Dr Margarida Sardo Margarida.Sardo@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Research Fellow in Science Communication
Can behavioural responses of Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaeta) assess sediment toxicity? A case study with sediments exposed to acid mine drainage
Sardo, A. M.; Soares, A. M V M
Authors
A. M V M Soares
Abstract
The São Domingos mine (Portugal) is, potentially, a good site for ecotoxicological studies, due to a pH and metal gradient of acid mine drainage. In this study, the toxicity of several mine sediments was evaluated using the aquatic oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus as a test organism. Our hypothesis was that exposure to contaminated sediments would cause behavioural early warning responses in L. variegatus. Five sites, with pH ranging from 2.5 to 6.5, and with associated metals, were investigated. The results showed poor sediment quality in most of the collected sediments and Fe, S and As were the dominant elements in the samples. High mortalities were observed, ranging from 32.6 to 100%, indicating severe contamination. The collected sediments did not support good L. variegatus growth and significantly changed its behaviour. Early warning responses consisted of decreased locomotion and decreased peristaltic movements. A behaviour inhibition will affect the ecosystem balance by limiting the organisms' ability to avoid capture, which leads to a higher risk of predation. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Citation
Sardo, A. M., & Soares, A. M. V. M. (2010). Can behavioural responses of Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaeta) assess sediment toxicity? A case study with sediments exposed to acid mine drainage. Environmental Pollution, 158(2), 636-640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2009.08.015
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Date | Feb 1, 2010 |
Journal | Environmental Pollution |
Print ISSN | 0269-7491 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 158 |
Issue | 2 |
Pages | 636-640 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2009.08.015 |
Keywords | lumbriculus variegatus, metal, sediment, behaviour, acid mine drainage, biomonitoring |
Public URL | https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/988219 |
Publisher URL | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749109004242 |
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