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Determination of small stream water quality using crayfish as a model organism
Author(s) -
Talley Nate L.,
Daggett Melissa A.F.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a67
Subject(s) - crayfish , organism , water quality , model organism , environmental science , fishery , biology , ecology , paleontology , biochemistry , gene
The objective of this study was to develop a biologically‐based assay (bioassay) that could be used to test sources of water in and around small streams for compounds that could adversely alter some measurable biological activity. In our assay we placed live crayfish at different locations along a stream that flows perpendicularly and downstream of a documented toxic waste dump. Crayfish were secured in wire cages at specific locations along the stream, and then collected after four days for biochemical analysis. We report the results of one such study addressing the biological activity of water at different sites along Roy’s Branch near its outflow into the Missouri River in St. Joseph, MO. SDS‐PAGE and Western Blot analysis indicate that changes in the expression of several genes including tubulin occurs in a site specific manner. Current studies are focused on determining the specific mechanisms altering gene expression along this stream. This research was supported through funding from the Missouri Western State University Summer Research Institute and Department of Biology.