INDUCTION OF MORPHOLOGICAL DEFORMITIES IN CHIRONOMUS TENTANS EXPOSED TO ZINC- AND LEAD-SPIKED SEDIMENTS

摘要

Laboratory experiments were used to assess morphological responses of Chironomus tentans larvae exposed to three levels of zinc and lead. Chironomus tentans egg masses were placed into triplicate control and metal-spiked aquaria containing the measured concentrations 1,442, 3,383, and 5,562 μg/g Pb dry weight and 1,723, 3,743, and 5,252 μg/g Zn dry weight. Larvae were collected at 10-d intervals after egg masses were placed in aquaria until final emergence. Larvae were screened for mouthpart deformities and metal body burdens. Deformities increased with time of exposure in both Zn and Pb tanks.