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Title: Effects of complex effluents from the River Raisin on zooplankton grazing in Lake Erie

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7105956

Functional ecosystem tests should reflect the hazards of toxic chemicals, as well as stimulation by nutrients, by measuring a single flux of phytoplankton to the dominant members of the community. The flux of phytoplankton and detritus to zooplankton is reflected by the filtering rates of individual organisms, expressed as millilitres per animal per hour. The authors used common particle counting techniques to measure such fluxes in the waters of Lake Erie. They then examined the impact of complex effluents on the filtering rates. These effluent effects are scored as inhibition or stimulation of filtering by the dominant herbivores in the Lake Erie ecosystem. In the River Raisin, a tributary to Lake Erie, specific effluents usually inhibited grazing by the herbivores Daphnia. Diaptomus, and Cyclops, although one effluent was stimulatory. These results were directionally consistent and probably depended on the characteristics (especially the concentrations of metals) of the effluents.

Research Organization:
Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis, MN (USA). Dept. of Ecology and Behavioral Biology
OSTI ID:
7105956
Report Number(s):
PB-90-134453/XAB
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Pub. in Functional Testing of Aquatic Biota for Estimating Hazards of Chemicals, ASTM STP 988, 128-137(1988)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English