Plant bioindicators for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon toxicity in aquatic microcosms

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:42884

Gensemer, R W; Solomon, K R ^[1]; Day, K E; Hodson, P V; Servos, M R ^[2]; Greenberg, B M ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Guelph, Ontario (Canada)
2. Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario (Canada)
3. Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)

Plant bioindicators are being developed to assess the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in experimental aquatic ecosystems. The approach is to develop and test biomarker assays that are specifically predictive of ecological events at the population and/or community levels of organization in artificial aquatic microcosms. PAH mixtures were introduced into a series of aquatic microcosms using the wood preservative creosote as a PAH source. The authors applied creosote at five dosage levels designed to simulate conductions observed at highly contaminated sites. The growth and biomass of phytoplankton, periphyton, and macrophytes were then measured throughout the growing season, and compared to one or more biomarker assays used to detect PAH contamination. Preliminary results using fluorescence induction on aquatic macrophytes suggest that PAHs can significantly inhibit photosynthesis at even modest concentrations 1--4 hours after exposure. This assay thus is not only a sensitive indicator of PAH exposure, but may also describe mechanisms of PAH toxicity that ultimately reduce biomass or population growth for aquatic plants in these microcosms.

• OSTI ID: 42884
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
PHYTOPLANKTON
PLANTS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION