Abstract
The mayfly Leptophlebia marginata was exposed to different concentrations of Fe2+ or Pb2+ at pH 4.5 and pH 7.0. The effects of the metals on escape behavior and survival of the mayflies were investigated during an exposure of 120 hours.
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(1)
Whole-body metal loads (Fe; Pb) of the mayflies increased in a dose-dependent way at both pH levels. A significant effect of pH on metal concentration in the mayflies was only found for Pb (p < 0.001).
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(2)
In terms of mortality, both metals were more toxic at pH 4.5 than at pH 7. The 96 h-LC50 values for Fe were 106.3 mg Fe l-1 at pH 7 and 89.5 mg Fe l-1 at pH 4.5. Those for Pb were > 5 mg Pb l-1 at pH 7 and 1.09 mg Pb l-1 at pH 4.5.
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(3)
The mayflies lost their escape behavior, when exposed to the metals, the effects being more pronounced at low than at circumneutral pH for both metals (p < 0.05). The 96 h-EC50 values for Fe were 70.0 mg Fe l-1 at pH 7 and 63.9 mg Fe l-1 at pH 4.5.
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Gerhardt, A. Short term toxicity of iron (Fe) and lead (Pb) to the mayfly Leptophlebia marginata (L.) (Insecta) in relation to freshwater acidification. Hydrobiologia 284, 157–168 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006887
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006887