Graduate Program
Biological Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Semester of Degree Completion
2009
Thesis Director
Jeff Laursen
Thesis Committee Member
Karen Gaines
Thesis Committee Member
Charles Pedersen
Abstract
To determine the efficacy of using parasite assemblages as bioindicators of coalmine effluent, a survey of gastro-intestinal helminths from the gut of sunfish, Lepomis spp, was performed. Five species of Lepomis, L. cyanellus, L. nwcrochirus, L. megalotis, L. microlophus, and L. gulosus, were collected from six locations near the Palzo mine, an abandoned coalmine that actively discharges into the lower reach of Sugar Creek. Sunfish were collected from three sites which did not receive effluent from the Palzo mine (Sugar Creek (37° 37'/ 88° 50'), South Fork(37° 41 '/ 88° 52'), and the Little Saline River (37° 38'/ 88° 38')) and three sites downstream ofthe Palzo mine after the convergence of Sugar Creek with the South Fork of the Saline River (Dykersburg Road (37° 39' I 88° 45'), Route 45 (37° 38' / 88° 41 '), and Route 145 (37° 39' / 88° 43 ')). Collections were done with a backpack shocker in both spring and fall of 2006. Parasites were recovered from the stomach, intestine, and body cavity. Effects of site, season, host species, and length on prevalence were examined using logistic regression. The effects of site, season, and host species on mean intensity were examined using Kruskall-Wallis tests. ANOSIM tests were performed to determine differences in parasite assemblages between sites and host species.
From 656 Lepomis spp, 1216 parasitic helminths representing 12 genera were recovered. Of these, five genera: Spinitectus sp, Neoechinorhynchus sp, Camallanus sp, Spiroxys sp, and Eocollis sp comprised 86% of all recovered parasites. The remaining seven helminth genera: Acanthocephalus sp, Bothriocephalus sp, Pisciamphistoma sp, Crepidostomum sp, Proteocephalus sp, Capillaria sp, and Contracaecum sp comprised 14% of the total assemblage.There were confounding effects of host specificity on parasite distributions so only parasites of green sunfish and bluegill, which were found at all six sites, were used to gauge the effect of the Palzo mine on parasite assemblages. Host assemblages between sites were not significantly different (ANOSIM Global- R= 0.11, p =0.29). The prevalence and mean intensity of Spinitectus sp was highest at Sugar Creek and the South Fork of the Saline River, both unimpacted sites, which suggests that it may be indicative of high water quality. The lowest recovery of this parasite was found at Dykersburg Road, the site closest to the Palzo mine, which may be due to an inability to complete its lifecycle through its mayfly intermediate host. Conversely, the prevalence and intensity of Neoechinorhynchus sp was at its highest level at Dykersburg Road which suggests that it may be tolerant of water quality degradation. The prevalence of Camallanus differed between sites, but it showed high variability without regard to presence or absence of coalmine input. The prevalence at Dykersburg Road was comparable to Sugar Creek. Similarly, mean intensity of Spiroxys also differed between sites with no clear relation to water quality. There were no differences in either prevalence or mean intensity of Eocollis sp between sites though it was most often recovered downstream of the Palzo mine. All other parasites in this study were deemed too rare to merit consideration as a potential biomonitors. Total parasite communities d1d not differ between sites, but there were significant differences between assemblages of green sunfish and bluegill.
This study highlighted the utility and drawbacks of parasites as indicators of coalmine effects on water quality. Seasonality, host distribution, and host length can all affect parasite distributions within fish. If correcwd for, parasites can be used in a manner similar to existing fish and macroinvertehrate ind.ces. In this study, Spinitectus sp responded negatively to water quality deterioration whereas Neoechinorhynchus sp responded positively. Ultimately, processing time, parasite identification, and analysis may preclude widespread use of parasites to assess water quality, but this study found several instances -where the parasite community provided different information compared to the established fish and macroinvertebrate indices.
Recommended Citation
Claxton, Andrew, "The Effect Of Coalmine Effluent On The Parasite Assemblages Of Lepomis Spp. In The Saline River Basin" (2009). Masters Theses. 41.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/41
