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Abstract
We investigated the possibility of using diatom motility as an indicator for screening potentially toxic sediments. Craticula cuspidata (Kützing) D.G. Mann cells were incubated for up to 4 h in elutriates made from four previously characterized sediment samples. The cells showed both concentration-dependent and time-dependent reductions in motility when treated with elutriates from relatively toxic samples, but showed no inhibition of motility when treated with elutriates from samples previously characterized as possessing low toxicity. Using the toxic sediments, motility of cells incubated in full-strength elutriate made from 1:1 (w:v) sediment: diatom medium was reduced to 20–30% of control cell rates over a 4 h period. Our results suggest that the motility assay can, at least for diatoms, be used as a relatively rapid and effective screening assay for potentially toxic sediments.