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A revision of Gastrocopta from the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) is made. Four new species from Pinzón, Santa Cruz and Floreana Islands are described; species previously known are redescribed and new locations are added. Gastrocopta (Gastrocopta) reibischi is revalidated through new records from Floreana, Isabela and San Bartolomé Islands. Shell shape and the number, morphology and disposition of the apertural barriers support the discrimination of the taxa. The species have cylindrical to pupoid shells; the number of apertural barriers – differentiated as lamellae, folds and nodulae – varies between 4 and 11, almost completely occluding the aperture in the more complex cases. These structures are: angular-parietal, infraparietal, supracolumellar, columellar, subcolumellar lamellae, and supernumerary, basal, infrapalatal, lower-palatal, interpalatal, upper-palatal and suprapalatal folds. In addition to this classic scheme, a supernumerary fold and a nodule are added. Calcareous concretions – pustulae – are found in several species, mainly located in the peristome. The aulacognathous jaw and radular dentition formulae of Gastrocopta (Gastrocopta) clausa and Gastrocopta (Gastrocopta) munita, are described and photographed for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses findings of an integrated ecotoxicological, physical and chemical study of wastewaters from different industrial sectors in the Trancão River Basin in Lisbon, Portugal. The results of the study will be used to propose a test battery that will be used in wastewater evaluation. Examples of test batteries proposed in the study include the Microtox test, Daphnia test and an algal test. The use of Whole Effluent Assessment (WEA) tests is being supported by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention), to be applied to the entire effluent sample instead of the individual substances.

A global evaluation of wastewaters should include ecotoxicological tests to complement the chemical characterization, with advantages especially in the case of complex wastewaters. A European project developed in Trancão River Basin (Portugal), integrated the ecotoxicological and physicochemical studies of wastewater samples from two municipal sewer networks and respective wastewater treatment plants. Wastewater samples were analysed for physicochemical parameters, ecotoxicological acute and chronic tests performed and the potential for endocrine disruption evaluated. Organic load parameters and total suspended solids showed significant correlations with Microtox and ThamnoToxKit test results. Data analysis showed that treated treatment plant effluent samples are associated with less organic contamination and less toxicity in ThamnoToxKit test. Chronic toxicity test and endocrine disruption assay of treatment plant effluent samples indicated that, in a long term, potential population effects could arise in the receiving waters. A test battery to monitor this type of wastewaters is proposed, including tests with a bacterium, an alga and a crustacean. In a screening phase the most sensitive test, Microtox, can be used. The use of an ecotoxicological approach can have added value to hazard and risk assessment of discharges to the receiving waters and can contribute to the environmental management of the treatment plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]