The aquatic macrophyte Vallisneria americana as a biomonitor of site quality in Great Lakes areas of concern.

Leaf-to-root surface area ratios in Vallisneria americana provide a simple and inexpensive, relative measure of sub-lethal effects of organochlorine contamination. The present study was conducted to determine whether this index of surface area could be used as an effective biomonitor of overall site quality in stressed aquatic ecosystems. The leaf-to-root surface area ratio was determined for samples of V. americana collected from 225 microsites within 12 Areas of Concern (environmentally contaminated areas designated by the International Joint Commission) throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes of Ontario. Observations support the hypothesis that V. americana accumulates contaminants primarily from the sediments. Both the leaf-to-root fresh mass ratio, and total fresh mass of V. americana plants showed similar results and could be used as approximate substitutes for the leaf-to-root surface area ratio. Mapping contours of leaf-to-root surface area ratios appeared to correspond with suspected contours of contamination, enabling the identification of point source impact zones. It is concluded that the regression model developed here provides a simple, inexpensive means for monitoring overall site quality throughout the Great Lakes. Measures of plant structure in V. americana were also investigated for use in sediment toxicity testing. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1998 .P68. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 39-02, page: 0444. Adviser: Lesley Lovett-Doust. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1998.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.Sc.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Grantor

University of Windsor

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Potter, Kelly Lynn.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Doust, Jon Lovett

Licence

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_CA

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14776/3588

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwindsor.scholaris.ca:20.500.14776/3588