Frédérique Warren, student at INRS supervised by Claude Fortin studies the bioaccumulation of metals in the biofilm
Title of the project: Bioaccumulation of Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd in the river biofilm
Summary of the research project :
Because of mine waste, changes in the chemical composition of the host environment happen. Among these effects, previous studies measured changes to the pH, water hardness, and trace metal concentrations in the host environment. These changes bring a stress for the biota and modifies the trophic networks, disturbing the ecosystem. To study this phenomenon and the impacts that arise, the project will focus on the bioaccumulation of trace metals such as Cd, le Pb, le Zn, le Cu and Ni in the river’s biofilm. The choice of using the biofilm is due to its capacity to answer promptly to environmental changes and its advantageous position in the trophic network, i.e. its protection role. Biofilms are collected at the Cap-Rouge River, a river with a low metal concentration. Biofilms are then exposed to a solution containing Fraquil medium, which is a medium that represents the environmental conditions with a fixed metal concentration. Laboratory experiments are done with different pH values, from pH 5.0 to 7.0 to study the impact of acute toxicity on the biota for a period of 96h. Measuring the protecting effect of protons in solution and the competing effects of trace metals in solution allows to characterize the individual effects of each parameter on the bioaccumulation of the biofilm and quantify predict the effects of mine waste on the environment.
You can also watch the video on our Youtube Channel.