Date of Award

1990

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.

Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords

Biology, Limnology.

Supervisor

Ciberowski, J. J. H.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The toxicokinetics of $\sp{14}$C-Hexachlorobenzene by the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia were studied in laboratory microcosms. Mayflies exhibited a rapid uptake and elimination of HCB for water and sediment tests with a resultant half-life of 14 hours. Mayflies obtained 98% of the chemical from sediment and 2% from water. Field-collected mayflies and associated sediments were sampled from a location in Lake St. Clair from July to September, 1987. The samples were analyzed for contaminant concentrations of penta- and hexachlorobenzene, octachlorostyrene and 6 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners. A linear positive relationship was found between log BAF and the logarithm of the chemicals octanol-water partition coefficient. A laboratory substrate selection experiment indicated Hexagenia nymphs avoided a coarse-textured sediment but did not discriminated among the 3 finer-grained sediments of varying sand content with equivalent organic composition. In a separate experiment, mayflies actively avoided contaminated sediment in favor of a cleaner substrate of similar particle composition. Natural populations of mayfly nymphs in Lake St. Clair reach maximum abundance in fine, organic-rich sediments and are tolerant of "in situ" chemical concentrations in Lake St. Clair. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1990 .B443. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 30-03, page: 0637. Co-Chairmen: J. J. H. Ciborowski; G. D. Haffner. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1990.

Download

Share

COinS