Development and Application of Aquatic Toxicology Studies for The
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Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 4-3-2018 Development and Application of Aquatic Toxicology Studies for the Assessment of Impacts Due to Chemical Stressors Using Non-Standard Indigenous Organisms Abraham Jeffrey Smith [email protected] DOI: 10.25148/etd.FIDC006530 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Part of the Environmental Health Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Marine Biology Commons, and the Toxicology Commons Recommended Citation Smith, Abraham Jeffrey, "Development and Application of Aquatic Toxicology Studies for the Assessment of Impacts Due to Chemical Stressors Using Non-Standard Indigenous Organisms" (2018). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3709. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3709 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY STUDIES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS DUE TO CHEMICAL STRESSORS USING NON-STANDARD INDIGENOUS ORGANISMS A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in BIOLOGY by Abraham Jeffrey Smith 2018 To: Dean Michael R. Heithaus choose the name of dean of your college/school College of Arts, Sciences and Education choose the name of your college/school This dissertation, written by Abraham Jeffrey Smith, and entitled Development and Application of Aquatic Toxicology Studies for the Assessment of Impacts Due to Chemical Stressors Using Non-Standard Indigenous Organisms, having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this dissertation and recommend that it be approved. _______________________________________ Gary Rand _______________________________________ Jose Eirin-Lopez _______________________________________ Heather Bracken-Grissom _______________________________________ Kevin Boswell _______________________________________ Michael Heithaus, Major Professor Date of Defense: April 3, 2018 The dissertation of Abraham Jeffrey Smith is approved. _______________________________________ choose the name of dean of your college/school Dean Michael R. Heithaus choose the name of your college/school College of Arts, Sciences and Education _______________________________________ Andrés G. Gil Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Dean of the University Graduate School Florida International University, 2018 ii © Copyright 2018 by Abraham Jeffrey Smith All rights reserved. iii DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my parents. Without their love, patience, support, understanding, and a poke every now and then, I never would have gotten through this. You have always been there for me and encouraged me to push for what I wanted. Well, it is about time isn’t it? And R…thank you for being there for me. Thank you for your kindness, sharing your humor and reminding me to laugh, and listening to all of my stories and graduate school woes. You are the best. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation was possible thanks to the help and support of many people. First, I would like to thank Dr. Rand for giving me a position in his lab and allowing me to talk him into supporting me as a PhD student. My dissertation committee, Drs. Michael Heithaus, Jose (Chema) Eirin-Lopez, Heather Bracken-Grissom, and Kevin Boswell provided valuable guidance. A large portion of my graduate research was supported through a contract with British Petroleum but I also received a teaching assistantship from the Biology Department and a fellowship from the NSF CREST CAChE program. Drs. Todd Crowl and Rita Teutonico have done an awesome job bringing students together from a variety of fields and supporting their work and collaboration. We appreciate all your efforts. Also, thank you to my parents. Thank you for your support and encouragement and gentle prodding at times. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I am thankful for everything you do. Thank you to a long list of everyone else at FIU who helped me at some time: Brandi Echols, Brandon Seda, Gabriel Miller, Chandra Fadoul, Alex Ontkos, Javier Rodriguez-Casariego, Gabriel (Lu) Diaz, John Brausch, and many others. v ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY STUDIES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS DUE TO CHEMICAL STRESSORS USING NON-STANDARD INDIGENOUS ORGANISMS by Abraham Jeffrey Smith Florida International University, 2018 Miami, Florida Professor Michael Heithaus, Major Professor Research in the multidisciplinary science of ecotoxicology is crucial to assess injuries to ecosystem resources from chemical spills or other stressors used to support environmental decision-making. Established guidelines recommend the use of non- standard native species in toxicity investigations. My work focused on the use of native species for aquatic toxicity assessment to make more relevant conclusions on the potential for adverse biological effects to occur as a result to single chemical exposures or exposures to a complex mixture like oil. We apply these studies to investigate petroleum product impacts from the Deepwater Horizon incident and concerns for metal toxicity in estuarine environments using a new model organism. Data generated from comprehensive toxicity testing programs were used in the first probabilistic risk assessment of Deepwater Horizon oil toxicity highlighting a lack of appropriate data and representative phyla. Novel toxicity study methods and a stress-response index were developed and demonstrated sensitivity and success in using the Starlet Anemone in ecotoxicology studies. Swim performance was used as new method to investigate vi sublethal indicators of stress resulting in varied responses from Sheepshead Minnows and Florida Pompano. These studies further our ability for better laboratory-to-field extrapolation and for decision-making. The use of native species and complex mixtures like oil presented novel challenges in conducting aquatic toxicity studies. Special emphasis is placed on the necessity to understand the appropriate laboratory conditions for native species not typically held in the laboratory and maintaining study parameters to obtain quality data for more accurate interpretation and replication. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE DISSERTATION INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER I: THE USE OF NON-STANDARD INDIGENOUS ORGANISMS IN AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS RELATED TO THE DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT ..................... 7 ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... 7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................. 8 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 8 TEST SPECIES ............................................................................................................ 10 LABORATORY METHODS ....................................................................................... 20 Test Materials/Preparation of Exposure Test Media................................................. 20 Test Organisms ......................................................................................................... 23 Testing Protocols ...................................................................................................... 27 Data ........................................................................................................................... 28 Analytical Chemistry ................................................................................................ 30 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................... 31 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................... 34 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 39 CHAPTER II: AN INITIAL PROBABILISTIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF DEEPWATER HORIZON OILS TO AQUATIC ORGANISMS.................................... 72 ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. 72 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 72 METHODS ................................................................................................................... 74 Risk Analysis (Exposure Data) ................................................................................. 76 Risk Analysis (Effects Data) ..................................................................................... 78 Risk Characterization ................................................................................................ 78 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................................... 81 Problem Formulation ...............................................................................................