In situ bioassessment of dredging and disposal activities in a contaminated ecosystem: Toronto Harbour |
| |
Authors: | Munawar M. Norwood W. P. McCarthy L. H. Mayfield C. I. |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, L7R 4A6 Burlington, Ontario, Canada;(2) Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries, L7R 4A6 Burlington, Ontario, Canada;(3) Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Aquatic Sciences, Ecotoxicology Division, L7R 4A6 Burlington, Ontario, Canada;(4) Biology Department, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada |
| |
Abstract: | The contamination of Toronto Harbour is a very serious problem. The major sources of pollution are the Don River and sewer outflows, as well as industrial, and municipal effluents. The problem is further compounded by perturbations of the toxic sediment caused by dredging, dredge-disposal, navigation, and recreational activities. The impact of contamination and nutrient enrichment was reflected in the size-fractionated primary productivity experiments. Generally, microplankton/netplankton (> 20 µm) productivity was enhanced whereas ultraplankton (< 20 µm) productivity was inhibited. These observations are attributable to interactions between ameliorating nutrients and toxic contaminants as well as to the differential sensitivity of natural phytoplankton size assemblages to the bioavailable chemical regime. In situ environmental techniques applied in Toronto Harbour were effective, sensitive, and rapid, and provided a better understanding of the impact of dredging/disposal activities under natural conditions. These techniques have great potential in the assessment of the ecotoxicology of harbours and other stressed environments. |
| |
Keywords: | bioassessment dredging disposal sediment bioassays |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|