Two Australian cladocerans, Moina australiensis Sars and a species oi Ceriodaphnia, were evaluated as possible biological indicator organisms to assess the toxicity of irrigation supply and drainage water of the Murrumbidgee and Coleambally Irrigation Areas, M. australiensis, being large (-2000 /um) and orange, was initially chosen to overcome visibility problems in highly turbid Australian inland waters. However, the organism responded erratically in culture. Mortality was high and neonate production was unpredictable when cultured under recommended United States Environmental Protection Agency protocols. Attempts to improve culture performance by optimizing food (quality and quantity), water (control source, hardness, volume) and temperature were only marginally successful. Similar difficulties were not evident when Ceriodaphnia sp, was used as the test organism. Although Ceriodaphnia sp, is small (-1000 /xm), grey and more difficult to see in turbid water its responses were more predictable and reliable than those of M. australiensis. Results of initial trials comparing the two organisms suggest that Ceriodaphnia sp, was a better test organism and more suited to local requirements.
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