The role of fish helminth parasites in monitoring metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems: a case study in the world’s most productive platinum mining region

Erasmus, Johannes H.; Wepener, Victor; Nachev, Milen; Zimmermann, Sonja; Malherbe, Wynand; Sures, Bernd; Smit, Nico J.

doi:10.1007/s00436-020-06813-1

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Moreover, parasites are very sensitive to environmental alterations such as pollutants, providing relevant information about the quality of a given system. Some parasites have been identified as sentinels for chemical pollution because these organisms can accumulate chemicals at a higher level compared to their hosts [68,69]. Monogeneans ectoparasites are in direct contact with the environment, thus more sensitive to changes in water parameters.…”

Section: Diversity Of Parasites Of Aquatic Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conserving Freshwater Biodiversity in an African Subtropical Wetland: South Africa’s Lower Phongolo River and Floodplain

Acosta¹,

Netherlands²,

Retief³

et al. 2021

Managing Wildlife in a Changing World

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Freshwater biodiversity is under constant threat from a range of anthropogenic stressors. Using South Africa's Phongolo River and floodplain (PRF) as a study case, the aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the conservation and management of freshwater biodiversity in a highly diverse subtropical ecosystem. The PRF is the largest floodplain system in South Africa which is severely threatened by irregularly controlled flood releases from a large upstream dam, prolonged drought, deteriorating water quality, organic pollutants and the increasing dependence of the local communities. Based on a decade of survey of the PRF conducted from 2010 to 2020, this chapter highlights the current diversity of aquatic organisms (invertebrates, fishes, frogs and their parasitic fauna), followed by an overview of their biological and physical stressors. The current challenges in the management of the aquatic biodiversity of this region and a way forward to conservation strategies are also addressed in this chapter.

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Section: Diversity Of Parasites Of Aquatic Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conserving Freshwater Biodiversity in an African Subtropical Wetland: South Africa’s Lower Phongolo River and Floodplain

Acosta¹,

Netherlands²,

Retief³

et al. 2021

Managing Wildlife in a Changing World

Self Cite

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“…During the 6 weeks exposure of the AMs in the two impoundments, living bioindicator organisms, i.e. the freshwater clam Corbicula uminalis africana (shell length 28 ± 5 mm, Labuschagne et al [12]), the sh species sharptooth cat sh (Clarias gariepinus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) were sampled from the same sites as in Labuschagne et al [12] and Erasmus et al [26]. The AMs were deployed near the bottom of the impoundments.…”

Section: Platinum Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Muscle and liver of the sh were analyzed by ICP-MS after microwave digestion according to Erasmus et al [24,26]. At Bospoort Dam, i.e.…”

Section: Platinum Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory and field studies on the use of artificial mussels as a monitoring tool of platinum exposure in the freshwater environment.

Labuschagne

Zimmermann²,

Smit

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background The artificial mussel (AM) is a passive sampling device that was originally developed for monitoring metal concentrations in the marine environment but is also increasingly used in freshwater environments. The AM consists of a non-permeable Perspex tube, which is closed on both sides with a semi-permeable membrane. In the space in between are Chelex-100 beads, which bind metals. The AM allows the determination of the dissolved, bioaccessible metal fraction in water bodies without killing organisms, as well as environments with unfavorable conditions for living bioindicators. In the present study, the use of the AM was adapted for the monitoring of platinum (Pt) in a freshwater ecosystem. Results The elution of Pt from the Chelex-100 beads was optimized. Two modifications to the original method for the use of AMs are recommended, i.e. washing and separation of the beads through centrifugation and elution with a mixture of 4.5 mL HNO3 and 0.5 mL HCl for approximately 2-3 hours to ensure the release of all Pt bound to the beads. Additionally, the uptake kinetics of the AM were determined under laboratory conditions over a wide exposure concentration range (0.1-1000 µg/L) showing highly correlated Pt accumulation in the AMs with the aqueous exposure concentration. For the tested Pt exposure concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µg/L, the Pt concentrations in the AMs increased during the exposure period of 6 weeks. At the highest exposure concentration of 1000 µg/L, the increase stagnated after 3 weeks. To validate the AM in the field, the Pt accumulation of the AM was assessed together with that of freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminalis africana), muscle and liver tissue of three fish species sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), as well as water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) at two sampling sites in the Pt mining area of South Africa. Conclusion Results from the present study showed that the AM is a promising tool to monitor Pt concentrations in the freshwater environment at contaminated sites.

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“…During the exposure of the AMs in the two impoundments over 6 weeks, living bioindicator organisms, i.e. freshwater clam (Corbicula uminalis africana), the sh species sharptooth cat sh (Clarias gariepinus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), were sampled from the same sites as Labuschagne et al [12] and Erasmus et al [26]. Muscle and liver of the sh were analyzed by ICP-MS after microwave digestion according to Erasmus et al [24,26].…”

Section: Platinum Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…) at two impoundments in the Pt mining area of South Africa in March 2018. In Olifantsnek Dam, the Pt exposure only originates from geogenic sources, while Bospoort Dam is downstream of various anthropogenic activities such as intensive Pt mining and re ning activities, industrial and urban e uents (see Erasmus et al[26] and Labuschagne et al[12] for more detail). In situ water parameters including electrical conductivity (EC), pH and temperature (ExStik II EC500, Extech Instruments), as well as dissolved oxygen (DO) (ExStik II DO600, Extech Instruments) were measured at the two impoundment sites.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory and Field Studies on the Use of Artificial Mussels as a Monitoring Tool of Platinum Exposure in the Freshwater Environment.

Labuschagne

Zimmermann

Smit

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe artificial mussel (AM) is a passive sampling device that was originally developed for monitoring metal concentrations in the marine environment but is also increasingly used in freshwater environments. The AM consists of a non-permeable Perspex tube, which contains Chelex-100 resin, water diffuses through the semi-permeable membranes where the metals bind to the Chelex-100. The AM allows for the determination of the dissolved, bioaccessible metal fraction in water bodies without killing organisms, as well as environments with unfavorable conditions for living bioindicators. In the present study, the use of the AM was adapted for the monitoring of platinum (Pt) in a freshwater ecosystem. ResultsTherefore, the elution of Pt from the Chelex-100 beads was optimized. Two modifications to the original method for the use of AMs are recommended, i.e. washing and separation of the beads through centrifugation and elution with a mixture of 4.5 mL HNO3 and 0.5 mL HCl for approximately 2-3 hours to ensure the release of all Pt bound to the beads. Additionally, the uptake kinetics of the AM were determined under laboratory conditions over a wide exposure concentration range (0.1-1000 µg/L) showing highly correlated Pt accumulation in the AMs with the aqueous exposure concentration. For the tested Pt exposure concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µg/L, the Pt concentrations in the AMs increased during the exposure period of 6 weeks. At the highest exposure concentration of 1000 µg/L, the increase stagnated after 3 weeks. To validate the AM in the field, the Pt accumulation of the AM was assessed together with that of freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminalis africana), muscle and liver tissue of three fish species sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), as well as water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) at two sampling sites in the Pt mining area of South Africa. ConclusionResults from the present study showed that the AM is a promising tool to monitor Pt concentrations in the freshwater environment at contaminated sites.

show abstract

The role of fish helminth parasites in monitoring metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems: a case study in the world’s most productive platinum mining region

Cited by 26 publications

References 61 publications

Conserving Freshwater Biodiversity in an African Subtropical Wetland: South Africa’s Lower Phongolo River and Floodplain

Conserving Freshwater Biodiversity in an African Subtropical Wetland: South Africa’s Lower Phongolo River and Floodplain

Laboratory and field studies on the use of artificial mussels as a monitoring tool of platinum exposure in the freshwater environment.

Laboratory and Field Studies on the Use of Artificial Mussels as a Monitoring Tool of Platinum Exposure in the Freshwater Environment.

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