Responses of aquatic invertebrate assemblages to an iron treatment aimed at reducing internal phosphorus loading

• Author / Creator

  Wilson, Lindsey R

• This mesocosm study investigates changes in aquatic invertebrate assemblages in response to iron application, a remediation treatment that inhibits internal phosphorus loading in culturally-eutrophied freshwaters. To determine the effects of ferric chloride application on aquatic invertebrates, I analyzed the changes in abundance, biomass, and diversity of zooplankton and zoobenthos assemblages over a logarithmic scale of ferric chloride treatment doses applied to 12 experimental mesocosms installed in Nakamun Lake, AB. Zooplankton abundance and biomass significantly decreased immediately following iron treatment, likely through acidification, co-precipitation with the flocculant, and declines in phytoplankton populations. However, zooplankton assemblages recovered within one month after application. I detected no iron-induced changes in zoobenthos assemblages, perhaps because taxa present in hypereutrophic lakes are typically pollution-tolerant. My results indicate that ferric chloride application has only minor and short-term effects on aquatic invertebrate assemblages, so this remediation treatment may be a suitable tool for rehabilitation of eutrophied lakes.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Iron remediation
  • Mesocosms
  • Zooplankton
  • Eutrophication
  • Benthic invertebrates

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3S31D

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.