In situ experimental method for toxicological studies on natural plankton communities

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Annu. Book ASTM Stand.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5627996

Marshall, J S; Mellinger, D L

During 1976 and 1977, the authors developed and tested a new in situ method for toxicological studies on natural plankton communities using small-volume (8- and 25-litre) enclosures. The effects of enclosure for 4 to 21 days on the plankton in northern Green Bay, Lake Michigan, were studied in connection with cadmium addition experiments. In situ incubations in opaque enclosures or in translucent ones at depths of >8 m caused large changes in the zooplankton community structure, as measured by two similarity indexes, the coefficient of community (CC) and the percentage similarity (PS), whereas incubations in translucent enclosures at 3 to 8 m caused relatively small changes. The effect of cadmium additions (0 to 5 ..mu..g cadmium per litre) on total zooplankton abundance in translucent enclosures at 3 to 5 m was significantly greater than in those at 6 to 8 m. This interaction between cadmium and light (depth) was probably due to a reduction of phytoplankton photosynthesis, as indicated by changes in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations. Zooplankton abundance was not significantly affected by <1.6 ..mu..g cadmium per litre, whereas DO and PS were significantly reduced by greater than or equal to 0.2 ..mu..g cadmium per litre. Values of PS for zooplankton communities in large-volume (1.5 x 10/sup 5/ litre) enclosures in a small Canadian lake in northwestern Ontario 3 weeks after the addition of cadmium were within the 95 percent confidence limits predicted from the results of 3-week experiments in Lake Michigan.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 5627996
• Journal Information: Annu. Book ASTM Stand.; (United States), Journal Name: Annu. Book ASTM Stand.; (United States); ISSN ABASC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CADMIUM
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ECOLOGY
ELEMENTS
GREAT LAKES
LAKE MICHIGAN
LAKES
MEASURING METHODS
METALS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANKTON
PRODUCTIVITY
QUANTITY RATIO
SAMPLING
SENSITIVITY
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS
TOXICITY