Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

areas as the gills, fins, and eyes. Other observations of the general physicalhealth of the specimens may be made as necessary (removal of a scale orspine for aging, determination of sex, and observations of overall health suchas parasites, fin erosion, skin lesions). If field dissections of captured fish areconducted, observations of the internal organs, such as liver, muscles, andurogenital organs, should be made to assess the presence of any grossabnormalities. Additionally, field observations of behavioral changes (e.g.,twitching, gasping, long-axis whirling, and convulsions) should be made.If site COPECs are known to be associated with histopathological effects onfish, a subset of the fish collected should be subjected to internalhistopathological analysis (e.g., this analysis serves as a measurementendpoint associated with the assessment endpoints of survival, growth,development, reproduction, and maintenance of healthy fish populations).Laboratory methods for histopathological evaluation can be found in EPA(1995c) and Schmitt and Dethloff (2000).Biological sampling for primary producers, such as benthic algae andplankton, may be needed for specialized evaluations such as a food web study.Refer to Appendix B for detailed procedures.6.2.1.4 Surface Water Toxicity TestsWhen surface water analytical data exceed the fresh water or saline watercriteria listed in the SWQS (N.J.A.C. 7:9-B) or the NJDEP ESC Table,surface water toxicity tests can provide an indication of potential effects onaquatic biota.Populations of aquatic organisms (e.g., fish, invertebrates, and plants) can beimpacted when the quality of the water in which they live is changed. Themagnitude of the impact depends on the magnitude of the change to eitherphysical parameters (e.g., temperature, DO, pH, suspended solids, andsalinity) or chemical parameters (e.g., concentrations of salts, nutrients, orchemicals). Aquatic toxicity testing is used to measure the effects of thesechanges on aquatic organism survival, growth, or reproduction using astandardized suite of laboratory organisms (e.g., fathead minnows or daphniafor freshwater; sheepshead minnows or mysid shrimp for saline water),following standardized testing protocols.Surface water toxicity tests should follow established USEPA guidance foraqueous toxicity tests. Acute toxicity studies should be performed inaccordance with Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents andReceiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms (USEPA, 2002b).Short-term chronic toxicity studies should be performed in accordance withShort-Term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents andReceiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms (USEPA, 2002c).Laboratories conducting surface water toxicity tests are required via N.J.A.C.7:26E-2.1(a)1i to be certified for "Category WPP08 Toxicity Testing" underN.J.A.C. 7:18.Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 53Version 1.2 8/29/12