Digestive physiology as it relates to food preference as a mechanism explaining differential bioaccumulation of lipophilic pollutants among benthic invertebrates
Project Number: R/PS-027-PD, Progress Report
Start Date: 6/1/2000
Completion Date: 5/31/2001
Revision Date: 8/8/2006
This project made use of Stone Laboratory Research facilities.
| Principal Investigator(s) | 1. | Robert H Findlay, Miami University of Ohio* |
| This shows the current affiliation and may not match affiliation at time of participation. * | ||
Funding Record
| Source: Ohio Sea Grant College Program | |||
| Source Fund | State Match | Pass Through | |
| Total | $ 7,500.00 | $ 27,972.00 | $ 0.00 |
Objectives
The objective of this proposal is to investigate benthic organisms as trophic links for lipophilic pollutant between sediments and human-consumed fish
Rationale
PCBs and PAHs has been identified as priority pollutants within the Great Lakes and have been detected in the flesh of virtually all game fishes in Lake Erie
Methodology
We will determine the chemical concentration of lipophilic pollutants in benthic biota and correlate this concentration to habitat, feeding strategy and gut juice enhanced contaminant fugacity.
Benefits & Accomplishments
- During the summer of 2000, two sampling trips each to two study sites (mouth of the Maumee River near University of Toledo's Lake Erie Center and off the coast of Gibralter Island at Ohio State's F.T. Stone Laboratory) were made. Sediment and invertebrate samples were collected.
- A method for simultaneous extraction of microbial lipids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was modified to include quantification of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). This method determines sediment PCB and PAH concentration, microbial community structure and microbial biomass using a single dichloromethane:methanol:water extraction. Quantification and identification of PCB and PAH are performed using gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometry and yields detection limits of pmoles of individual congeners. The method was tested using National Institute of Standards and Testing (NIST) certified standards and yielded 85-117% recovery of individual PCBs and 92-107% recovery of individual PAHs. The method was successfully applied to field collected Lake Erie sediments. This method is currently being modified to allow the determination of invertebrate contaminant body loads. NIST certified standards (blue mussel tissue) are currently being analyzed to determine recovery efficiencies. Once methods development is completed the method will be prepared for publication.
- Preliminary investigation of the digestive physiologies of Hexagenia and zebra mussels (Dressiena polymorpha) has indicated that both these organisms show adaptation typical of invertebrates that ingest large amounts of sediment. These adaptations, when present in sediment-ingesting marine invertbrates cause the animals to be susceptible to dietary accumulation of lipophilic pollutants. As such, zebra mussels and mayfly larvae are good candidates to study accumulation of PCBs through dietary intake. These organisms are readily available at our study sites and will be the focus of our current investigation into the bioaccumulation of PCBs and trophic linkages between the benthic and pelagic food webs.
Publications & Media
| Peer-reviewed Publications | |
 | Findlay, R.H. Modification of a Classic Lipid Extraction Protocol for the Quantification of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Lipids in Sediment, Water (Particulate and Dissolved) and Invertebrate Tissue In Preparation. J. Micro. Meth. |
| Presentations | |
 | Porter, J.A. and R.H. Findlay. 2001, Quantification of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Microbial Community Structure Using a Modified Lipid Extraction Protocol Annual meeting of OBASM, Nashville, IN. |
| Porter, J.A. and R.H. Findlay. 2001, Modification of a Lipid Extraction Protocol for the Quantification of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and Microbial Community Structure 9th Symposium for the International Society of Microbiology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
Supported Students
 | Jason Porter (Graduate, Ph.D.) Miami University of Ohio Thesis Title: Digestive Physiology as it Relates to Food Preference as a Mechanism Explaining Differential Bioaccumulation of Lipophilic Pollutants Among Benthic Invertebrates |
