The development and assessment of an automated biological monitoring system using crayfish locomotor activity to detect toxic stress

In-plant biomonitors, controlled by dedicated microcomputers, may ultimately provide detection of developing toxicity and hazardous spills in industrial effluents rapidly enough to prevent serious damage to receiving waters. A computer automated system was developed to continuously monitor spontaneous locomotor activity of eight crayfish. Electric potentials generated by muscular movements of untethered crayfish were detected by external electrodes, amplified, digitized, and analyzed by a hybrid computer network. A microcomputer evaluated the number of peaks produced in the waveforms of eight individual <u>C. acuminatus</u> for successive one-hour intervals. The resultant counts were directly related to locomotor activity. The effectiveness of the crayfish biomonitor in detecting simulated spills of cadmium in the laboratory was determined by 7 experiments with 56 crayfish. Results indicated that crayfish responded to 2.5 and 0.5 mg Cd⁺⁺/l with increased activity, which was detected by the crayfish biomonitor two hours after exposure. A simulated spill of 0.1 mgCd⁺⁺/l was detected by the biomonitor within 113 hours. These results support the assumption that the crayfish activity monitor may be used as a potential tool for water quality management.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Zoology

Department dc:contributor.department

Zoology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1978

Author dc:creator

• Maciorowski, Anthony F.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Benfield, Ernest F.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Dickson, Kenneth L.
• Cairns, John Jr.
• Hendricks, Albert C.
• Cochran, Donald G.
• Patterson, Robert A.

• waste products

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-04072010-020253

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/37574