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Impact of arsenic and antimony contamination on benthic invertebrates in a minor Corsican river

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Abstract

The chemical and biological characteristics of a Corsican river that drains contaminated waters and sediment from an abandoned realgar mine were studied. The concentrations of pollutants such as As and Sb were found to be notably high. For example, in the Presa River, downstream the realgar mine, the mean As concentrations in the water and in the sediment were 3010 μg 1-1 and 9450 μg g-1 respectively. Species richness and abundance of benthic invertebrates decreased downstream the As mine. The disappearance of oligochaetes, leeches and a rarity of mayfly populations have been evidenced. On the contrary, a large increase in species belonging to stoneflies and gastropods was found. Some species like Baetis cyrneus, Ephemerella ignita, Sericostoma clypeatum and Ibisia marginata were more sensitive to As and Sb concentrations while others species like Ancylus fluviatilis, Isoperla insularis, Hydropsyche cyrnotica, Caenis luctuosa and Silonella aurata were less sensitive. The benthic invertebrates show different reactions in this contaminated environment, which could be explained by their feeding behaviours and certain morphological characteristics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire CEVAREN, Université de Corse, B.P. 52, Corte, 20250, France

    Christophe Mori & Antoine Orsini

  2. Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie Marines, Université Paris 6, INSU CNRS, La Darse, B.P. 8, 06230, Villefranche-sur-mer, France Tel

    Christophe Migon

Authors
  1. Christophe Mori
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  2. Antoine Orsini
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  3. Christophe Migon
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Correspondence to Christophe Migon.

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Mori, C., Orsini, A. & Migon, C. Impact of arsenic and antimony contamination on benthic invertebrates in a minor Corsican river. Hydrobiologia 392, 73–80 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003597122752

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