Community responses of aquatic macroinvertebrates to heavy metals in laboratory and outdoor experimental streams

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5407951

Clements, W H

Laboratory experiments conducted over three seasons showed that acute exposure to copper significantly reduced macroinvertebrate abundance and number of taxa during each season. Owing to differences in sensitivity among taxa, the percent composition of dominant groups varied between control and dosed streams. Mayflies were quite sensitive to Cu, particularly during the summer when water temperatures were higher. Community responses to Cu and Zn in outdoor experimental streams were similar to those observed at metal-impacted sites in the field. Control streams and field reference stations were dominated by mayflies and Tanytarsini chironomids. In contrast, treated streams and impacted field sites were dominated by net-spinning caddisflies (Hydropsychidae) and Orthocladiini chironomids. Responses of these communities to Cu were greatly influenced by water quality. Effects were more severe in New River streams, where water hardness and alkalinity were low, compared to Clinch River streams, where hardness and alkalinity were higher. In soft water streams, abundance was reduced by 84% after 10 d exposure to Cu (measured concentration = 13 ug/L). In contrast, abundance was reduced by only 45% in hard water streams after 10 d at similar Cu levels.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5407951
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COPPER
TOXICITY
FLIES
SENSITIVITY
ZINC
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RIVERS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
WATER QUALITY
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
CHEMISTRY
DIPTERA
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VARIATIONS
WATER CHEMISTRY
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology