Heavy metals and arsenic fixation into freshwater organic matter under Gammarus pulex L. influence

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2010-07, Vol.158 (7), p.2454-2458
• Main Authors: Schaller, Joerg, Mkandawire, Martin, Gert Dudel, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline mine water; Amphipoda - metabolism; Animals; Applied sciences; Arsenic; Arsenic - metabolism; Biofilm; Bioremediation; Carbon - metabolism; cesium; cobalt; Continental surface waters; Decay; Dissolved organic matter; DOC; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Fixation; freshwater; Gammarus pulex; heavy metals; Invertebrates; Litter; Litter decay; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; molybdenum; Molybdenum - metabolism; Natural water pollution; Partitions; plant litter; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Sediments; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.03.026

Organic sediments are a main sink for metal pollutants in aquatic systems. However, factors that make sediments a sink of metals and metalloids are still not clear. Consequently, we investigate the role of invertebrate shredders ( Gammarus pulex L.) on quality of metal and arsenic fixation into organic partitions of sediment in the course of litter decay with laboratory microcosm experiments. During the decomposition of leaf litter, G. pulex significantly facilitated the development of small particles of organic matter. The capacity of metal fixation was significantly higher in smaller particles than leaf litter and litter residuals. Thus, G. pulex enhanced metal fixation into the organic partition of sediments by virtue of increasing the amount smaller particles in the aquatic system. Furthermore, invertebrates have a significant effect on formation of dissolved organic matter and remobilization of cobalt, molybdenum and cesium, but no significant effect on remobilization of all other measured elements. G. pulex enhanced metal fixation into the organic partition of sediments by virtue of increasing the amount of smaller particles in the aquatic system.