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ElizaKaltenbergDissertation.pdf (1.71 MB)

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New Approaches in Measuring Sediment-Water-Macrobenthos Interactions

Kaltenberg, Eliza Maria
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2222-7751
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1458661697

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Geological Sciences.
Sediment is an important sink for many anthropogenic and naturally occurring contaminants in aquatic systems. Physical and biogeochemical processes near the sediment-water interface control the fate of these pollutants, which can be either buried and therefore removed from the system or returned to the water column and biosphere through a variety of processes. Sediment-water interactions are often further complicated by the presence of macrobenthos, which can both alter the physical and chemical conditions in the sediment and be affected by the presence of contaminants. This research investigated the influence of PCB pollution on the bioturbative behavior of Leptocheirus plumulosus. A significant decrease in the rate of particle and solute mixing, measured using radioactive tracers, was observed in New Bedford Harbor sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals, when compared to a control. Dose-response experiments revealed that the burrowing behavior of L. plumulosus was relatively unchanged up to about 60 mg PCB/kg d.w., above which a strong decrease in the mixing rate was observed. This work also explored the possibility of using non-toxic, fluorescent luminophores to measure 2-dimensional particle redistribution as a substitute for 1-dimensional measurements obtained with particle radiotracers. Good agreement between the two tracers was obtained for 4 marine/estuarine benthos with different styles of mixing, with the best agreement observed for the biodiffusive species. The 2-dimensional capability of the luminophore methodology helped determine whether uniform mixing assumption of the biodiffusive model, used for both tracers, was met. Finally, a new method for measuring the diffusive flux of phosphorus from sediment was developed. The method involves using Diffusive Equilibrium in Thin films (DET) to obtain high resolution overlying and pore water soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP; phosphate) concentrations. Two-dimensional SRP distribution maps were obtained by equilibrating sheets of polyacrylamide hydrogel with the surrounding pore and overlying water and then developing the color using standard colorimetric reagents. The gels were then scanned and digitized using a conventional flatbed scanner. Concentration gradients across the sediment-water were determined from the phosphate DET maps and used to calculate SRP fluxes based on Fick’s first law of diffusion.
Gerald Matisoff, Dr. (Advisor)
111 p.
Environmental Science; Geochemistry; Toxicology
bioturbation; sediment; biodiffusion coefficient; burial velocity; sublethal toxicity; behavioral response; macrobenthos; amphipod; bivalve; polychaete; DET; phosphorus flux; Leptocheirus plumulosus

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kaltenberg, E. M. (2016). New Approaches in Measuring Sediment-Water-Macrobenthos Interactions [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1458661697

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kaltenberg, Eliza. New Approaches in Measuring Sediment-Water-Macrobenthos Interactions . 2016. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1458661697.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kaltenberg, Eliza. "New Approaches in Measuring Sediment-Water-Macrobenthos Interactions ." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1458661697

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1458661697
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.