Abstract: The invention is a method and kit for conducting a rapid toxicity test. Methods and kits according to the invention include an animal or plant species in diapause.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a system for toxicity identification in water. The system includes a cell maintenance device having a cooling component that maintains an internal storage area of the cell maintenance device within a temperature range of 4 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. Fluidic biochips in the cell maintenance device include one or more testing components for receiving living poikilothermic cells and at least one water test sample. A test unit receives the fluidic biochips and monitors a response to exposure of the poikilothermic cells to the water test sample. In at least one embodiment, the test unit is able to identify the degree of toxicity of the water sample within 60 minutes of receiving the fluidic biochip.

Abstract: A submersible biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality in situ includes a submersible chamber constructed of a di-electric material and sized to allow suitable signals from one or more aquatic organisms to be received by eliminating cross-talk between cells while allowing ambient conditions to be maintained inside the chamber. The aquatic organism exhibits ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality which manifest as electrical signals picked up by electrodes and communicated to a pre-amplifier that conditions the signals for communication to a land-based amplifier and/or controller that is used to interpret the signals to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism.

Abstract: A submersible biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality in situ includes a submersible chamber constructed of a di-electric material and sized to allow suitable signals from one or more aquatic organisms to be received by eliminating cross-talk between cells while allowing ambient conditions to be maintained inside the chamber. The aquatic organism exhibits ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality which manifest as electrical signals picked up by electrodes and communicated to a pre-amplifier that conditions the signals for communication to a land-based amplifier and/or controller that is used to interpret the signals to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism.

Abstract: The invention is a method and kit for conducting a rapid toxicity test. Methods and kits according to the invention include an animal or plant species in diapause.

Abstract: A portable automated biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality includes an exposure chamber for housing an aquatic organism and a water inlet for directing water to the exposure chamber. The aquatic organism has ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality. Electrodes sense electrical signals produced by the organism during its ventilatory behavior and body movement, and a controller responsive to signals from the electrodes determines a plurality of ventilatory parameters based on the signals. The ventilatory parameters are compared with corresponding thresholds to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism. The water being evaluated may be recirculated through the system for further analysis.

Abstract: A portable automated biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality includes an exposure chamber for housing an aquatic organism and a water inlet for directing water to the exposure chamber. The aquatic organism has ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality. Electrodes sense electrical signals produced by the organism during its ventilatory behavior and body movement, and a controller responsive to signals from the electrodes determines a plurality of ventilatory parameters based on the signals. The ventilatory parameters are compared with corresponding thresholds to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism. The water being evaluated may be recirculated through the system for further analysis.

Abstract: The invention is a method and kit for conducting a rapid toxicity test. Methods and kits according to the invention include an animal or plant species in diapause.

Abstract: The invention is a method and kit for conducting a rapid toxicity test. Methods and kits according to the invention include an animal or plant species in diapause.