Quality control of drinking water from the River Rhine with the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor

Abstract

The Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor (MFB) based on quadropole impedance conversion technique is a “biological early warning system” (BEWS) for online water quality biomonitoring. The aim of this study was to test the MFB with two crustaceans (Gammarus pulex and Daphnia magna) in a drinking water processing plant at the River Rhine: 1) Sensitivity of the test species to short-term acid pulses and alarm-responses in the MFB were studied in the laboratory. 2) Long-term monitoring with Gammarus pulex and Daphnia magna in the MFB was performed in situ. A decrease in pH, especially below pH 6.8, resulted in a significant behavioural response of both species according to the Stepwise Stress Model. After a first escape response of D. magna, both species reacted similarly with decreased activity and G. pulex additionally with increased ventilation. G. pulex survived better than D. magna. The behavioural effects remained in the recovery phase. Long-term monitoring showed stable locomotory behaviour and better survival of G. pulex when compared to D. magna. The MFB can be recommended for drinking water control using G. pulex as test species.

Automated Recording of Vertical Negative Phototactic Behaviour in Daphnia magna Straus (Crustacea)

“…These comparisons show that even smaller volumes and higher organism densities have been used for long-term biomonitoring of behaviour. In a previous experiment with continuous flow-through of Rhine water, which contained natural particles as food for D. magna, 5 organisms were used in small single level chambers of 9 cm 3 for short-and long-term monitoring with a survival of 70% over 20 days of exposure (Gerhardt et al, 2003). This indicates that the lack of space might be of less importance for survival in case of continuous supply of food and oxygen.…”

“…turbid waters or at night (Gerhardt et al, 1994). The MFB has already been used to record the swimming behaviour of D. magna in surface water (Gerhardt et al 2003) and Acid Mine Drainage (Gerhardt et al, 2005b).…”

Effects of acid mine drainage on larval Chironomus (Diptera, Chironomidae) measured with the multispecies freshwater Biomonitor®

“…Behavior was chosen because of its nondestructive nature, in opposition to other biomarkers, its fast response time and sublethal sensitivity, and the possibility for online automated recording with the MFB [3]. The MFB can be installed at risk sites for continuous monitoring of water quality [3,10]. The aim in the present study was to determine in 24-h acute exposures at which AMD level the midge larvae start showing behavioral stress, whether such stress reactions can be used in situ in the MFB, whether the behavioral responses occur in the sublethal range, and to test whether changes in metal bioaccumulation occur within 24 h of exposure to AMD.…”

Behavioural Responses of <i>Crangon crangon</i> (Crustacea, Decapoda) to Reduced Seawater pH Following Simulated Leakage from Sub-Sea Geological Storage

“…Behavioural responses to pH-decreases (from circumneutral pH down to pH 3.5) during a period of 48 h were performed with Daphnia magna showing decreased locomotion and ventilation (pH 7 -3.5), with a steep linear regression slope [25]. No avoidance response could be seen.…”