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In situ measurement of mercury ecotoxicological effects on stream periphyton in southwest Ohio

Klaus, Jaclyn Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1409918494

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Periphyton are of ecological importance because of their critical role at the base of aquatic food webs as primary producers and as a significant source of energy to higher trophic levels in many stream ecosystems. This study examined the toxicity of mercury (Hg) to fluvial periphyton with in situ chemical exposure substrates. Two endpoints were used to measure toxicity of either total Hg or monomethylmercury (MMHg) to periphyton: periphyton biomass and metabolic activity, as a function of Hg concentrations in either periphyton or their exposure to the contaminants from two contrasting sediment types, a low-organic, sandy sediment type (SC) and a high-organic, fine-grained sediment (WD). MMHg and total Hg accumulation was greater in periphyton exposed to sandy SC sediment, whereas our results indicated periphyton growth and metabolic activity may be reduced when exposed to organic-rich WD sediment. These results suggest that the organic content of sediment is a driving factor influencing the exposure and toxicity of MMHg and total Hg to stream periphyton, thus limiting or altering a crucial food source for primary consumers.
Chad Hammerschmidt, Ph.D. (Advisor)
David Costello, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
David Dominic, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
46 p.
Aquatic Sciences; Biology; Chemistry; Environmental Science
Periphyton; MMHg; monomethylmercury; ecotoxicology; primary producer; metabolic activity; biomass; toxicity; sediment; biofilm; in situ

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Klaus, J. E. (2014). In situ measurement of mercury ecotoxicological effects on stream periphyton in southwest Ohio [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1409918494

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Klaus, Jaclyn. In situ measurement of mercury ecotoxicological effects on stream periphyton in southwest Ohio. 2014. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1409918494.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Klaus, Jaclyn. "In situ measurement of mercury ecotoxicological effects on stream periphyton in southwest Ohio." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1409918494

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wright1409918494
620
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.