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Response of bacteria and phytoplankton to contaminated sediments from Trenton Channel, Detroit River

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Abstract

Several types of bioassays were used in 1986 and 1987 to investigate the effect of contaminated sediments on natural populations of bacteria and phytoplankton from the Trenton Channel, Detroit River. The approach included the measurement of uptake of 3H-glucose or 3H-adenine by bacteria and 14C-bicarbonate by phytoplankton in the presence of different amounts of Trenton Channel and Lake Michigan (control) sediments. Trenton Channel sediments are contaminated by high levels of toxic organic compounds and metals, especially zinc, lead, and copper. Because levels of biomass of bacteria and phytoplankton varied widely among the different bioassays, it was necessary to adjust uptake rates for biomass. Biomass adjustments were made using acridine orange counts for bacteria and chlorophyll measurements for phytoplankton. The results show a statistically significant suppression of uptake of substrates for both bacteria and phytoplankton with increasing amounts of sediment. Uptake was suppressed as much as 90 percent for bacteria and 93 percent for phytoplankton at 1200 mg l-1 of Trenton Channel sediments compared to bioassays without sediment. Uncontaminated Lake Michigan sediment suppressed uptake much less than Detroit River sediment; the difference in suppression of uptake between the two types of sediment was statistically significant for both bacteria and phytoplankton.

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  1. Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences, The University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd., 48109-2099, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Russell A. Moll & Pamela J. Mansfield

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  1. Russell A. Moll
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  2. Pamela J. Mansfield
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Contribution No. 518 of the Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences of the University of Michigan.

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Moll, R.A., Mansfield, P.J. Response of bacteria and phytoplankton to contaminated sediments from Trenton Channel, Detroit River. Hydrobiologia 219, 281–299 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024761

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