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MELIMEX, an experimental heavy metal pollution study: Effects of increased heavy metal load on crustacea plankton

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Abstract

The crustacea plankton of three artificial model lakes in Lake Baldegg was observed during 15 months. Two were loaded continuously with low concentrations of five heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb).

It was attempted to explain the significant lower abundances of the loaded limno-corrals. The results suggest that the decrease was not, or only partially, caused by the lower food supply in the loaded limnocorrals, but directly by the heavy metals.

Accompaning laboratory tests show significantly increased egg-development-times for two species of those animals from the loaded limno-corrals. Two other species show a decrease of the egg production/♀. It cannot be determined if increased mortality of particular animal stages was caused by heavy metals.

Résumé

On a observé pendant 15 mois les crustacés planctoniques des trois modèles de lac installés dans le lac de Baldegg. Dans deux de ceux-ci, une charge constante de cinq métaux lourds (Hg, Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb) de faible concentration a été maintenue.

On a essayé d'expliquer la faible concentration significative de plancton dans les bassins limnologiques chargés. Les résultats montrent que la diminution n'était que partiellement ou pas du tout causée par le faible approvisionnement en nourriture dans les bassins chargés, mais directement par les métaux lourds. Les tests de laboratoire montrent significativement l'augmentation du temps de développement des œufs pour deux espèces animales des bassins chargés. Deux autres espèces montrent une diminution de la production d'œufs/♀. On ne peut pas déterminer l'augmentation de la mortalité des animaux causée par les métaux lourds à des stades particuliers de développement.

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Author notes

  1. Jacques Urech

    Present address: Swiss Federal Institute for Water Resources and Water Pollution Control (EAWAG) at Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH), CH-6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland

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    1. Jacques Urech
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    Urech, J. MELIMEX, an experimental heavy metal pollution study: Effects of increased heavy metal load on crustacea plankton. Schweiz. Z. Hydrologie 41, 247–260 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02502248

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02502248

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