ASTM E 1604 : 2012

1.1This guide covers some general information on the selection and application of behavioral methods useful for determining the sublethal effects of chemicals to fish, amphibians, and macroinvertebrates.

1.2Behavioral toxicity occurs when chemical or other stressful conditions, such as changes in water quality or temperature, induce a behavioral change that exceeds the normal range of variability (1).² Behavior includes all observable, recordable, or measurable activities of a living organism and reflects genetic, neurobiological, physiological, and environmental determinants (2).

1.3Behavioral methods can be used in biomonitoring, the determination of no-observed-effect and lowest-observed-effect concentrations, and the prediction of hazardous chemical impacts on natural populations (3).

1.4Behavioral methods can be applied to fish, amphibians, and macroinvertebrates in standard laboratory toxicity tests, tests of effluents, and sediment toxicity tests.

1.5The various behavioral methods included in this guide are categorized with respect to seven interdependent, functional responses that fish, amphibians, and macroinvertebrates must perform in order to survive. These functional responses include respiration, locomotion, habitat selection, feeding, predator avoidance, competition, and reproduction (4). These responses can be documented visually or through video or acoustic imagery. Electronically recorded information can be derived through manual techniques or through the use of digital image analysis software. (5, 6, 7)

1.6Additional behavioral methods for any category may be added when new tests are developed as well as when methods are adapted to different species or different life stages of an organism.

1.7This guide is arranged as follows:

1.8The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.9This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 9.