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Effects of acid mine drainage on larval Chironomus (diptera, chironomidae) measured with the multispecies freshwater biomonitor

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Resumo:The abandoned Sao Doming-os mine (Portugal) offers a pH and metal gradient of acid mine drainage (AMD), and is an ideal model for ecotoxicological studies. Short-term 24-h bioassays with water from the AMD (pH 3.3, 4.4, and 5.5, and control) were performed with fourth instars of Chironomus in the laboratory and in situ (AMD at pH 5.5) in artificial flow-through channels. This was compared to reference water acidified to the respective pH values (acid only). Behavioral stress responses were monitored online with the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor(R) (MFB). The exposure to AMD and acid only was in the sublethal range (mortality 0-20%). The use of MFB chambers did not affect survival. Stress behavior of Chironomus consisted mainly of decreased locomotory activity in AMD and increased activity in acid-only tests, indicating that the metals in the AMD played a role is stress factor. Field exposure in the AMD mixing zone (pH 5.5) generated similar activity as in the corresponding laboratory exposure.
Autores principais:de Bisthoven, Luc Janssens
Outros Autores:Gerhardt, Almut; Soares, Amadeu M. V. M.
Assunto:Acid mine drainage Chironomus Behavior Online biomonitorin
Ano:2004
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:artigo
Tipo de acesso:acesso restrito
Instituição associada:Universidade de Aveiro
Idioma:inglês
Origem:RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro
Descrição
Resumo:The abandoned Sao Doming-os mine (Portugal) offers a pH and metal gradient of acid mine drainage (AMD), and is an ideal model for ecotoxicological studies. Short-term 24-h bioassays with water from the AMD (pH 3.3, 4.4, and 5.5, and control) were performed with fourth instars of Chironomus in the laboratory and in situ (AMD at pH 5.5) in artificial flow-through channels. This was compared to reference water acidified to the respective pH values (acid only). Behavioral stress responses were monitored online with the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor(R) (MFB). The exposure to AMD and acid only was in the sublethal range (mortality 0-20%). The use of MFB chambers did not affect survival. Stress behavior of Chironomus consisted mainly of decreased locomotory activity in AMD and increased activity in acid-only tests, indicating that the metals in the AMD played a role is stress factor. Field exposure in the AMD mixing zone (pH 5.5) generated similar activity as in the corresponding laboratory exposure.