Behavioural and feeding responses of Echinogammarus meridionalis (Crustacea, Amphipoda) to acid mine drainage.
As a result of mining activities the exposure of metal sulphides to oxidation takes place with consequent release of acid mine drainage (AMD). Biomonitoring instruments have been proven to have the best deterrent effect upon polluters. A new approach in online biomonitoring, with the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitortrade mark (MFB), was developed combining behavioural and feeding responses of the Portuguese indigenous benthic shredder, Echinogammarus meridionalis (Pinkster, 1973) (Crustacea, Amphipoda). These endpoints, along with mortality, were measured and analyzed for a gradient of sublethal doses of AMD. Original river water was used as the control and three doses of treatments were attained by adding increasing volumes of AMD to the control. The increase in AMD concentration and concomitant decrease in pH and increase in the concentration of most metals was followed by an overall increase of the mortality, decrease of locomotion/feeding activity and inhibition of the feeding rate. Mortality was observed in the two highest concentrations of AMD. Significant decrease in average locomotion/feeding activity took place in the second treatment. Although an inhibition of feeding was observed along the gradient of AMD concentration only in the highest concentration the feeding rate was significantly reduced.
Macedo-Sousa
Joaquim A
JA
CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. jamsousa@bio.ua.pt <jamsousa@bio.ua.pt>
Pestana
João L T
JL
Gerhardt
Almut
A
Nogueira
António J A
AJ
Soares
Amadeu M V M
AM
D000143:Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D033304:Amphipoda / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008906:Mining; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D000143:Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical