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Development and Use of Immuno- and Bioassays for Detection of Cyanobacterial Toxins
Development of Behavioral Indices of Contaminant Stress in Aquatic Organisms
Evaluation of Increased Ultraviolet Radiation on Freshwater and Coastal Populations
Evaluation of Ultraviolet Radiation-Enhanced Toxicity of Aquatic Contaminants
Genetic Variability of Isle Royale Walleye, Stizostedion vitreum
Use of Surrogate Species in Assessing Contaminant Risk to Endangered and Threatened Fishes
Application
of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) to the Determination of
Elemental Contaminants in Environmental Matrices (Contact:
Tom
May Environmental Chemistry)
An inductively coupled mass spectrometer (ICPMS) is a state-of-the-art
analytical instrument for the analysis of metals. The instrument represents a merger of two technologies, namely,
inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICPES) and graphite furnace
atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). ICPES offers simultaneous analysis but suffers from poor detectability for many elements, especially those
of environmental concern. GFAAS, while having excellent detectability and
sensitivity for most elements, is hampered by its single element capability.
Thus, ICPMS combines the simultaneous elemental capability of ICPES with the
excellent sensitivity and detectability characteristics of GFAAS. Most work done
to date with ICPMS has focused on rather simple matrices,
such as water. Limited work has been
done on biological tissues and other matrices having relatively high
concentrations of organics and negatively charged chemicals. These latter samples pose particular
problems to ICPMS in that they contain carbon, chloride ions, sulfate ions, and
alkali earth elements, all of which can be a source of interferences
that can hinder analysis. Sample preparation methods must be developed
that will minimize or overcome these potential interferences. In addition, ICPMS provides the
capability of identifying unknown metallic contaminants in environmental
samples, as well as performing isotope characterization and isotope ratio
studies that may provide the pollution source identification. Studies will be conducted
to explore these instrumental utilities. This research will examine the
suitability and applicability of ICPMS for the determination of elemental
contaminants in a wide variety of environmental sample types.
Assessing
Ecological Impacts of Exotic Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the Major Lakes
of Voyageurs National Park (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
The fish stocks of the four dominant water bodies of Voyageurs National
Park,
Rainy, Namakan, Sand Point, and Kabetogama Lakes, are subjected to many of
the same anthropogenic factors that have affected the nearby Great Lakes. The
most recent perturbation was the invasion of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) in
Rainy and Namakan Lakes. Rainbow smelt, which colonized numerous areas in the
upper Rainy Lake watershed after being introduced by humans (Franzin et al.
1994), first appeared in Rainy and Namakan Lakes in 1990. Based on studies
conducted elsewhere, the rainbow smelt may have a significant effect on the Park's aquatic ecosystem, and in particular its interactions with cool- and
cold-water fish species (Evans and Loftus 1987). Due to their intermediate
trophic position as consumers of plankton, and as
prey for top predators, rainbow smelt have the potential to introduce a wide
array of ecological impacts from both direct and indirect effects (Kerfoot and
Sih 1987, Carpenter 1988). Another ramification of the establishment of rainbow
smelt may be elevated mercury levels in fish-eating animals. Traditional sampling
techniques (gill nets, seines, trap nets, and electrofishing boom shocker) are not effective for sampling
rainbow smelt. The integration of combined hydroacoustic
assessment and mid-water trawling appears to be the most promising method for
quantifying stock structure, distribution, changes in abundance, and other vital
statistics of rainbow smelt as well as other members of the endemic pelagic fish
community. This study will implement an acoustic and trawl
assessment strategy that will integrate quantitative assessments of rainbow
smelt and other pelagic fish species with established fish surveys in Rainy and
Namakan Lakes. This information will be used to summarize the available
knowledge of these aquatic ecosystems, then to derive various system parameters
for predicting the ecosystem response to rainbow smelt with mass balance
modeling (Christensen and Pauly 1992). Also applied will be acoustic
techniques to assess the abundance and ecological distribution of the opossum shrimp
(Mysis relicta) with acoustic techniques. Mysis are an important
constituent of the food web in these and other glacial lakes.
Assessment
of Reproductive Isolation Between Two Northern Pike Spawning Populations in
Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
A tagging study conducted in the early 1980s confirmed previous findings that
northern pike and other esocids use spawning grounds from
previous years. However, this aspect of the study could not answer the question
of whether the fish were returning to the spawning sites of their birth.
Recently developed micro-satellite markers can now be used to assess genetic
variation between fish populations using fish scales as a source of tissue for
extracting DNA. This new technology when combined with the tagging results
provides the opportunity to assess whether northern pike from the two Kabetogama
Lake spawning sites are actually homing to their natal sites. From 1981 to
1985 northern pike spawning runs at the two principal spawning sites in
Kabetogama Lake were monitored and fish marked using a combination of fin clips
and tags. Returns of marked fish in the spawning runs and by anglers were used
to assess movement patterns within the lake and to assess the degree of homing
and straying relative to the two sites. Genetic variation was assessed by
extracting DNA from scales taken from 50 pike from each site during the earlier
movement and homing evaluation. The objective of this study is to test for
genetic differences between the two northern pike spawning populations that were
identified based on returns of marked fish to the spawning sites.
Competitive
Interactions Between Native Northern Pike and Introduced Largemouth Bass Under
Low-Light Intensities (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
The introduction, both incidental and intentional, of non-native fish species
into national parks, including Voyageurs National
Park, is a significant issue
both from the biological and political perspective. Although these introductions
often have strong public support, in many instances they have the potential to
negatively impact the parks aquatic ecosystem, including the native fish stocks.
Six small lakes in Voyageurs National Park have established populations of
non-native largemouth bass as a result of plantings made before establishing the
park. While these populations support fisheries that are extremely popular with
anglers, their effect on native fish species and other aquatic organisms remains
unknown. Studies elsewhere have shown that largemouth bass are capable of
displacing native species, even predatory species such as northern pike. This study compares feeding behavior of adult
northern pike and largemouth bass
under light intensities and wavelengths chosen to simulate the low-light
conditions that occur in the heavily stained waters of most of the small lakes
in Voyageurs National Park. The null hypothesis is that feeding rates at
low-light intensity do not differ between northern pike and largemouth bass.
This research will determine if there is a difference in the feeding rates at
low-light intensity between northern pike and largemouth bass.
Development
and Use of Immuno- and Bioassays for Detection of Cyanobacterial Toxins (Contact:
Susan Jones CERC
Office of the
Director)
Cyanobacterial toxins (hepatotoxins and neurotoxins) are becoming increasingly
important for water resource management and the animals, including humans, that
depend on safe drinking water. Reports have implicated cyanobacterial toxins as
the cause of death for domestic and wild animals, migratory birds, as well as sublethal effects observed in animals and humans. Cyanobacteria are generally
associated with impaired water quality. Whereas many blooms result in nuisance
effects, recent concern centers on the ability of some species to produce highly
toxic metabolites under conditions of nutrient enrichment. The most common
cyanobacterial toxins are produced by the cosmopolitan algae Microcystis spp. These toxins
can cause extensive destruction
of the liver and death. Other cyanobacteria produce toxins that can cause rapid death by paralysis. For example, anatoxin-a is the most common
neurotoxin
produced by cyanobacteria and can cause death in less than 5 minutes. While toxicity of these compounds is somewhat variable, the highly
toxic forms are more poisonous than curare or strychnine. Tools are needed to identify cyanobacterial toxins to ensure high standards of water
quality that will result in safe waters. Study 1. Samples of field-collected cyanobacteria will be assessed for the
presence of the hepatotoxins, microcystins, via a commercially available ELISA
kit. In addition, the technology will be developed to measure analogues of the
microcystins by high- pressure liquid chromatography with UV detection
(HPLC-UV). By utilizing both technologies, we will have the opportunity to
compare the two methodologies and confirm the exact type of toxin present in the
samples. In addition, water quality characteristics will be assessed when we collect
cyanobacteria to further define the conditions that favor toxin production.
Study 2. We will develop a new methodology to determine the presence of the
neurotoxin anatoxin-a(s) in cyanobacterial samples. This method will rely on
cholinesterase inhibition, the mechanism of action of anatoxin-a(s). A simple
in vitro bioassay is currently being tested using rainbow trout brain membranes
for the enzyme, a strain of cyanobacteria that produces the neurotoxin as a
positive control, and the appropriate negative controls. The objective of this
study is to develop simple, easy-to-use immuno- and bioassays as well as
chemical assays in order to measure and assess cyanobacterial toxins in water
and cyanobacteria samples. Once developed, these technologies can be used assessing the Nation's water
quality.
Development
of Behavioral Indices of Contaminant Stress in Aquatic Organisms (Contact:
Ed Little Ecology)
Biological techniques are needed for routine use to assess the impacts of contaminants on fish and their habitats.
Management plans for the protection and enhancement of aquatic resources require
information concerning the nature and cause of contaminant effects and their
consequences for the long-term viability of natural populations. Behavioral
measures reflect the integration of underlying physiological and biochemical
responses to contaminant exposure and can be used to meaningfully link
biochemical changes to survival-dependent functions of the organism. Exposure to
neurotoxic contaminants, for example, may disrupt neural or hormonal mechanisms
and impair critical behavioral responses. Behavioral responses are not only
reliable indicators of contaminant exposure, but also provide a significant link
between the biochemical and the ecological consequences of contamination. Many
behavioral functions are essential to the viability of natural populations, and
deviations in behavioral performance can be predictive of adverse ecological
impacts of contaminant exposure. For example, alterations of the predator-prey
interactions, competition, or avoidance behaviors may result in the displacement
or loss of natural populations. The research efforts of this work unit will
provide the USFWS with standardized tools directly applicable to
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (NRDAR)
, Biomonitoring of Environmental
Status and Trends (BEST), refuge contamination action plans, and recovery plans
for threatened and endangered populations. The following methods will be developed: (1) Contaminant-avoidance
procedures. The hazardous effects of contaminants can be behaviorally mediated
through avoidance reactions but can result in the displacement of fish to sub-optimal
habitats. Avoidance responses are legally recognized as evidence of injury under
NRDAR proceedings, but routine utilization of this procedure requires the
development of standardized and validated test methods. (2) Feeding behavior.
Feeding behavior is highly sensitive to a range of contaminants in a variety of
species, yet additional information is needed to link feeding responses with
ecological indices such as reduced biomass. (3) Interspecific competition.
Social dynamics, particularly competition among species, play a major role in
maintaining natural populations, but require technical development before they
can be broadly applied in studies concerning threatened or endangered
populations. (4) Swimming behavior. Changes in swimming activity and capacity reflect neurotoxicity, which can be rapidly assessed at highly
contaminated sites, but standardized procedures are required before such
responses can be used routinely. Research and development of these behavioral
methods will determine the types of compounds and doses that induce the
behavioral responses and will determine the relationship of these variables to
biochemical and ecological indices of contaminant impacts.
Effect
of Exotic Rainbow Smelt on Nutrient/Trophic Pathways and Mercury Contaminant
Uptake in the Aquatic Food Web of Voyageurs National Park (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
From biological and political perspectives, a significant issue results because
of the possible effects of the introduction, both incidental and intentional, of
exotic fish species and non- native fish genotypes on the aquatic ecosystem of
Voyageurs National Park and many other national parks. Rainbow
smelt, which were
first found in Voyageurs National Park waters in 1990 could have significant
effects on the parks aquatic ecosystem and in particular its cool- and
cold-water fish species. Their invasion could conceivably make an already bad
mercury contamination problem worse since there is some evidence that the rate
of mercury accumulation in top level piscivores accelerates when they switch to
a diet of smelt. In this study, stable isotope ratios of carbon and
nitrogen are being determined from various food web components collected from
four selected lake sites within Voyageurs National Park. Results of this study
will be used to estimate the aquatic food web links between plants, benthos,
plankton, and selected fish. Using
stable isotope differences and similarities to estimate aquatic food web
linkages, implications regarding the bioaccumulation of contaminants will be
studied by measuring mercury and selenium levels in the same samples studied for
isotope ratios. Food habits studies of the principal forage and predator fish
species are also being conducted to further identify linkages in the aquatic
food web. This research will (1) survey the nutrient and trophic pathways for
exotic rainbow smelt and native fish in lakes within Voyageurs National Park and
(2) estimate the role of rainbow smelt in contaminant uptake by game fish for
these lakes.
Effects
of Geothermal Additions on the Biology and Distribution of Trout in the Firehole
River, Yellowstone National Park, USA (Contact: Aida
Farag Jackson Field Research
Station)
This study will assess the effects of mineral and thermal additions on the
biology and distribution of trout in the Firehole River (FHR) basin,
Yellowstone
National Park. The thermal features of the basin significantly increase the
temperature and mineral content of the FHR. Temperatures are close to the
maximum lethal tolerance for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Boron
concentrations are close to proposed limits in aquatic systems. Unique
behavioral adaptations of the rainbow trout to these conditions have been
documented. Timing of the annual spawning run for rainbow trout has shifted from
spring to winter and fish migrate into cool-water tributaries during the summer
months. Although these behaviors have been ascribed to the elevated
temperatures, no studies have evaluated the effects of the water chemistry on
the trout population. Our goal is to determine how the interaction of high
mineral concentrations and temperatures affect distribution, behavior, and
reproduction of rainbow and
brown trout in the FHR. Results can be used to
assess the effects of long-term exposure to boron and other minerals on trout
populations. The data will also be useful in management of the FHR fishery and
ecosystem.
Evaluation
of Increased Ultraviolet Radiation on Freshwater and Coastal Populations (Contact:
Ed Little Ecology)
Increased ultraviolet radiation (UVB) arising from the
depletion of the ozone
layer poses a threat to aquatic flora and fauna. The UVB wavelengths (290-320
nm) of the UV spectrum pose the greatest potential threat to aquatic biota. In
many cases, UVB exposure will compound other stressors associated with global
climate changes such as alterations in wetland habitats, environmental
acidification, and increased water temperatures. The depth of UVB light
penetration in aquatic habitats is a function of the amount of suspended solids,
plankton, and organic matter which absorb UVB wavelengths. Organisms living near
the water surface, in clean water habitats, or at high altitudes will be at
greatest risk to increased UVB exposure. We will study the direct effects
of increased ultraviolet radiation on freshwater and coastal aquatic organisms.
Fish and invertebrates endemic to three vulnerable aquatic habitat types will be
exposed to various intensities of UVB using a dose-response approach. The
habitat types we believe to be most vulnerable to increased UVB intensity are
clear water alpine lakes and streams, transient shallow water prairie potholes,
and coastal wetlands. Biota of interest include endangered and protected
salmonids endemic to alpine habitats, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates from
prairie pothole areas utilized by waterfowl, and estuarine fishes that produce
pelagic eggs which float near the water surface. Early life stages of these
organisms will be exposed to UVB intensities ranging from present measured
ambient levels to those that are toxicologically significant. The range of
intensities used will bracket all reasonable estimates of future UVB levels.
Results of these studies will determine sensitivities of aquatic organisms to
the direct effects of UVB using survival, mortality, behavioral modification,
and biochemical measures as indicators of stress. This study will determine the
effects of UVB radiation on aquatic species.
Evaluation of the Relation Between
Exotic Rainbow Smelt, Osmerus mordax, and Native Cisco,
Coregonus artedii (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
Rainbow smelt, which colonized numerous waters in the upper Rainy Lake watershed
after being introduced by humans, first appeared in the waters of Voyageurs
National Park in 1990. Based on studies conducted elsewhere, the smelt could
have significant negative effects on the parks aquatic ecosystem, and in
particular its cool- and cold-water fish species. This is particularly true for cisco, (Coregonus artedii) and
lake whitefish (Coregonus
culpeaformis), the two
native coregonines in the park. These two fish species have frequently been
found to be adversely affected by the invasion or introduction of rainbow smelt.
Zooplankton communities will be monitored and described for those lakes
where the effects of rainbow smelt are being evaluated. To allow detection of
temporal and spatial variation, sampling will be done at four stations at
biweekly intervals throughout the open water season using vertical haul nets.
Rainbow smelt and cisco will be collected at monthly intervals using mid-water
trawls and small-mesh gillnets. Fish will be measured and stomachs removed and
preserved for food habits analysis. Electivity indices will be calculated using
the proportion of the organisms in the fishes diet and the proportion of the
same organisms in the zooplankton samples. Results of the analysis of the smelt
stomachs will also provide an indication of degree of predation on other fish
species. The existence of zooplankton data collected before the smelt invasion
will allow an assess whether smelt predation is altering the composition of the
zooplankton communities. This research will assess possible competition between
rainbow smelt and cisco for zooplankton and other food resources.
Evaluation
of Ultraviolet Radiation-Enhanced Toxicity of Aquatic Contaminants (Contact:
Ed Little Ecology)
The ultraviolet radiation (UV) component of sunlight can pose a direct threat to
aquatic flora and fauna. The UVB wavelengths (290-400 nm) can also compound
other stressors, particularly environmental contamination through additive and
synergistic interactions. Under additive interactions the UV exposure can
provide stress that is additive with stresses induced by toxicant exposure. UV
can also directly interact with the aquatic contaminant to increase the
contaminants toxicity through changes in chemical structure or enhanced biotic
uptake. Contaminants that are potentially photoenhanced by UV are not well known
but include certain metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. It is assumed that the
extent of photoenhancement is a function of UV radiation, and thus is dependent
on the amount of suspended solids, plankton, and organic matter which absorb UV
wave lengths in the water column. We will study the interactive effects of
ultraviolet radiation on vertebrate and invertebrate organisms from freshwater
and coastal habitats. Amphibians, fish and invertebrates will be exposed to
various intensities of UVB and aquatic contaminants as single stressors as well
as combined stressors using a dose-research approach. The habitat types to be
investigated will include clear water alpine lakes and streams, transient
shallow temperature wetlands, estuarine wetlands and marine tidal surge zones.
UV radiation and related water quality variables will be measured in the water
column of these habitats. Contaminants tested will include metals, petroleum
products, pesticides, industrial compounds. Early life stages organisms will be
exposed to UVB intensities and contaminants ranging from those that are
environmentally realistic to those that are toxicologically significant. Results
of these studies will identify compounds that are toxicologically photoenhanced.
The data will be used to determine the threshold sensitivities of aquatic
organisms for such compounds in their habitats using survival, mortality,
behavioral modification, and biochemical measures as indicators of stress.
Genetic
and Morphological Distinctness of Three Cyprinid Species from Isle Royale and
Voyageurs National Parks (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
On the basis of morphological measurements, previous investigators concluded
that three cyprinid species, fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas),
blacknose
shiner (Notropis heterolepis), and pearl dace (Margariscus margarita), from
Harvey Lake in Isle Royale National Park were unique enough to warrant
subspecific status. Other investigators, however, have questioned these
designations and concluded the Harvey Lake fish do not merit such designation. Samples of the three species will be collected from Harvey Lake and other
lakes on Isle Royale, from mainland sites along the north shore of Lake Superior
in Minnesota, from lakes and ponds in Voyageurs National
Park, and from waters
in the upper Mississippi River drainage. This will result in our having samples
from three major drainages: Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi. Genetic
analyses will be conducted using the microsatellite DNA analysis technique.
Allelic type and frequency at each locus will be statistically analyzed to
determine if there is significant population structuring present. The results of
these analyses will be analyzed statistically using Wrights Fst statistics.
Morphological measurements will be made from fish from the same sites as those
for which genetic analyses have been made.
Genetic
Variability of Isle Royale Walleye, Stizostedion vitreum (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
The fauna and flora of Isle Royale National Park represent a unique assemblage
of species from eastern and western glacial refugia that have seemingly escaped
some of the successional changes that characterize the eastern and western
regions. However; the genetic variability and relatedness of species in the fish
communities are not known. Walleye, which occur in only two lakes on Isle
Royale, is one species where such questions exist. It has been suggested that
the two walleye populations were established by stocking in the 1920s, but there
is no evidence that verifies this. The current study will (1) document the
genetic characteristics and variability of walleye from Chickenbone and
Whittlesey Lakes in Isle Royale National Park and (2) assess the probability of
whether the Isle Royale walleye are native or were introduced by comparison with
genetic characteristics of other walleye populations in the Great Lakes and
possible hatchery sources.
Inland
Lakes Fishery Survey, Isle Royale National Park (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
Although surveys and studies of the fish communities in the inland waters of
Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior date back to the early 1900s, the
first and last complete survey of these waters was completed over 60 years ago.
Questions exist regarding the validity of some subspecific designations given to
some Isle Royale fishes on the basis of morphological and meristic measurements.
Atmospheric inputs of organic contaminants and mercury in the Lake Superior
region are well documented; several researchers used Isle Royale's Siskiwit Lake
to assess the input of organic contaminants. No island-wide survey of mercury
contamination, however, has ever been done. Baseline data on water chemistry and
plankton communities have never been collected for the majority of the inland
lakes. This study will focus on the distribution and relative abundance of
fish species in the inland lakes of Isle Royale National Park. Special emphasis
will be placed on clarifying the taxonomic status of those species where
questions exist regarding subspecific designations. Northern pike (Esox
lucius)
and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) collected in the survey will be used to
assess the degree of mercury contamination in the parks inland waters. Baseline
conditions for water chemistry and plankton communities will be established.
This research will determine the present distribution and relative abundance of
fish species in the inland lakes of Isle Royale National Park and evaluate the
relationships between the observed distributions and basic limnological
parameters. Concern is expressed regarding the subspecies designations for
some species. Genetic research will clarify the taxonomic status of those
species in question. Assessment of mercury contamination in the parks inland
waters will also be done.
Laboratory
Investigations into the Feasibility and Methods of Removing from Marine
Sediments that Toxicity Attributable to Organic Contaminants (Contact:
David Alverez Environmental
Chemistry)
Concentrations of contaminants in the sediments in the New York-New Jersey
Harbor are among the highest of any sediments in North America, high
enough to adversely affect the biological communities. Fish and shellfish from
this area contain enough contaminants to have
prompted the issuances of consumption advisories. Several studies demonstrate that sediments from this estuary are extremely toxic to the marine
amphipod (Ampelisca abdita). In order to maintain the navigability of the
estuary, some dredging is necessary. However, the guidelines in the U.S.
restrict the amounts of contaminants permissible in dredged sediment that
can be disposed of in the open ocean. Because of the great importance of the
continued navigability of New York/New Jersey Harbor and other harbors, new
technologies are sought for the remediation of contamination and toxicity in
marine sediments. As part of the larger investigation into techniques for
decontaminating marine sediments, the Region 2 EPA has entered into an
Interagency Agreement (IAG) with the Columbia Environmental Research Center. CERC
will develop toxicity
identification evaluation (TIE) methods of removing from marine sediments
organic contaminants that cause the shown toxicity. Techniques
appropriate for removing those contaminants or classes of contaminants might
then be applied to estuary sediments on a remediation scale. Among the candidate
detoxification procedures are the following: 1) mixing adsorbent spheres with
the wet sediment and allowing them to adsorb the contaminants; 2) submersing SPMDs in the wet sediment; 3) same as (2), above, except that the SPMDs will be
of three phases. Enclosed in the membrane in addition to the lipid or lipid-like
substance will be carbon, Ambersorb, or another adsorbent; 4) submersing
polyethylene strips in the wet sediment; 5) same as (4), above, except the
strips will have carbon black incorporated in them; 6) submersing silicone- or
polyethylene- coated iron or magnetite particles in the wet sediments; and 7)
other approaches.
Lower
Missouri River Historical Channels (Contact:
River Studies)
The flood of 1993 in the lower Missouri River basin was one of the most
devastating in the history of the nation and brought national attention to the
lower Missouri River. The aftermath of the flood has forced the need to evaluate
the effectiveness and cost of current flood and floodplain ecosystems and their
tributary watersheds and wetlands. It has also forced the need to reconsider the
best long-term strategy to ensure that the assets of the floodplain are used to
the fullest extent possible in ways that reflect current environmental as well
as economic values. This includes the reexamining of the collective efforts of
federal, state, and local governments; individuals; and the private sector in
floodplain management that might include setting back levees, acquiring and
restoring wetlands, and purchasing floodplain easements from farmers. Historical
channel maps and historical vegetation that can be used in spatial analysis are
a critical data component in assessing potential restoration of natural
functions and values of the Missouri River ecosystem. Historical channels (1879, 1920, 1954, and 1979) for three quadrangles of
the lower Missouri River (Marshall, Moberly, Jefferson City) are processed. This spatial
information can be used with other spatial data such as levees, land cover,
public ownership, levee breaks, etc. This research provides data critical to
assessing potential restoration sites, identifying areas impacted by flooding,
and determining management alternatives on the lower Missouri River.
Missouri
River Benthic Macroinvertebrates (Contact:
Barry
Poulton River Studies)
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are important indicators of water quality, habitat
quality, biological integrity, and the transfer of contaminants through aquatic
and terrestrial food chains. They serve as an important functional component in
the processing and transformation of organic matter, and represent the most
important food resource for benthic fishes of concern in the Missouri River
basin, as well as for waterfowl and shorebirds. Biological endpoints resulting
from invertebrate community data can be linked to specific habitats,
colonization substrates, physical and chemical variables, and biogeographic
factors. These relationships have not been studied even though major initiatives
by state and federal agencies have urged the development of biological endpoint
criteria for large river systems, and to determine the environmental (physical
and chemical) parameters associated with these criteria, so that habitat
restoration goals can be based on overall ecological integrity. As compared to
the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, where long-term invertebrate monitoring data
and community parameters have been utilized for many years, the benthic
invertebrate fauna of the Missouri River system is poorly known. The Lower
Missouri River has been highly modified with channelization, addition of
artificially created habitats, and removal of woody snags from sand bars and
islands. Newly created habitats resulting from floods, and those that are a part
of lands purchased by state and federal agencies (i.e. Big Muddy National Fish
& Wildlife Refuge) have not been systematically evaluated or compared with
other main-stem habitats. Floodplain wetlands and side-channel chutes such as
the one recently created at Lisbon Bottoms serve as potentially unique benthic
macroinvertebrate habitats that include organic matter deposition, storage and
transport resembling that of habitats present in the river before alterations
began in 1880. The goals of our current Missouri River studies are to: 1)
Identify and characterize the most productive habitats and colonization
substrates for aquatic invertebrates by measuring abundance and diversity in
these habitats, 2) longitudinally compare structure of resident communities
within the most easily accessible habitats at 6 sites within the lower
channelized portion of the river, 3) determine the best attainable biotic
condition and most plausible variables that will define biotic integrity to aid
in future development of biological criteria for large river invertebrates, 4)
provide a comprehensive species checklist with habitat affinities, and 5)
identify indicator taxa restricted to large rivers which may have potential
value for biomonitoring in the Missouri River system.
Missouri
River Benthic Fish (Contact:
Mark
Wildhaber River Studies)
This research is a multiyear sampling of benthic fishes of the Missouri River
directed at understanding the effects of river management on the Missouri River
ecosystem that was initiated by the flood of 1993. In 1995, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation initiated a benthic fishes study in the
Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers through the USGS. This study is to provide
essential information on population structure and habitat use of 26 important
recreational, at risk, and keystone benthic fish species along the main stem
Missouri and lower Yellowstone Rivers. Objectives are to (1) describe and
evaluate recruitment, growth, size structure, body condition, and relative
abundance of selected benthic fishes; (2) measure physical (e.g., velocity) and
water quality (e.g., turbidity) features in dominant habitats where fishes are
collected; and (3) describe the use of dominant habitats by benthic fishes. Field data collection covers the Missouri River from above Fort Peck
Reservoir in MT to the mouth, including riverine segments between Lake Oahe and
Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota and the Yellowstone River. The USGS-BRD
Cooperative Research Units and Montana Fish, Game and Parks are conducting the
field research. CERC researchers are involved in the sampling design, study
development, systemic analysis, statistical methods selection, statistical
analysis and interpretation, data management, and quality assurance/control. The
charge of the consortium is to investigate the population status and habitat
usage of the benthic fish of the Missouri River in order to provide future
guidance of water regulation on the Missouri River.
Regional
and Local Variation in Fish Assemblages Across a Successional Landscape
Influenced by Beaver (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
Significant modification of aquatic ecosystems has occurred on the 294 km 2
Kabetogama Peninsula in Voyageurs National Park where beaver activity has
transformed more than 300 km of existing stream channels. This modification has
resulted in a spatially and temporally complex mosaic of habitats with a large
variety of ages, succession stages, and local environments resulting from beaver
activity. The temporal and spatial complexity resulting from these successional
changes may have a strong influence on critical ecological factors determining
the attributes of local fish assemblages, including the magnitude of hydrologic
fluxes along drainages, the kinds of fish exchanged between lake and stream
ecosystems, and whether boundaries between aquatic habitats are relatively open
or closed to fish movement. The study will be conducted on the Kabetogama
Peninsula in Voyageurs National Park. Unbaited minnow traps will be used to
sample fish at 18 different sites distributed among seven different drainages.
Sampling sites will represent five types of environments associated with beaver
pond succession. Concurrent with fish sampling, several chemical and physical
attributes will be measured at each site. A fundamental goal will be to assess
the critical role that regional and local environmental boundaries might play in
controlling the spatial attributes of fish assemblages in the uppermost reaches
of drainages that historically have been strongly influenced by beaver activity.
The objective is to assess how the shifting mosaic of local habitat patches
created by beaver activity influences the number, identity, and relative
abundance of component species in fish assemblages and to evaluate this as part
of processes operating at larger regional scales.
Study
of the Bioavailability of Metals and Toxicity of Missouri River Sediment
Adjacent to a Lead Refinery, Omaha, NE (Contact:
Duane
Chapman River Studies)
After operating for more than 100 years, a lead refinery in Omaha, NE, on the
banks of the Missouri River, has closed. Ground water at the facility is highly
contaminated with lead, chromium, arsenic, and zinc. It has been shown that
ground water flows from the facility into the Missouri River. It is not known if
metals entering the river via groundwater pose a threat to the riverine biota.
In this study, sediments, sediment pore water, and river water will be collected
along the periphery of the site, within the Missouri River. Metals analysis will
be performed on these samples, including sediment acid volatile sulfides and
simultaneously extractable metals. Toxicity tests on groundwater, river
water, and sediment interstitial water will be performed. These data should
allow determination of the bioavailability of metals in the river and to what
degree are they toxic. This research is a cooperative project with EPA Region 7
to determine if remediation beyond that currently planned will be required. The
remediation of this refinery is currently being addressed under the state-led
Remedial Plan Monitoring Act, a voluntary remediation program. These data will
be used to determine the bioavailability of inorganic contaminants to aquatic
organisms, and their potential to negatively impact biota of the Missouri River.
Data will be used in finalizing the remedial action plan (RAPMA) for the site.
Technical Assistance to the National
Park Service
(Contact: Laverne
Cleveland)
The CERC conducts aquatic research that focus on the effects of various
anthropogenic and natural environmental stressors. National Park Service units
in the Great Lakes Basin and adjoining watersheds require the results of such
research as well as science-based monitoring systems to assist in their
management of aquatic ecosystems. CERC International Falls Biological Station
provides aquatic research and technical support to these NPS units to assist
resource managers in the protection of the aquatic ecosystems in these units.
The efforts of the IFBS are primarily directed toward the identification and
prediction of factors such as reservoir management regimes, invasive species,
environmental contaminants, and fisheries management practices and the effects
of these factors on the health and viability of natural resources within the
parks units. This project is conducted to provide technical information and
guidance to National Park Service managers in order that they can develop and
implement scientifically sound management programs.
Use
of Surrogate Species in Assessing Contaminant Risk to Endangered and Threatened
Fishes (Contact: Chris
Ingersoll Toxicology)
A critical aspect of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) process is the
selection of surrogate species to evaluate the relative safety of chemicals to
other organisms. Typically, surrogate species are organisms that are easily
tested using standardized methods; however, these species may not represent
populations of endangered and threatened (listed) species. The environmental
occurrence of agricultural, industrial, and municipal chemicals invariably poses
a risk to endangered and threatened species since, by definition, their
distribution is limited and further adverse effects on these populations could
lead to extinction. Furthermore, numerous chemical, physical, and biological
factors can dramatically influence contaminant-induced effects. The aquatic risk
assessment process for pesticides and other commercial chemicals includes the
following: (1) acute toxicity tests with freshwater, estuarine, and marine fish
and invertebrates, (2) embryo-larval and life cycle studies with fish and
invertebrates, (3) residue studies, and (4) field testing. The freshwater
organism most often used in acute toxicity tests include one or more of the
following species:
rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss),
brook trout (Salvelinus
fontinalis),
coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch),
bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus),
channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus),
fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). At
present, toxicity data for the rainbow trout are assumed to be protective of
listed salmonid species and the fathead minnow for listed cyprinid species. Acute toxicity tests with surrogate species and listed species will be
conducted using different chemical classes having different modes of action.
Data from these toxicity tests will then be used to determine interspecies
correlations between surrogate species and listed species. This information is
crucial in determining the degree of protection provided to endangered and
threatened species by the use of standard hazard evaluation procedures.
Additional chronic toxicity tests will be conducted with surrogate and listed
species with a selected chemical.
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