Water Science and Technology Vol 37 No 6-7 pp 249–256 © IWA Publishing 1998
Mesocosm observations on the ecological response of an aquatic community to sediment contamination
E. M. Foekema*, N. H. B. M. Kaag*, D. M. van Hussel*, R. G. Jak*, M. C. Th. Scholten* and C. v.d. Guchte**
*TNO Institute of Environmental Sciences, Energy Research and Process Innovation, Department for Ecological Risk Studies, P.O. Box 57 1780 AB Den Helder The Netherlands
**Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment RIZA, P.O. Box 17 8200 AA, Lelystad The Netherlands
ABSTRACT
Between 1992 and 1997 the effects of contaminated sediment on an aquatic community were studied in outdoor mesocosms (2m3), one filled with 'naturally' polluted sediment from the sedimentation area 'Ketelmeer', the other with relatively clean sediment from the shallow lake 'Oostvaardersplassen'. Negative effects of the contaminated sediment were observed on the population development of the amoeba species Arcella megastoma and Difflugia accuminata, the mysid shrimp Neomysis integer, the microlepidopteran Cataclysta lemnata and the cladoceran community, whereas the biting midge Culex sp. showed a preference for the contaminated system. The reduction of the grazing capacity of the cladoceran community resulted in higher algal densities in the 'Ketelmeer' mesocosm despite the fact that nutrient concentrations in the water column of both mesocosms were comparable.
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