Assessment of inorganic and organic contaminants in native freshwater mussels and their habitats in the Clinch River

Transcription

1 Assessment of inorganic and organic contaminants in native freshwater mussels and their habitats in the Clinch River Christine M. Bergeron, Jennifer M. Archambault, W. Gregory Cope, Jess W. Jones, Braven Beaty, Peter R. Lazaro, Damian Shea, Jeremy A. Leonard, Brian Evans, and Steven Alexander

2 Funding US FWS & USGS Science Support Program through the NC and VA Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Field, Lab, Analytics Jennifer Rogers Matt Johnson Andrew Phipps Dan Hua Megan Bradley Angela White Frank Weber Statistical Expertise Jody Callihan Acknowledgements

3 Clinch River Supports one of the nation s greatest concentrations of freshwater biodiversity Contains diverse mussel assemblages - 46 extant species - 20 species listed or proposed as federally endangered Anthropogenic activities have degraded habitat and water quality - agriculture, mining, development, spills, etc.

4 Clinch River Pendleton Island, VA Jones et al Mussel populations have declined in species richness and abundance For most species, loss represents 50% decline in abundance

5 Clinch River Research Objective Evaluate the exposure and toxicological effects of contaminant stressors (metals and organics) in the water, sediment, and mussels of the Clinch River and its tributaries in areas of high mussel decline and in areas of high abundance to understand the causes of ongoing declines. Achieve this objective by integrating the findings from 3 different approaches: Landscape-Based Approach (GIS analysis) Field-Based Approach (Field Measurements and Analytical Chemistry) Laboratory-Based Approach (Toxicity Testing)

6 Study Area Zone of Decline = abundance far below normal, little to no recruitment for most species, & most remaining mussels are older

7 in situ mussel cages Approach in situ mussel silos with PSD Deployed passive sampling devices, collected grab surface water and pore water samples, bed and particulate sediment samples, and resident adult mussels for contaminant analyses

8 Approach: Environmental Data Collected Surface Water 2012 & 2013 (quarterly) Grab Samples Metals & Nutrients Passive Sampling Devices Organics & Hormones Sediment 2012 (bed) & 2013 (particulate) Stable Isotopes Metals Organics Particle Size & Organic Content Adult Resident Mussels 2012 & 2013 (A. pectorosa) Stable Isotopes Metals Organics Pore Water 2013 (June & October) Metals Organics & Hormones Nutrients Metals = Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Si, Sr, V, Zn Organics = 48 current use pesticides, 28 chlorinated pesticides, 21 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 50 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

9 Summary Mainly a PAH and manganese (Mn) story Metals in resident mussels unrelated to spatial variation of metals in surface water, pore water, particulate and bed sediment PAHs in resident mussels strongly related to PAHs in surface water, pore water, particulate and bed sediment, and mussel density in the ZOD PAHs important source of contamination; sourcing from tributaries

10 Surface Water Metal Spatial

11 Pore Water Metals Spatial

12 Pore Water Metals Cluster

13 Bed Sediment Metal Spatial

14 Particulate Sediment Metal Spatial

15 Bed Sediment Metal Cluster

16 Resident Mussel Metal Spatial

17 Resident Mussel Metal Cluster

18 Surface Water PAH Spatial

19 Sediment PAH Spatial

20 Bed Sediment PAH Cluster

21 Particulate Sediment PAH Cluster

22 Resident Mussel PAH Spatial

23 Resident Mussel PAH Cluster

24 Resident Mussel Density and PAH

25 Spatial variation in growth and survival of juvenile mussels in the Clinch River: relations to contaminant exposure and feeding ecology Christine M. Bergeron, Jennifer M. Archambault, W. Gregory Cope, Jess W. Jones, Braven Beaty, Peter R. Lazaro, Damian Shea, Jeremy A. Leonard, Brian Evans, and Steven Alexander

26 in situ mussel cages Approach in situ mussel silos with PSD 8 mainstem sites, 6 cages/site 18 V. iris/cage (2012); 11 L. fasciola/cage (2013) 12 mainstem & tributary sites, 6 silos/site 18 V. iris/silo (2012); 11 L. fasciola/silo (2013) June October 2012 August November 2013

27 Approach: Environmental Data Collected Juvenile Mussels (cages & silos) 2012 (V. iris) & 2013 (L. fasciola) Stable Isotopes Metals Organics Adult Resident Mussels 2012 & 2013 (A. pectorosa) Stable Isotopes Metals Organics Sediment 2012 (bed) & 2013 (particulate) Stable Isotopes Metals Organics Particle Size & Organic Content Surface Water 2012 & 2013 (quarterly) Grab Samples Metals & Nutrients Passive Sampling Devices Organics & Hormones Pore Water 2013 (June & October) Metals Organics & Hormones Nutrients Metals = Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Si, Sr, V, Zn Organics = 48 current use pesticides, 28 chlorinated pesticides, 21 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 50 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

28 Summary Juvenile mussel survival high among sites over 5-6 month deployment; growth rate varied and was negatively correlated with mining-associated metals Growth rate differed between methods; greater in cages than silos Substantial PAHs accumulated in juvenile mussels and were similar to resident mussels; PAHs in juveniles strongly related to native mussel density in the ZOD, not metals PAHs may be exerting chronic, potentially lethal effects; metals having sublethal effects on mussel growth

29 % Survival (adjusted) 2012 V. iris Mussel Survival * tributaries cages IC* ART CLE DC* CAR GR* SIM PEN CHP CC* HF WB silos Average recovery ranged from 76 99% in cages and % in silos. No significant differences among sites in survival within the cages (p=0.10) or the silos (p=0.41; ANOVA). Survival significantly lower in cages than silos at CAR and PEN (p<0.05; paired t- test).

30 % Survival (adjusted) % Survival (adjusted) 2012 V. iris Mussel Survival * tributaries cages IC* ART CLE DC* CAR GR* SIM PEN CHP CC* HF WB 2013 L. fasciola cages silos IC* ART CLE DC* CAR GR* SIM PEN CHP CC* HF WB silos Average recovery ranged from % in cages and silos. Significant differences among sites in survival within the cages (p=0.001: Kruskal Wallis) but not the silos (p=0.62) (ANOVA). Survival significantly lower in cages than silos only at CAR (p=0.05; paired t-test).

31 Growth Rate (mm/day) Growth Rate (mm/day) 2012 V. iris 0.05 Mussel Growth Rate * tributaries cages silos IC* ART CLE DC*CARGR*SIM PEN CLP CC* HF WB 2013 L. fasciola 0.05 cages silos Growth rate consistently higher in cages vs. silos across years Growth rate was more variable in 2012 than IC* ART CLE DC* CARGR* SIM PEN CLP CC* HF WB

32 δ15n δ15n Cage and Silo Comparison Stable Isotopes of N and C V. iris 2013 L. fasciola GR GR 6.00 DC CC 5.00 Mainstem Cages 4.00 Mainstem Silos Tributary Silos 3.00 Hatchery Mussels δ13c IC Mainstem Cages DC Mainstem Silos 4.00 CC IC Tributary Silos Hatchery Mussels δ13c Stable Isotope signatures similar in mainstem cages and silos Metal Concentrations did not differ in juvenile mussel tissue between the cages and the silos (p>0.5)

33 Mussel Metals Spatial 2012 V. iris Mainstem sites Tributary sites Out of 22 metals analyzed, we found significant differences (ANOVA, p<0.05) among sites for 14 metals

34 Mussel Metals Cluster Two-Way Cluster Analysis 2012 V. iris

35 2012 cages, V. iris Mussel Growth and Metals Cr, Fe, K, Si, V: r 2 = , p =

36 2012 cages, V. iris Mussel Growth and Mn

37 Percent Contribution to Total Metal Concentration Growth rate (mm/day) Mussel Growth and Metals Spatial 2012 cages, V. iris Hg 90 K, Sb As, Ba, Sr, Mn, Cd, Zn, Se Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni Al, Si, V, Pb, Co, Fe, Mg 0 NULL ART CLE CAR PEN SIM CLP HF WB 0

38 2012 silos, V. iris Mussel Growth and Metals No significant relationships between growth rate and metals in the silos Same tissue metal concentrations as cages, but depressed growth rates Silos may not be optimal habitat for mussels

39 Mussel PAH Spatial

40 Mussel PAH 2012 Cluster

41 Mussel PAH Cluster

42 Juvenile Mussel PAH versus Water PAH

43 Resident Mussel Density and Juvenile PAH

44 Assessing toxicity of contaminants in riverine suspended sediments to freshwater mussels Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (In Press)

45 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Suspended Sediment Load Sediment trap collection Time-integrated sample 1 st time used for tox testing Determine toxicity to mussels Compare to control sediments Determine contaminant load Relate to mussel responses

46 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Experimental Design 14 treatments (3 replicates each) 11 Clinch sites (WB not recovered) 3 Controls (2 USGS and Sand) 7 mussels/replicate Static renewal test Water renewed 2x/week Fed 2 hr. before renewal 28-day exposure

47 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Test Mussels Epioblasma brevidens (Cumberlandian Combshell) Federally Endangered Listed 1997 Critical Habitat 242 rkm in Clinch Source: VA DGIF, Marion hatchery Progeny from Clinchport mussel 7 months old 1.9 (± 0.3, SD) mm mean initial length

48 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Endpoints & Analysis Static renewal test Endpoints at day 28 Survival: movement, heartbeat Length: percent increase Biomass: percent departure compared to baseline Analysis of Variance Dunnett s toxicity vs. Controls α level 0.05 & 0.10

49 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Mean Survival (%, ± SE) Survival ANOVA p < 0.01 SPControls SAN WBS IN ART CLE DC CAR GR SIM PEN CHP CC HF Treatment/Site

50 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Departure from Baseline (%) Biomass 80 Biomass (28-d, ± SE) SPControls SAN WBS IN ART CLE DC CAR GR SIM PEN CHP CC HF ANOVA p = 0.02 Treatment/Site

51 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Mussel Experiment Summary Survival and Growth as Biomass: similar trends Guest River (GR) & Copper Creek (CC) toxic vs. Controls These endpoints are correlated Length: no significant differences

52 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Sediment & Test Water Analyses

53 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Potential Causes Analyzing sediments for: Pesticides (28 OC & 47 Current Use) Not Detected PCBs (21) Metals (22) PAHs (42) Not Detected Low Concentrations (except Mn) Prevalent, highest in Zone of Decline Test Water DO, Conductivity, ph, Ammonia, Alkalinity, Hardness Elevated ammonia Contaminants in water Consistent with sediment

54 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Mn (µg/g sediment) Mn Concentrations Sediment concentration range: µg/g Highest in Guest River and Copper Creek Mn Probable Effect Concentration: 1100 µg/g Mn Concentrations Controls Treatment/Site

55 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Total PAH (ng/g sediment) Total PAH Highest in Zone of Decline Probable Effect Concentration = 22,800 ng/g ,129 ng/g Controls Treatment/Site

56 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Ammonia (mg/l) SPR SAN WBS INC ART CLE DC CAR GR SIM PEN CHP CC HF Ammonia in overlying water Sampled weekly Week 1 high in several Attenuated quickly in most Controls Treatment week 1 week 2

57 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Ammonia (mg/l) SPR SAN WBS INC ART CLE DC CAR GR SIM PEN CHP CC HF Ammonia in overlying water Highest for longest in Guest River and Copper Creek Exceeded 1-hr acute criterion for 10 days River ph 8.2 & 24 C summer high: 1-hr criterion = 1.9 mg/l Controls Treatment week 1 week 2 1-hr 4-day 30-day

58 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Putting it Together Mussels Responses suggest GR and CC tribs sourcing contaminants Opposite sides of the watershed GIS credit: Steven Alexander Appalachian Plateau Ridge & Valley GIS credit: Steven Alexander Guest River developed and mine impacted Copper Creek rural and agricultural

59 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Putting it Together Toxicants Mn concentrations highest at GR & CC Ammonia concentrations elevated for longest at GR & CC Sediment carrying nutrient load Possible NH 3 issues in basin during low flows PAHs high in some sediments, but don t track with experiment mussel responses Unlikely to observe response over 28 days Informative of ongoing PAH sourcing Highest in Zone of Decline

60 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Conclusions Low mortality over 28 days Correlation of survival with biomass may be important Consider biomass as a measure of growth/health (superior to length) Field studies wet weight Experiments dry weight

61 Background Objectives Methods Results Implications Conclusions Conclusions Sediment traps effective Sediment load an important compartment to sample GR and CC: significant effects over short duration Sediment load sourcing: Mining assoc. PAHs, metals Nutrients

62 Overall Summary Multi-year integrated field and laboratory study with chemistry revealed new information on potential role of contaminants in the decline of mussels Identified PAHs (and Mn) as potential strong contributing factors Substantial PAHs accumulated in juvenile mussels and were similar to resident mussels; PAHs in juveniles strongly related to native mussel density in the ZOD, not metals PAHs may be exerting chronic, potentially lethal effects; metals having sublethal effects on mussel growth

63 Next Steps Investigate sourcing of contaminants from tributaries, especially Guest River and Copper Creek Assess toxicological effects of PAHs and Mn on mussels in laboratory tests; compare to field derived mussel health metrics Integrate landscape, field and lab-approaches to further understand the causes of ongoing mussel declines