posted on 2022-03-29, 02:55authored byIngrid S. Errington
Subantarctic islands hold scientific and economic importance, but power to support operations in this region is predominantly produced by diesel-fuelled generators, and several leaks and spills have created areas of contaminated soil. This thesis aims to assess the toxicity of highly weathered petroleum contaminants to soil biota on Macquarie Island, in the context of its unique subantarctic climate and biogeography. In the first ever review of petroleum contaminants in subantarctic soils, their effects on endemic biota were found to be extremely variable. Limitations and opportunities for contaminant management were also identified for the sensitive subantarctic environment, and the benefits of management techniques with minimal collateral disturbance were brought into relief. In a field-based experiment, several biotic, environmental and chemical factors were investigated to determine the most important drivers of soil invertebrate assemblages on subantarctic Macquarie Island. Overall, environmental factors that could be linked to physical soil disturbance held greater influence over soil invertebrate assemblages than did petroleum contaminants. In the first of two laboratory-based toxicity tests, well-aged diesel was not found to affect survival at the highest test concentration in either Microscolex macquariensis (an earthworm endemic to Macquarie Island) or Eisenia fetida (a common model test species of earthworm). Sub-lethal endpoints were more sensitive, though in some cases the effect was hormetic. These results suggest that the addition of diesel to a soil may increase its carbon content, thereby stimulating microbial activity and increasing the amount of food available to the worms. Finally, to simplify chemical analyses, a typical weathered diesel profile was synthesised using six hydrocarbon types. The mixture toxicity adhered more closely to a concentration addition joint action scenario than independent action. When tested individually, alkyl napthalenes and cycloalkanes were the most toxic, whereas n-alkanes and branched alkanes were less toxic. Together, these findings will guide the focus of remediation efforts, with implications for how contaminant management techniques are selected for environmentally sensitive sites such as subantarctic islands. In particular, the end goals of contaminant management must be well-defined, and the broader impacts of any works should be taken into consideration.
History
Table of Contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Ecosystem effects and the management of petroleum-contaminated soils on subantarctic islands -- 3. The influence of vegetation and soil properties on invertebrate communities in a diesel-contaminated soil -- 4. A comparative study on the toxicity of weathered diesel to a subantarctic earthworm, Microscolex macquariensis, and a model earthworm species, Elsenia fetidae -- 5. The toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures to the eartworms Microscolex macquariensis and Elsenia fetida -- 6. Discussion and conclusions -- Appendices.
Notes
Thesis by publication.
Bibliography: pages 121-132
Awarding Institution
Macquarie University
Degree Type
Thesis PhD
Degree
PhD, Macquarie University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences
Department, Centre or School
Department of Biological Sciences
Year of Award
2017
Principal Supervisor
Grant Hose
Rights
Copyright Ingrid Stien Errington 2017.
Copyright disclaimer: http://mq.edu.au/library/copyright