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An Overview of an Acidic Uranium Mine Pit Lake (Caldas, Brazil): Composition of the Zooplankton Community and Limnochemical Aspects

Ein Überblick zu einem sauren Tagebausee in einer Urangrube (Caldas, Brasilien): Zusammensetzung des Zooplanktons und limnologische Aspecte

Una visión global del lago del hoyo de una mina ácida de uranio (Caldas, Brasil): Composición de la comunidad zooplancton y aspectos limnoquímicos

酸性铀矿采坑湖(卡尔达斯,巴西)综述:浮游动物群落组成和湖水水化学特征影响

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Abstract

Water samples were collected quarterly for 1 year from the newly created Osamu Utsumi uranium mine pit lake, Brazil, which is affected by acid mine drainage (AMD). The water presented mean pH values of 3.8, high mean electrical conductivity values (2391 µS/cm), manganese (74 mg/L), sulfate (1413 mg/L) and uranium (3 mg/L). The density of rotifera was significantly higher than that of cladoceran. Rotifera Keratella americana, K. cochlearis and the Cladocera Bosminopsis deitersi, Bosmina sp., are being reported for the first time in samples from a uranium pit lake with AMD. Of the species registered, the order Bdelloidea was the most important in terms of density (17,500–77,778 ind/m3), since it occurred throughout the whole sampling period. The combined effect of moderately acidic pH and other potential stress factors, such as high concentrations of stable and radioactive contaminants, probably influenced the zooplankton species composition in the pit lake.

Zusammenfassung

Für ein Jahr wurden vierteljährlich Wasserproben aus dem jüngst hergestellten Tagebausee in der Osma Utsumi Urangrube (Brasilien) entnommen, der durch saure Grubenwässer (AMD) beeinträchtigt wird. Das Wasser hatte einen mittleren pH-Wert von 3,8, eine hohe mittlere elektrische Leitfähigkeit (2391 µS/cm) sowie Mangan- (74 mg/L), Sulfat- (1413 mg/L) und Urankonzentrationen (3 mg/L). Die Populationsdichte der Rotatorien war signifikant höher als die der Cladoceren. Das Vorkommen der Rotatorien Keratella Americana und K. cochlearis und der Cladoceren Bosminopsis deitersi und Bosmina sp. wurde erstmalig für saure Tagebauseen in Urangruben mit AMD-Einfluss dokumentiert. Von den registrierten Taxa war die Ordnung Bdelloidea das wichtigste hinsichtlich der Populationsdichte (17,500 bis 77,778 Ind/m³), da es während der gesamten Untersuchungszeit auftrat. Die Kombination aus moderat saurem pH und anderen potentiellen Stressfaktoren, wie z.B. hohe Konzentrationen an stabilen und radioaktiven Kontaminanten, beeinflussten wahrscheinlich die Artenzusammensetzung des Zooplanktons im Tagebausee.

Resumen

Muestras de aguas fueron colectadas trimestralmente durante un año en el nuevo lago del hoyo de mina de uranio Osamu Utsumi, Brasil, que es afectado por drenaje ácido de minas (AMD). El agua presentó un pH promedio de 3,8, altos valores de conductividad eléctrica (2391 µS/cm), manganeso (74 mg/L), sulfato (1413 mg/L) y uranio (3 mg/L). La densidad de rotífera fue significativamente mayor que la de cladocera. Rotifera Keratella americana, K. cochlearis y Cladocera Bosminopsis deitersi, Bosmina sp., son reportadas por primera vez en muestras de un lago de hoyo de mina de uranio afectado con AMD. De las especies registradas, el orden Bdelloidea fue el más importante en términos de densidad (17.500 a 77.778 ind/m3), ya que estuvieron presentes durante todo el período de muestreo. El efecto combinado de pH moderadamente ácido y otros factores de estrés, tales como altas concentraciones de contaminantes estables y radioactivos, probablemente influenció la composición de especies de zooplancton en el lago.

综述

水样取自巴西新建Osama Utsumi铀矿采坑湖的酸性矿井废水,每季度采水样一次,采样期一年。水样水化学特征:低pH值(平均3.8)、高电导率(平均值2391 µS/cm)、锰浓度74 mg/L、硫酸根浓度1413 mg/L、铀浓度3 mg/L。轮虫类动物密度远大于水蚤类动物密度。美洲龟甲轮虫、螺形龟甲轮虫、颈沟基合蚤和象鼻蚤首次在铀矿采坑湖酸性废水中检出。另外,蛭形轮虫目由于密度变化大(17,500~77,778 ind/m3)且在整个采样周期均有检出而引起关注。适度的PH值和高浓度的稳定与放射性污染物等潜在因素共同作用,影响着采坑湖中浮游动物的种类组成。

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the State of Minas Gerais Research Aid Foundation (FAPEMIG APQ-7807-5.04/07). We also thank AL Bruschi, MB Campos, HLA Caponi, EO Lima, and LB Ronqui for their technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radioecology Laboratory/Poços de Caldas Laboratory, Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, Rodovia Poços de Caldas-Andradas Km 13, Poços de Caldas, MG, 37701-970, Brazil

    Carla R. Ferrari, Heliana de Azevedo & Cláudio Vitor Roque

  2. Limnology Laboratory, Biology Department, Alfenas Federal University, Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva 700, Alfenas, MG, 37130-000, Brazil

    Maria José S. Wisniewski

  3. Environmental Engineering Department, University Estadual Paulista, Rod. Presidente Dutra, Km 137,8, São José dos Campos, SP, 12247-004, Brazil

    Suzelei Rodgher

  4. Chemical Analyzes Laboratory/Poços de Caldas Laboratory, Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, Rodovia Poços de Caldas-Andradas Km 13, Poços de Caldas, MG, 37701-970, Brazil

    Marcos Roberto L. Nascimento

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  1. Carla R. Ferrari
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Ferrari, C.R., de Azevedo, H., Wisniewski, M.J.S. et al. An Overview of an Acidic Uranium Mine Pit Lake (Caldas, Brazil): Composition of the Zooplankton Community and Limnochemical Aspects. Mine Water Environ 34, 343–351 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-015-0333-9

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