Masters Theses

Date of Award

3-1985

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Major Professor

J. Larry Wilson

Committee Members

Barbara T. Walton, Arthur C. Echternacht

Abstract

Catfish fingerllngs (Ictalurus punctatus) were used to determine if direct contact with residues of DDTR (DDT and its metabolites) in the sediments of Huntsville Spring Branch/Indian Creek in Alabama were responsible for DDTR concentrations in the fillets. Fish were stocked in cages where sediment levels of DDTR averaged 404, 178, and 36 ppm. Analyses indicated no significant differences in DDTR concentrations in fish fillets between contact and no-contact conditions. Significant differences were found in averaged fillet concentrations of DDTR among all sites. Concentrations of dissolved DDT in water (for filtered samples) were approximately 1.0 ppb for all sites. The diet of the fish contained 67% invertebrates (mainly Chironomidae) with high DDTR residues and significant differences were found between Sites A and C, and B and C. Since diet was a possible source of DDTR contamination and dissolved DDTR concentrations in the water did not vary among Sites A, B, and C, it is hypothesized that diet was the more significant factor in the mean concentrations of DDTR found in the fish fillets from these sites. More definitive studies are needed for confirmation.

Download
Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS