The fate of dissolved metals in lakes containing freshwater mussels

Freshwater mussels are in decline across North America, but due to their filtering capacity, this taxon remains an important part of lake ecosystems. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality Water Utility (CBRMWU) utilizes several lakes as surface water sources, some of which contain populations of freshwater mussels. The CBRMWU is interested in the contribution of freshwater mussels to water quality prior to water treatment. Recent experiments at Cape Breton University found significant differences in concentration of several metal contaminants over time between tanks containing freshwater mussels and those without. Local lakes with mussels were also found to have significant differences in metal concentrations than those without. Building on this research, the current study aims to investigate the fate of these contaminants by using tank and observational studies which will analyze the presence of metals in the water column, mussel tissue, and mussel exuvia. This study will similarly investigate the fate of microplastics, another ubiquitous contaminant. While there has been some research investigating the bio-accumulation of contaminants in freshwater mussel tissue and sediment, little has been done on the effect of freshwater mussels on the water column.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kellie White;Michelle Adams

Student:

Partner:

CBRM Water Utility

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health); Environmental Science and Technology; Water

University:

Cape Breton University

Program: