A comparison of methods for measuring acute toxicity to Hydra vulgaris

The freshwater coelenterate Hydra vulgaris (Pallas) is a common component of freshwater ecosystems and is sensitive to a range of pollutants. It can be cultured easily in the laboratory to provide large numbers of test animals and can be used in simple, cost effective bioassays of both acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity. This study, using the heavy metals: copper, cadmium and zinc, aimed to compare two methods of assessing acute toxicity. The first method was based upon a conventional determination of LC50s while the second involved an evaluation, using a scoring procedure, of progressive changes in structure and proved to have a number of advantages compared with a simple LC50. These include the potential to help explain mechanisms of toxicity and to examine the ability of animals to recover from pollutant-induced damage.