Research Product

The development of pathology, as applied to aquatic toxicology, depends heavily on the knowledge of normal histology and physiology if anomalies, due to pollutants or disease, are to be accurately defined. However, at present, knowledge of normal morphology or metabolic activities is either incomplete or lacking for most marine or coastal organisms. Obviously, well-coordinated efforts will be required to characterize normal ranges and interpret the morphological or physiological responses of aquatic organisms to various factors including pollutants. Most laboratories cannot justify well-defined pathological units, although the need often arises through governmental enforcement organizations and other activities. The techniques and examples thus presented are intended to offer some means of obtaining evaluations of aquatic organisms' well-being or disorders.