Assessment of Behavioural Parameters of Chironomus Tentans and Lumbriculus Variegatus for the use in a New Early Warning Biomonitoring System for Drinking Water

Behavioural parameters of Chironomus tentans and Lumbriculus variegatus were investigated using time-lapse photography for the use in an early-warning biomonitoring system for drinking water. The Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor (MFB) was used to quantify these behaviours and its utility and integration into such a system was evaluated. The contaminants tributyltin, atrazine, copper, and ciprofloxacin were used to elicit stress responses. Time-lapse photography established foraging and swimming behaviours of both species as model behaviours for use in non-visual bioassays. The MFB identified stress responses from both organisms exposed to 100μg/L TBT (p = 0.008) but not under exposure to 500μg/L of Cu and 10% EtOH (p = 0.120 and 0.286 respectively). The MFB was not successful in detecting behavioural deviations on a consistent basis and was concluded that it was not suitable for integration into an early-warning biomonitoring system. The study concluded with suggested modifications and future work with the MFB.