ISO DIS 16778

Abstract

This International Standard specifies an early-life stage test procedure for determination of the toxic effects of a chemical substance, effluent or water sample on a cold-water marine and brackish water copepod species under semi-static conditions. The biological end points include survival and development of the early life stages. The exposure starts with eggs and is continued until emergence of juvenile stages. <br>Copepods occur widely in marine, brackish and fresh water ecosystems. They represent important prey items for the larvae of many fish and larger invertebrates and are increasingly used as a live food source in aquaculture. They feed on phytoplankton and, thus, are an ecologically important energy-transfer link between primary producers and higher trophic levels.