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Avoidance response of Midge Larvae (Chironomus Tentans) to sediments containing heavy metals

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Abstract

Avoidance reactions of chironomid larvae to contaminated sediment taken from a heavy metal impacted lake were studied. Heavy metal levels in the test sediment ranged from background of 0.6 parts per million (ppm) cadmium, 77 ppm zinc and 17 ppm chromium to a maximum of 1,029 ppm cadmium, 17,262 ppm zinc and 2,106 ppm chromium. A linear relationship was established between cadmium and zinc levels in the sediment and avoidance by chironomids.

An approximate threshold avoidance of metals in the sediment was determined to be between 213–422 ppm cadmium, 4385–8330 ppm zinc and 799–1513 ppm chromium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bionucleonics Department, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, Purdue University, 47907, W. Lafayette, IN, USA

    R. Wentsel, A. McIntosh & G. Atchison

  2. Entomology Department, Purdue University, 47907, W. Lafayette, IN, USA

    W. P. McCafferty

  3. Statistics Department, Purdue University, 47907, W. Lafayette, IN, USA

    V. Anderson

Authors
  1. R. Wentsel
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  2. A. McIntosh
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  3. W. P. McCafferty
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  4. G. Atchison
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  5. V. Anderson
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Additional information

Supported by NIH Training Grant Number 5T01-ES00071 from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and in part by an NSF (RANN) Grant Number GI-35106.

Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, Jour. No. 6474.

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Wentsel, R., McIntosh, A., McCafferty, W.P. et al. Avoidance response of Midge Larvae (Chironomus Tentans) to sediments containing heavy metals. Hydrobiologia 55, 171–175 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00021058

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00021058

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