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Effects of Dreissenid Mussel Druses on Heavy Metals Transfer via Benthic Macroinvertebrates.

Freeman, Emily K.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1372077038

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Geology.
Invasive dreissenid mussels (zebra, Dreissena polymorpha and quagga, Dreissena bugensis), first identified in the western basin of Lake Erie in the late 1980s, have become a dominant factor in the structure of the Lake Erie food web and have the potential to cycle heavy metals to higher trophic levels through multiple pathways. The objectives of this study were to better understand the affect of dreissenid biodeposits on other benthic invertebrates through potential bioconcentration of heavy metals, and the subsequent bioaccumulation in amphipods (Gammarus). Laboratory experiments were designed to replicate natural conditions, allowing Dreissena to filter lake water and deposit feces and pseudofeces naturally within the druse structure, while natural sedimentation took place outside the druse. Sediment metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) exceeded US EPA Threshold Effect Levels (TEL) from both control and treatment traps (field experiment). Lake water concentrations of dissolved and particulate Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni (laboratory experiment) were found to be below levels determined to cause toxicity by the EPA. However, filtering by live dreissenid mussels resulted in elevated concentrations of heavy metals in sediments produced from feces and pseudofeces. Cadmium and chromium sediment concentrations in treatments (live mussels) were significantly higher than those in controls (dead mussels) (F1 = 13.5418, P = 0.0005 and F1 = 23.4032, P = <.0001) and concentrations were above PEL in both of the experimental units. Amphipods bioaccumulated Cd at concentrations above TEL in 14 of the 16 samples, furthermore, those in treatments accumulated Cd two times greater than in control habitats. Thus, the capacity for dreissenid mussels to siphon low levels of contaminants out of the water affects the environmental cycling of metals through biodeposition. My data suggests that organic-rich biodeposits act to bioconcentrate heavy metals, that are then readily available for consumption by benthic invertebrates. Thus, invasive mussels can indirectly cycle heavy metals to top predators via benthic macroinvertebrates.
John Farver (Committee Co-Chair)
Jeffrey Miner (Committee Co-Chair)
Sheila Roberts (Committee Member)
60 p.
Geobiology; Geology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Freeman, E. K. (2013). Effects of Dreissenid Mussel Druses on Heavy Metals Transfer via Benthic Macroinvertebrates. [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1372077038

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Freeman, Emily. Effects of Dreissenid Mussel Druses on Heavy Metals Transfer via Benthic Macroinvertebrates. 2013. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1372077038.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Freeman, Emily. "Effects of Dreissenid Mussel Druses on Heavy Metals Transfer via Benthic Macroinvertebrates." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1372077038

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1372077038
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© 2013, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Effects of Dreissenid Mussel Druses on Heavy Metals Transfer via Benthic Macroinvertebrates. by Emily K. Freeman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.