Documents 2 Terminology 3 Summary of Practice 4 Significance and Use 5 Apparatus 6 Facilities 6.1 Container 6.2 Equipment 6.3 Hazards 7 Microcosm Components 8 Medium 8.1 Medium Preparation 8.2 Sediment 8.3 Microcosm Assembly 8.4 Test Material 9 General 9.1 Stock Solution 9.2 Nutrient Control 9.3 Test Organisms 10 Algae 10.1 Animals 10.2 Specificity of Organisms 10.3 Sources 10.4 Algal Culture Maintenance 10.5 Animal Culture Maintenance 10.6 Procedure 11 Experimental Design 11.1 Inoculation 11.2 Culling 11.3 Addition of Test Material 11.4 Measurements 11.5 Reinoculations 11.6 Analytical Methodology 12 Data Processing 13 Calculations of Variables from Measurements 14 Statistical Analyses ...