Control of trace element toxicity in Chesapeake Bay by dominant phytoplankton. Final report
Copper (Cu) and arsenic (As), but not chromium (Cr), underwent large changes in chemical form during the development and senescence of natural phytoplankton blooms. In general, the percentage of organically-associated Cu was lowest during periods of rapid cell growth and highest during periods of cell decline or periods of dominance by red tide-forming dinoflagellates, a pattern tied to periods of release of organic compounds during either bloom senescence or during unusual algal blooms. Chromium, in contrast, was unreactive. The end result of biological mediation of both As and Cu was to increase the proportion of the element present in a less toxic form, at least to phytoplankton, thus affecting the potential toxicity of either element to a natural ecosystem. The results of the project provide a framework for the construction of general predictive models of likely trace element behavior in productive ecosystems and provide a conceptual theory of how such toxic contaminants may affect ecosystem structure and food webs within Chesapeake Bay. Predictive models of ecosystem impact will require further experimentation with multi-trophic level food chains.
- Research Organization:
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Benedict, MD (United States). Benedict Estuarine Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6895507
- Report Number(s):
- PB-93-110013/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARSENIC
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BAYS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHESAPEAKE BAY
CHROMIUM
COASTAL WATERS
CONTROL
COPPER
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOOD CHAINS
GROWTH
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
PHYTOPLANKTON
PLANKTON
PLANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
SEAS
SEMIMETALS
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL