Toxicity-testing
Guides
Daphniidae
water fleas
Daphniidae is a family of small freshwater crustaceans in the order Anomopoda, commonly known as water fleas. The family contains approximately 121 species across five genera: Ceriodaphnia, Daphnia, Megafenestra, Scapholeberis, and Simocephalus. Daphniidae species are important model organisms in ecology, toxicology, and evolutionary biology, particularly the genus Daphnia. Many species have been accidentally introduced to regions outside their native ranges through human activity.
Goeldichironomus
Goeldichironomus is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Chironomidae, containing approximately 14 described species. The genus is distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions, with records from Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia. Species in this genus are notable for their short life cycles, tolerance to environmental stress, and colonization of ephemeral aquatic habitats as pioneer species. They serve as important bioindicators in water quality assessments and are widely used in laboratory toxicity studies. The type species Goeldichironomus holoprasinus has been extensively studied in laboratory conditions, completing development from egg to adult in approximately 13 days at 26°C.
Stenonema
Stenonema is a genus of mayflies in the family Heptageniidae. Species within this genus are aquatic insects found in freshwater environments, with nymphs inhabiting both riffle and pool habitats. The genus has been extensively studied in ecological and toxicological research, particularly regarding morphological variation, behavioral responses to environmental cues, and sensitivity to pollutants. Multiple species, including S. modestum, S. tripunctatum, and S. vicarium, serve as bioindicators for water quality assessment.