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http://hdl.handle.net/10773/6433
Title: | Can behavioural responses of Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaeta) assess sediment toxicity? A case study with sediments exposed to acid mine drainage |
Author: | Sardo, A. M. Soares, A. M. V. M. |
Keywords: | Lumbriculus variegatus Metal Sediment Behaviour Acid mine drainage Biomonitoring |
Issue Date: | 2010 |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Abstract: | The Sao 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. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Peer review: | yes |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10773/6433 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.08.015 |
ISSN: | 0269-7491 |
Appears in Collections: | CESAM - Artigos DBio - Artigos |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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192_EnvPollution_2010_158_636.pdf | 350.96 kB | Adobe PDF |
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