Abstract
The mayfly Leptophlebia marginata was exposed to different concentrations of Fe2+ or Pb2+ at pH 4.5 and pH 7.0. The effects of the metals on escape behavior and survival of the mayflies were investigated during an exposure of 120 hours.
-
(1)
Whole-body metal loads (Fe; Pb) of the mayflies increased in a dose-dependent way at both pH levels. A significant effect of pH on metal concentration in the mayflies was only found for Pb (p < 0.001).
-
(2)
In terms of mortality, both metals were more toxic at pH 4.5 than at pH 7. The 96 h-LC50 values for Fe were 106.3 mg Fe l-1 at pH 7 and 89.5 mg Fe l-1 at pH 4.5. Those for Pb were > 5 mg Pb l-1 at pH 7 and 1.09 mg Pb l-1 at pH 4.5.
-
(3)
The mayflies lost their escape behavior, when exposed to the metals, the effects being more pronounced at low than at circumneutral pH for both metals (p < 0.05). The 96 h-EC50 values for Fe were 70.0 mg Fe l-1 at pH 7 and 63.9 mg Fe l-1 at pH 4.5.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, B. G., 1944. The toxicity thresholds of various substances found in industrial wastes as determined by the use of D. magna. Sewage Works J. 16: 1156–1165.
Beeby, A., 1991. Toxic Metal Uptake and Essential Metal Regulation in Terrestrial Invertebrates: A Review.—In Newman, M. C. & McIntosh, A. W.: Metal Ecotoxicology. Concepts and Applications. Lewis Publishers, Chapt. 3.
Beitinger, T. L., 1990. Behavioral reactions for the assessment of stress in fishes. J. Great Lakes Res. 16: 495–528.
Campbell, P. G. C. & P. M. Stokes, 1985. Acidification and toxicity of metals to aquatic biota. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 42: 2034–2049.
Dave, G., 1985. The Influence of pH on the toxicity of Al, Cd and Fe to Eggs and Larvae of Zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio. Ecotox. Envir. Saf. 10: 253–267.
Gerhardt, A, 1990. Effects of subacute doses of cadmium on pH-stressed Leptophlebia marginata (L.) and Baetis rhodani Pictet (Insecta: Ephemeroptera). Envir. Pollut. 67: 29–42.
Gerhardt, A., 1992a. Effects of subacute doses of iron (Fe) on Leptophlebia marginata (Insecta: Ephemeroptera). Freshwat. Biol. 27: 79–84.
Gerhardt, A., 1992b. Acute toxicity of Cd in stream invertebrates in relation to pH and test design. Hydrobiologia 239: 93–100.
Gerhardt, A., 1993. Review of impact of heavy metals on stream invertebrates with special emphasis on acid conditions. Wat. Air Soil Pollut., 66: 289–314.
Jørgensen, S. E., S. N. Nielsen & L. A. Jørgensen, 1991. Handbook of ecological parameters and ecotoxicology. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Hare, L., E. Saouter, P. G. C. Campbell, A. Tessier, F. Ribeyre, & A. Boudou, 1991. Dynamics of cadmium, lead, and zinc exchange between nymphs of the burrowing mayfly Hexagenia rigida (Ephemeroptera) and the environment. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 48, 39.
Hare, L., 1992. Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability, Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity. Critical Reviews in Toxicology 22: 327–369.
Huebers, H. A., 1991. Iron. In: Merian, E. (ed.): Metals and their compounds in the environment. Chapt. II. 14: 945–958.
Kirk, G. J. D., A. R. Ahmad & P. H. Nye, 1990. Coupled diffusion and oxidation of ferrous iron in soils. 2. A model of the diffusion and reaction of O2, Fe2+, H+ and HCO -3 in soils and a sensitivity analysis of the model. J. Soil Science 41: 411–431.
Kjellberg, G. 1972. Autekologiska studier över Leptophlebia vespertina (Ephemeroptera) i en mindre skogstjärn 1966–1968. Entomol. Tidskrift 93, 1–3: 1–29.
Krantzberg, G. & P. M. Stokes, 1988. The importance of surface adsorption and pH in metal accumulation by chironomids. Envir. Toxicol. Chem. 7: 653–670.
Locke, M. & H. Nichol, 1992. Iron Economy in Insects: Transport, Metabolism and Storage. Ann. Rev. Ent. 37: 195–215.
Mackie, G. L., 1986. Tolerances of 5 benthic invertebrates to hydrogen ions and metals. Arch. envir. Contam. Toxicol. 18: 215–223.
McKnight, D. M. & K. E. Bencala, 1990. The Chemistry of Iron, Aluminium, and Dissolved Organic Material in Three Acidic, Metal-Enriched, Mountain Streams, as Controlled by Watershed and in-Stream Processes. Wat. Res. Res. 26: 3087–3100.
Maltby, L., J. O. H. Snart & P. Calow, 1987. Acute Toxicity Tests on the Freshwater Isopod Asellus aquaticus using FeSO4 × 7H2O with specific reference to techniques and the possibility of intraspecific variation. Envir. Pollut. 43: 271–279.
Manly, B. F. J., 1991. Randomisation and Monte Carlo Methods. Chapman & Hall, London.
Nelson, W. O. & P. G. C. Campbell, 1991. The effects of acidification on the geochemistry of Al, Cd, Pb and Hg in freshwater environments: A literature review. Envir. Pollut. 71: 91–130.
Nyman, H. G., 1981. Sublethal effects of Pb on the size selective predation by fish-applications on the ecosystem level. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 21: 1126–1130.
Økland, J. & K. A. Økland, 1986. The effects of acid deposition on benthic animals in lakes and streams. Experientia 42: 471–486.
Oladimeji, A. A. & B. O. Offem, 1989. Toxicity of lead to Claris lazera, Oreochromis niloticus, Chironomus tentans and Benacus sp. Wat. Air Soil Pollut. 44: 191–201.
Shaw, P. J., H. De Haan & R. I. Jones, 1992. The effect of acidification on abiotic interactions of dissolved humic substances, iron and phosphate in epilimnetic water from the Humex Lake Skjervatjern. Envir. Int. 18: 577–588.
Siegel, S. & N. J. Castellan, Jr. 1988. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.
Steele, C. W., S. Strickler-Shaw & D. H. Taylor, 1989. Behavior of tadpoles of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, in response to sublethal lead exposure. Aquat. Toxicol. 14: 331–344.
Tessier, A., P. G. C. Campbell, J. C. Auclair & M. Bisson, 1984. Relationships between the partitioning of trace metals in sediments and their accumulation in the tissues of the freshwater mollusk Elliptio complanata in a mining area. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 41(10): 1463–1472.
Updegraff, K. F. & J. L. Sykora, 1976. Avoidance of limeneutralized iron hydroxide solution by cocho salmon in the laboratory. Envir. Sci. Technol. 10: 51–54.
Vighi, M., 1981. Lead uptake and release in an experimental trophic chain. Ecotox. Environ. Saf. 5: 177–193.
Walter, G., 1966. Ökologische Untersuchungen über die Wirkung Fe-II-haltiger Braunkohlegruben-Abwässer auf Vorfluterorganismen. Wiss. Z. Karl-Marx Univ. Leipzig 1: 247–269.
Warner, R., 1967. Bioassays for microchemical environmental contaminants with special reference to water supplies. Bull. W. H. O. 36: 181–207.
Weber, E., 1986. Grundriss der biologischen Statistik. Fischer, Jena.
Wren, C. D. & G. L. Stephenson, 1991. The effect of acidification on the accumulation and toxicity of metals to freshwater invertebrates. Envir. Pollut. 71: 205–241.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gerhardt, A. Short term toxicity of iron (Fe) and lead (Pb) to the mayfly Leptophlebia marginata (L.) (Insecta) in relation to freshwater acidification. Hydrobiologia 284, 157–168 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006887
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006887