Use of protozoan communities for pollution monitoring.
A gradient of chronic organic pollution was identified in a small river in south-east England. The parasite fauna of the ubiquitous three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) was studied at the extremes of the pollution gradient and trichodinid ciliates identified as a potential bioindicator. A simple technique was developed for the quantification of whole body-burdens of trichodinids on small fish. Three species of trichodinids were identified: Trichodina domerguei, T. tenuidens and Trichodinella epizootica at combined infestation intensities of < 14 to 137522/fish. Preliminary results are reported which may link the increased intensity of trichodinid infestation with increased concentration of sewage treatment works effluent.
Yeomans
W E
WE
Environment Agency, Biology Laboratory, Reading, Berkshire, UK.
Chubb
J C
JC
Sweeting
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis