5/18/2015  |   15:30 - 15:45   |  102B

HISTORIC MUSSEL SHELLS ILLUMINATE LEGACY CONTAMINANT PATTERNS OVER THE PAST 1000 YEARS Potentially Toxic Trace Elements (PTTEs) released by human activity can be especially pernicious in aquatic environments since they do not break down over time. Bivalves are considered ideal organisms to use as biomonitors of PTTEs because of their longevity, filter-feeding habit, and relatively sessile nature. We examined historic mussel shells that date back to the 1870s and archeological specimens from 1000 A.D., which provided a pre-industrial environmental baseline of metal concentrations. Mussel shells were thin-sectioned, aged, and then analyzed for trace element concentration. Concentrations of As, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were readily detected in most shells, while concentrations of Al, Cr, Hg, Pb, Se and V were below detection in most shells. Cd and U were occasionally detectable. Shells collected at time points ranging from 1897-2013 had significantly higher concentrations of As, Co, and Cu than archaeological shells. Samples from 1897 to 2013 also showed a significant positive correlation between concentration and time for Co, Cu, and Fe. These results indicate the presence of anthropogenic PTTEs and can be used to elucidate historic trends in contamination.

Aaron Shoults-Wilson (Primary Presenter/Author), Roosevelt University, sw.aaron@gmail.com;


Andrea Fritts (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, afritts@illinois.edu;


Jason Unrine (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Kentucky, jason.unrine@uky.edu;


Mark Fritts (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, mwfritts@illinois.edu;


Andrew Casper (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, afcasper@illinois.edu;

5/18/2015  |   15:45 - 16:00   |  102B

HEAVY METAL CONTENT OF WATER, SEDIMENT AND FISH (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, LACÉPÈDE, 1803) FROM INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT-POLLUTED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA Some physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal content of water, sediment and a commercially important fish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) from Lagos Lagoon complex were studied for ten months (July, 2012 – April, 2013). Three sampling stations (Ologe, Ijon and Etegbin) were chosen based on proximity to points of discharge of effluents and human activities. The heavy metals investigated are Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe while the physico-chemical parameters are temperature, pH, conductivity, TDS, TSS, salinity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, and alkalinity. All the heavy metals studied showed significant (p<0.05) monthly and seasonal variation in sediment and tissue of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus. However, only Zn showed significant (p<0.05) monthly and seasonal variation in the water column of the sampling stations. The values of copper and iron obtained in this study are higher than the limits recommended by WHO and USEPA. This study shows that copper and iron concentrations of the sampling stations are increasing. Therefore, there is need for regular monitoring of heavy metals in these water bodies to promptly detect sudden increases and take necessary steps to prevent their harmful effects on man.

PRINCE EMEKA NDIMELE (Primary Presenter/Author), LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA, drpendimele@yahoo.com;


Fatai Gbolahan Owodeinde (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria, drowodeinde@gmail.com;


Olusegun Olufemi Whenu (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA, whenol@yahoo.com;


CHINATU CHARITY NDIMELE (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA, charere1st@yahoo.com;

5/18/2015  |   16:00 - 16:15   |  102B

POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON THE BIOACCUMULATION OF MERCURY IN TWO LARGE-BODIED FISH SPECIES IN NORTHERN ONTARIO Increasing temperatures in Canada’s subarctic region are expected to alter many components of aquatic ecosystems, including mercury bioaccumulation in fish. It is important to understand how current climate trends influence the concentration of this neurotoxin in fish in order to assess the future impacts that climate change might have on the safety of consuming wild fish in Ontario. To better understand how climate influences mercury bioaccumulation, I am investigating patterns of fish mercury concentrations across a climatic gradient in Ontario. Two species of large-bodied fish, walleye and white sucker, have been sampled from 75 lakes throughout the Near and Far North of Ontario. These lakes are distributed over 9.0° of latitude and represent a range of climatic conditions (annual growing degree days 604-1599). Additionally, fish mercury concentrations are being analyzed with respect to chemical, physical, and biological variables known to be influential. The results of this study will address important gaps in our current understanding of how climate affects fish mercury, and will be useful in assessing reference conditions in advance of further climate change.

Alexandra Sumner (Primary Presenter/Author), Laurentian University, asumner@laurentian.ca;


Tom Johnston (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, tjohnston@laurentian.ca;


John Gunn (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Laurentian University - Vale Living With Lakes Centre, jgunn@laurentian.ca;

5/18/2015  |   16:15 - 16:30   |  102B

ASSESSMENT OF MANGANESE, COPPER, NICKEL AND ZINC IN MUSCLE AND LIVER OF THE AFRICAN CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS) IN ILUSHI RIVER, SOUTHERN NIGERIA Assessment of Manganese, Copper, Nickel and Zinc in Muscle and Liver of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Ilushi River, Southern Nigeria Izegaegbe Joshua Idowu, Oloye Femi Francis and Oloton Vivian Abstract This study investigated the concentrations of manganese, zinc, copper, and nickel in the liver and muscle of Clarias gariepinus with a view to determining the level of bioaccumulation. Heavy metal determination of digested fish samples was done using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The heavy metal load revealed that zinc had the highest mean concentration of 0.217±0.008µg/g in liver and 0.130±0.006µg/g in muscle of Clarias gariepinus while copper recorded the least concentration in liver 0.063±0.004µg/g and 0.027±0.003µg/g muscle of Clarias gariepinus. The results also revealed that the concentration of heavy metals (Mn, Cu, Ni and Zn) found in the liver of Clarias gariepinus was higher than in the muscle of Clarias gariepinus. This indicates that the liver is a better accumulator of heavy metal in Clarias gariepinus. The study shows that heavy metals in liver and muscle were within WHO/FAO permissible limits safe for human consumption.

Joshua Izegaegbe (Primary Presenter/Author), Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria, joshizegs@gmail.com;

5/18/2015  |   16:30 - 16:45   |  102B

EFFECTS OF CADMIUM ON THE REPRODUCTION AND OFFSPRING OF THE GREAT POND SNAIL LYMANEA STAGNALIS Cadmium is toxic and ubiquitous in natural environments, but its sublethal effects on aquatic organisms are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sublethal effects in Lymnaea stagnalis adults exposed to 0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 ppb cadmium for 8 weeks, and to test for potential parental effects in offspring. We evaluated feeding and growth rate, number of egg masses, eggs per egg mass, and abnormal eggs. At three separate time points during the study we also evaluated effects of cadmium on hatching success and time to hatch. Feeding rate, growth rate, number of egg masses and eggs per egg mass decreased with increasing concentrations while the number of abnormal eggs increased. Hatching success did not increase over time. However, in a subsequent cadmium challenge of offspring, snails from parents exposed to the higher concentrations of cadmium were more tolerant to cadmium challenge concentrations. These observations on offspring performance suggest there are important parental effects of toxicants that can strongly influence responses.

Evelyn Reátegui-Zirena (Primary Presenter/Author), Texas Tech University, evelyn.reategui@ttu.edu;


Bridgette Fidder (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Texas Tech University, bridgette.fidder@ttu.edu;


Adric Olson (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Texas Tech University, adric.olson@ttu.edu;


Thomas Bilbo (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Texas Tech University, thomas.bilbo@ttu.edu;


Dan Dawson (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Texas Tech University, dan.dawson@ttu.edu;


Christopher Salice (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Towson University, csalice@towson.edu;

5/18/2015  |   16:45 - 17:00   |  102B

EFFECTS OF NANOTITANIA ON BENTHIC MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN ARTIFICIAL STREAMS Nano-TiO2 is a widely used nanomaterial with photocatalytic properties whose production is growing rapidly, leading to concerns about the consequences of its release into the environment. We analyzed effects of a common nano-TiO2 pigment (PW6) on benthic microbial communities in artificial streams. Streams included sediment and ceramic tiles (as substrates for biofilm formation) and were inoculated with a mixed microbial consortia collected from a natural stream. PW6 (30 micrograms/L) was added to streams daily for 20 weeks, during which sediments and tiles were sampled biweekly. PW6 had an unexpected stimulatory effect on the abundance and activity (respiration rate) of both sediment and biofilm bacterial communities after the twelfth week, and resulted in decreased biodiversity of the biofilm bacterial communities (as indicated by next-generation sequencing analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA genes). PW6 amendment had no discernable effect on biofilm microscopic algal communities. We hypothesize that the observed stimulatory effect of PW6 was the result of its photocatalysis of complex organic compounds in the system, which lead to increases in labile carbon and nutrient availability.

BINH CHU (Primary Presenter/Author), Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, cttbinh@gmail.com;


Christopher Peterson (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, Cpeters@luc.edu;


Erika Vigen (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, evigen@luc.edu;


Tiezheng Tong (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, tiezhengtong2014@u.northwestern.edu;


Kimberly Gray (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, k-gray@northwestern.edu;


Jean-Francois Gaillard (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, jf-gaillard@northwestern.edu;


John Kelly (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Loyola University Chicago, Jkelly7@luc.edu;