Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Ecological Effects of In Situ Sediment Contaminants pp 87–105Cite as

Phytoplankton bioassays for evaluating toxicity of in situ sediment contaminants

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 39))

Abstract

Routine bulk chemical characterization of sediments does not provide useful information on toxicity of sediment bound contaminants. This study reviewed and evaluated the utility of phytoplankton bioassays for evaluation of toxicity of sediment bound contaminants, including state-of-the-art techniques. Several techniques such as Algal Fractionation Bioassays, microcomputer-based toxicity testing and in situ bioassays including plankton cages have been developed and successfully applied in our research at various contaminated sites in the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. These bioassay techniques are sensitive, rapid and inexpensive for screening contaminants. The use and application of such techniques, based on bioavailability and physiological response of micro-organisms, are essential for the detection of environmental perturbations of an ecosystem. Such an early warning system will facilitate the preservation and rehabilitation of the Great Lakes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ahlf, W., W. Calmano & U. Förstner, 1987. Correlation between chemical and biological evaluation procedures for the determination of trace-metal availability from suspended solids. Ect. Abstract, 3rd Symp. Sediment/Water, Geneva, pp. 140–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunnett, C. W., 1955. A multiple comparisons procedure for comparing several treatments with a control. J. Amer. Statist. Ass., 50: 1096–1121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flint, R. W. & G. J. Lorefice, 1978. Elutriate-primary productivity bioassays of dredge spoil disposal in Lake Erie. Water Resource. Res., 14 (6): 1159–1163.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flint, R. W. & G. J. Lorefice, 1978. Elutriate-primary productivity bioassays of dredge spoil disposal in Lake Erie. Water Resource. Res., 14 (6): 1159–1163.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gannon, J. E. & A. M. Beeton, 1969. Studies on the effects of dredged materials from selected Great Lakes harbours on plankton and benthos. Center for Great Lakes Studies, Mil-waukee, Wisconsin, Spec. Rept. No. 8.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Joint Commission, 1974. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with annexes and texts and terms of reference, signed at Ottawa, April 15, 1972. United States and Canada, pp. 40.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Joint Commission, 1977. Annual Report of the Water Quality Objectives Subcommittee and the Task Force on the Scientific Basis for Water Quality Criteria 1976. Appendix A to the Great Lakes Water Quality, International Joint Commission, Windsor, Ontario. 83 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A., B. Rystad & L. Skoglund, 1972. The use of dialysis culture in phytoplankton studies. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 8: 241–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lind, O. T. & R. S. Campbell, 1969. Comments on the use of liquid scintillation for routine determination of 14C activity in production studies. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14: 787–789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield, C. I., 1984. A simple computer-based video image analysis system and potential applications to microbiology. J. Microb. Method. 3: 61–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield, C. I. & M. Munawar, 1983a. Preliminary study of the effects of contaminants from sediments on algal membranes. J. Great Lakes Res. 9 (2): 314–316.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield, C. I. & M. Munawar, 1983b. (Abstract) Video digiti-zation and fluorometry of algal cells with a microcomputer. Presented at the Symposium’Phycology in the World of High Technology’, Annual Meeting of the Phycological Society of America, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Grand Forks, N. Dakota.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield, C. I. & M. Munawar, 1983b. (Abstract) Video digiti-zation and fluorometry of algal cells with a microcomputer. Presented at the Symposium’Phycology in the World of High Technology’, Annual Meeting of the Phycological Society of America, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Grand Forks, N. Dakota.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M. 1982. Toxicity studies on natural phytoplankton assemblages by means of fractionation bioassays. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 1152. (i-iv): 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M. & S. Daniels, 1986. (Abstract). Resin treatment for segregating sediment-bound organic and metal toxicity to ultraplankton. Poster presentation ASM/CSM Symposium’Environmental Insult and Recovery of Stressed Systems’. U. of Toronto, June 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M. and G. L. Fahnenstiel. 1982. The abundance and significance of ultraplankton and micro-algae at an offshore station in central Lake Superior. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 1153. (I-IV): 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., A. Mudroch, I. F. Munawar & R. L. Thomas, 1983. The impact of sediment-associated contaminants from the Niagara River mouth on various size assemblages of phytoplankton. J. Great Lakes Res. 9: 303–313.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M. & I. F. Munawar, 1982. Phycological studies in Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron and Superior. Can. J. Bot. 60: 1837–1858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M. & I. F. Munawar, 1984. (Abstract). Sensitivity of ultraplankton and picoplankton to contaminants and its ecological significance. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. U. of British Columbia, Vancouver, June, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., I. F. Munawar, L. R. Culp & G. Dupuis, 1978. Relative importance of nannoplankton in Lake Superior phytoplankton biomass and community metabolism. In M. Munawar (Ed.) Limnology of Lake Superior. J. Great Lakes Res. 4(3-4): 462–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., I. F. Munawar, W. P. Norwood & C. I. Mayfield, 1987b. Significance of autotrophic picoplankton in the Great Lakes and their use as early indicators of contaminant stress. In M. Munawar (Ed.) Proc. Internat. Symp. of Phycology of Large Lakes of the World. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 25: 141–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., I. F. Munawar, P. E. Ross & A. Dagenais, 1982. Microscopic evidence of phytoplankton passing through glass-fibre filters and its implications for chlorophyll analy¬sis. Arch. Hydrobiol. 94 (4): 520–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., I. F. Munawar, P. E. Ross & C. I. Mayfield, 1987a. Differential sensitivity of natural phytoplankton size assemblages to metal mixture toxicity. In M. Munawar (Ed.). Proc. Internat. Symp. on Phycology of Large Lakes of the World. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 25: 123–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., P. Stadelmann & I. F. Munawar, 1974. Phytoplankton biomass, its species composition and primary production at a nearshore and mid-lake station of Lake Ontario during IFYGL. Proc. 17th Conf. Great Lakes Res. 629–652.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M. & R. L. Thomas, 1984. Bioassessment of Toronto- Toledo sediments. Report of the Dredging Subcommittee, International Joint Commission, Windsor, Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., R. L. Thomas, W. P. Norwood & S. A. Daniels, 1986. Sediment toxicity and production-biomass relationships of size fractionated phytoplankton during on-site simulated dredging experiments in a contaminated pond. In P. Sly (Ed). Sediment/Water Interactions. Springer-Verlag Publishers. 407–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., R. L. Thomas, W. P. Norwood & A. Mudroch, 1985. The toxicity of Detroit River sediment-bound con-taminants to ultraplankton. J. Great Lakes Res. 11 (3): 264–274.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munawar, M., R. L. Thomas, H. Shear, P. McKee & A. Mudroch, 1984. An overview of sediment-associated con¬taminants and their bioassessment. Can Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1253 (i-vi): 1–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owens, O. V., P. Dresler, C. C. Crawford, M. A. Tyler & H. H. Seliger, 1977. Phytoplankton cages for the measurement in- situ of the growth rates of mixed natural population. Chesapeak Science 18 (4): 325–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, P. E. & M. Munawar, 1981. Preference for nannoplankton size fractions in Lake Ontario zooplankton grazing J. Great Lakes Res. 7 (1): 65–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, P. E. & M. Munawar, 1987. Zooplankton feeding rates at offshore stations with North American Great Lakes. In M.Munawar (Ed.) Proc. Internal. Symp. on Phycology of Large Lakes of the World. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 25: 157–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakshaug, E. & A. Jensen, 1978. The use of cage cultures in studies of the biochemistry and ecology of marine phytoplankton. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 16: 81–106.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, J. S. & P. Gerhardt, 1969. Dialysis culture of microorganisms: design, theory and results. Bacteriol. Rev. 33: 1–47.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shuba, P. J., H. E. Tatem & J. H. Gentile, 1977. Guidance for performing liquid phase and suspended particulate phase phytoplankton bioassays. Appendix E. In U.S. Environ. Prot. Agency/Corps Engin., Techn. Comm. Criteria Dredged and Fill Material. Ecological Evaluation of Proposed Dis¬charge of Dredged Material into Ocean Waters. Implementation Manual for Section 103 of Public Law 92-532, July, 1977. Environm. Effects Lab., U.S. Army Engin., Waterways Exper. Stat., Vickburg, Mississippi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H. &T. R. parsons, 1968. A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Board. Can. 167: 283–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, W. H., J. T. Hollibaugh, D. L. R. Seibert & G. T. Wallace, Jr., 1980. Toxicity of a mixture of ten metals to phytoplankton. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 2: 213–220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency/Corps of Engineers. Technical Committee on Criteria for Dredged and Fill Material 1977. Ecological Evaluation of Proposed Discharge of Dredged Material into Ocean Waters; Implementation Manual for Section 103 of Public Law 92-532 (Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 ) (Second Printing, April 1978 ). Environm. Effects Lab., U.S. Army Engin. Waterways Exper. Stat., Vicksburg, Mississippi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Utermöhl., H., 1958. Zur Vervolkommung der Quantitativen Phytoplankton Method. Mitt. Verein. Limnol. 9: 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollenweider, R. A., M. Munawar & P. Stadelmann, 1974. A com-parative review of phytoplankton and primary production in the Laurentian Great Lakes. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 31 (5): 739–762.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. T. S., Y. K. Chau & D. Patel, 1982. Physiological and biochemical responses of several freshwater algae to a mixture of metals. Chemosphere. 11 (4): 367–376.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Great Lakes Fisheries Research Branch Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6

    M. Munawar

  2. Plankton Canada, 685 Inverary Road, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7L 2L8

    I. F. Munawar

Authors
  1. M. Munawar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. F. Munawar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Regional Office, 100 Ouellette Avenue, 8th Floor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N9A 6T3

    Richard L. Thomas  & Trefor B. Reynoldson  & 

  2. International Joint Commission, 8th Floor, 100 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1P 5M1

    A. L. Hamilton

  3. Great Lakes Fisheries Research Branch, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, P.O. Box 5050, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6

    M. Munawar

  4. Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office, Fontaine Building, 13th Floor, Hull, Quebec, Canada, K1A 0H3

    M. Husain Sadar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1987 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Munawar, M., Munawar, I.F. (1987). Phytoplankton bioassays for evaluating toxicity of in situ sediment contaminants. In: Thomas, R.L., Evans, R., Hamilton, A.L., Munawar, M., Reynoldson, T.B., Sadar, M.H. (eds) Ecological Effects of In Situ Sediment Contaminants. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4053-6_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4053-6_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8299-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4053-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation