Data Management > Project Metadata > Details

Predicting metal and metal mixture effects in aquatic biota. (Impacts)

Objectives being Investigated
Objectives:
1)To determine if the field collected sediments from Rouyn-Noranda area lakes are toxic to Hyalella azteca using a chronic (4-week) sediment toxicity test.
2) Identification of the toxic agent based on metal body concentrations.
3) Determination of the effect of different overlay water (site water versus laboratory culture water) on metal bioavailability and toxicity from field-collected sediments.

Hypothesis #1: Laboratory toxicity test results using field-collected sediments correspond to results detected by benthic community structure analyses of the same sites. Hypothesis #2: Bioavailability and toxicity of metals from field-collected sediments are not modified by different overlay water (site water versus laboratory culture water) when conducting laboratory toxicity tests.
Hypothesis #3: Increased metal bioavailability, and in turn toxicity, is evident when conducting sediment toxicity tests using natural lake water of lower buffering capacity versus laboratory water.

Study/Sampling Design
Objectives 1 & 2:
10 lakes in the Rouyn-Noranda area were selected for sediment sampling that exhibit a wide range of degree of metal contamination, similarity in natural conditions, availability of complementary environmental data from other studies as well as accessibility (Personal Communication, Lee Grapentine, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON). Surficial sediments were collected in the profundal zone from three sites at each lake using a mini-boxcore. Plastic core tubes were placed into the boxcore and the top 1 cm layer of sediment was obtained. Four-week chronic toxicity tests were completed using laboratory overlay water in order to determine which lake sediments displayed the highest metal bioavailability. This was determined by comparing metal bioaccumulation concentrations in Hyalella azteca to critical body concentrations (LBC25 values) known to cause toxicity.

Objective 3:
Lakes displaying high metal bioavailability from sediment and a wide range of lake water chemistry were chosen as sampling sites for both sediment and water collection (see #9 Location of Field Sites). Both sediment and water were collected in the profundal zone. A mini-boxcore was used into which plastic core tubes were inserted to extract the surficial layer (top 1 cm) of sediment. Water was collected 1 m above the sediment using a van Dorn sampler. One-week bioaccumulation and four-week chronic toxicity tests were completed using sediment with various overlay water types (either natural lake water or laboratory water). The effects of different water types on metal bioavailability will be assessed by comparing metal tissue burdens in Hyalella azteca to critical body concentrations known to cause toxicity.

Location of Field Site(s)
Objectives 1 & 2:
Rouyn-Noranda, Québec: Lac Dufault (48° 18' N, 78° 59' W), Lac Duprat (48° 20' N, 79° 07' W), Lac Flavrian (48° 18' N, 79E 11' W), Lac Joannes (48° 11' N, 78°E 40' W), Lac Beauchastel (48° 09' N, 79° 07' W), Lac Dasserat (48° 15' N, 79° 24' W), Lac Ollier (48° 10' N, 79° 16' W), Lac Opasatica (48° 05' N, 79° 18' W), Lac Bousquet (48° 13' N, 78° 37' W), Lac Heva (48° 11' N, 78° 19' W).

Objective 3:
Sudbury, Ontario: Richard lake (46° 26' N, 80° 55' W), Raft lake (46° 24' N, 80° 57' W); Rouyn-Noranda, Québec: Lac Dufault (48° 18' N, 78° 59' W), Lac Duprat (48° 20' N, 79° 07' W), Lac Heva (48° 11' N, 78° 19' W).

Biota Studied

Species
Hyalella azteca

Metals, etc. Quantified
Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Tl, Cr, Mn, Co, As

Biological Endpoint(s)
survival, growth, metal bioaccumulation

Physical Material(s) Studied

Medium/Media
Water Sediment

Metals, etc. Quantified
water: major ions, nutrients, pH, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Tl, Cr, Mn, Co, As sediment: organic carbon, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Tl, Cr, Mn, Co, As

Bibliographic References on-file with Secretariat: No

Data Available: No

Data Archived with MITHE-SN: Yes