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Mirex incorporation in the environment: Uptake in aquatic organisms and effects on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration

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Abstract

Exposure of selected aquatic invertebrates to mirex reveals species variability in uptake which is generally a function of exposure period and mirex concentration. The metabolic effects examined relate to photosynthesis and respiration rates. Dissolved oxygen changes, in light and dark bottles containing naturally occurring plankton populations previously exposed to 1 ppb mirex, show progressive photosynthetic inhibition in time from 16% at 6 days exposure to 33% at 18 days exposure. Pure culture of the phytoplankton,Chlamydomonas sp., exhibits a 55% photosynthetic reduction after exposure to 1 ppm mirex for 168 hours. Respiration rates of plankton,Physa gyrina (pond snail),Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish), andLepomis macrochirus (sunfish) demonstrate an initial increasing trend to a maximum of 62%, at low concentration of mirex or during early incubation period, but decrease by as much as 50%, at elevated concentration or extended exposure at low concentration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Mississippi State University, 39762, Mississippi State, Ms.

    A. A. De La Cruz & S. M. Naqvi

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  1. A. A. De La Cruz
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  2. S. M. Naqvi
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De La Cruz, A.A., Naqvi, S.M. Mirex incorporation in the environment: Uptake in aquatic organisms and effects on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 1, 255–264 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01985748

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01985748

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