Effect of sediment copper on the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Keweenaw Waterway

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(81)72053-7· OSTI ID:5611421

Kraft, K J; Sypniewski, R H

Benthic macroinvertebrates, sediment copper, and sediment particle size were examined in two areas of the Keweenaw Waterway. The north area is downdrift from deposits of copper tailings. South area sediment averaged 27% silt and clay and north area sediment 66%. South area sediment had an average copper content of 33 mg/kg and north area sediment 589 mg/kg. The number of invertebrates was 4.3 times greater in the south than the north. The average number of taxa at south stations was 20 and at north stations 8. Mollusks, mayflies, and crustaceans were common in the south but rare or absent in the north. Hexagenia was the most abundant animal in the south. A single individual was found in the north, at the only north station with low sediment copper. Three north stations with sediment particle size similar to south stations had the same restricted fauna of chironomids and oligochaetes as that found at other north stations. Equitability and Shannon-Wiener diversity values for most north stations did not indicate pollution because of the extremely low, and thus, even numbers of individuals collected in all taxa. Twenty-six taxa were common to both areas. Four taxa, found only in the north, were represented by five individuals. Twenty-five taxa, found only in the south, were represented by 1,007 individuals. The likely cause of the reduced invertebrate fauna in the north area is high levels of sediment copper.

• Research Organization: Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton
• OSTI ID: 5611421
• Journal Information: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States) Vol. 7:3; ISSN JGLRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560304* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Invertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENTHOS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COPPER
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GREAT LAKES
INFORMATION
LAKE SUPERIOR
LAKES
METALS
MORTALITY
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE SIZE
POLLUTION
POPULATION DYNAMICS
POPULATIONS
SEDIMENTS
SIZE
SOLID WASTES
SURFACE WATERS
TAILINGS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES