Calidad ecotoxicológica de los sedimentos en fiordos del sur de Chile

we analysed the ecotoxicological quality of sediments in moraleda, puyuguapi and elefantes channels and aysén fjord, located between 44o and 46.5os, using non-specific tests in order to evaluate their base conditions in terms of possible pollutants that may have been introduced in the area. the survival tests with ampelisca araucana and tisbe longicornis and fertility test with arbacia spatuligera indicate that the sediments do not present problems of toxicity. nevertheless, the increased cellular density observed in the tests with microalgae (dunaliella tertiolecta, dunaliella salina and isochrysis galbana) indicates the accumulation of sediments rich in nutrients within the area.