Project Metadata Quality Assurance + Control Data Archiving

Development of rational models for relating metal accumulation by aquatic animals to metal concentrations in their environment: relative importance of ambient metal sources. (Processes)

Objectives being Investigated
The overall objective of our MITE-RN research is the improvement of our ability to predict the accumulation of trace metals by aquatic organisms through the development of theoretically-based models. To achieve this goal, we require a better understanding of the chemical and biological processes involved in metal bioaccumulation. Understanding these processes is a key part of Ecological Risk Assessment.

Study/Sampling Design
Our project encompasses several studies designed to determine:
- how the behaviour of sediment-dwelling invertebrates modulates their exposure to metals in interstitial and overlying water;
- the relative importance of food and water as metal uptake routes for aquatic invertebrates;
- how we can design mechanistic models that will allow us to use organisms as biomonitors to estimate aqueous metal concentrations in a biologically meaningful manner.

Location of Field Site(s)
Lakes in each of the following regions (see MITE-RN contributions 18, 19 and 20 for details): Quebec City (4 lakes) Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec (10 lakes) Sudbury, Ontario (10 lakes)

Biota Studied

Species
Taxa:
Arthropods: Diptera: Chaoborus: C. albatus, C. americanus, C. flavicans, C. punctipennis Ephemeroptera: Hexagenia limbata Megaloptera: Sialis Moss: Fontinalis

Metals, etc. Quantified
Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn (depending on the taxon)

Biological Endpoint(s)
Metal bioaccumulation Invertebrate behaviour

Physical Material(s) Studied

Medium/Media
Water Sediment

Metals, etc. Quantified
trace metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) depending on project, major ions, DOC, pH

Bibliographic References on-file with Secretariat: Yes

Data Available: Yes

Data Archived with MITHE-SN: Yes

Collaborators