Currently, two working groups originating from the AMRAP workshop continue their work under the umbrella of AMEG. Additional AMEG working groups will be established in the future when concrete products (e.g. opinions, guidance doc, reviews) for specific questions are required.

Myriophyllum Working Group

This working group originated from the "Aquatic Macrophyte Risk Assessment for Pesticides” (AMRAP) workshop held at the 2008 SETAC Europe meetings in Wageningen, Netherlands. This group’s primary focus is to provide guidance on the development of a toxicity test using a non-Lemna (non-monocotyledonous) -based aquatic macrophyte species. Concern exists over the sensitivity of Lemna species for some pesticides or other contaminants that may specifically target dicotyledonous plant processes. 

A draft test guidance document (available below) for a test using Myriophyllum sp. in a water /sediment system was developed for evaluation. Pre-ring and ring tests were conducted at independent laboratories to evaluate the predictivity and reproducibility of the assay. Results are currently being analyzed.

For more information on the working group please contact the co-chairs, Dr. Jo Davies (jo.davies@syngenta.com) or Dr. Margit Dollinger (margit.dollinger@bayer.com).  Former Chair: Peter Dohmen (BASF) with support from Johanna Kubitza (BASF). 

Downloads

• Current version (October 2010) of the Myriophyllum test guidance document
• Final report: Myriophyllum toxicity test-results from a ringtest using M. aquaticum and M. spicatum grown in a sediment-water system

In addition to the work on this water-sediment test system, there is also an initiative by the Federal Environment Agency of Germany (UBA) to develop a water only test system.

Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) Working Group

This working group originated from the "Aquatic Macrophyte Risk Assessment for Pesticides” (AMRAP) workshop held at the 2008 SETAC Europe meetings in Wageningen, Netherlands. Their primary focus was to determine the relative sensitivity of Lemna species to other aquatic macrophyte species. Lemna species are the most common surrogate aquatic plants used for aquatic macrophyte risk assessment, but little is known about their sensitivity relative to other aquatic macrophytes.

This working group developed a unique database with existing toxicity data for macrophytes and a relatively diverse array of pesticides having different modes-of-action (see AMRAP book). Chemical modes-of-action included inhibition of amino acid synthesis, auxin simulation, inhibition of cell division or elongation, inhibition of fungal respiration, inhibition of multiple biosynthesis pathways, and inhibition of photosynthesis. Species sensitivity distributions were developed for each compound using the available toxicity data and comparisons were made between Lemna and other species.  For a more refined review and analysis of the data a consortium of several partners was established to allow funding of a consultant.

This project was recently completed. The final report is available below and a manuscript is currently being prepared for publication in SETAC’s IEAM journal.

For more information on this working group please contact the chair, Dr. Stefania Loutseti (Stephania.Loutseti@grc.dupont.com).

Downloads

• Final Report: The relative sensitivity of macrophyte and algal species to herbicides and fungicides: an analysis using species sensitivity distributions