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projects > ecological risk assessment of toxic substances in the south florida ecosystem: wildlife effects and exposure assessment > project summary
Project Summary SheetFiscal Year 2003 Project Summary Report Project Title: Ecological Risk Assessment of Toxic Substances in the South Florida Ecosystem: Wildlife Effects and Exposure Assessment Project Start Date: FY2000 Project End Date: FY2005 Web Sites: Location (Subregions, Counties, Park or Refuge): South Florida, Miami-Dade County, ENP, WCA's, Loxahatchie, Big Cypress, STA's Funding Source: USGS's Greater Everglades Science Initiative (PBS) Project Personnel: Timothy S. Gross, Marisol Sepulveda, Jon Wiebe, Carla Wieser, D. Shane Ruessler, Nicola Kernaghan Supporting Organizations: University of Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Associated / Linked Projects: Evaluation of infertile alligator eggs and contaminant effects in the South Florida ecosystem (T.S. Gross and K. Rice), Amphibian exposures to atrazine and metamorphic effects in South Florida ecosystems (T.S. Gross and M. Sepulveda), Microcosm and Mesocosm evaluations of OC bioaccumloations in wildife: development of models for restoration of agricultural properties as wetlands (T.S Gross and St. Johns River Water Management District). Overview & Objective(s): The primary goal of this project is to assess both the current wildlife contaminant exposures, as well as predict and monitor future restoration-driven exposures. These efforts require a complete food-chain analysis of exposures for biota at all trophic levels, as well as the preliminary monitoring of non-lethal, physiological, effects at multiple levels of biological organization (biochemical to whole animal-2004. Status: We have conducted a survey of freshwater mussels across 32 sites, alligators across 14 sites, and largemouth bass and sunfish for 42 sites as well as amphibians (frogs and toads at 12 sites) and wading birds (i.e. great egrets) at 5 sites. Efforts have indicated a severe decline in freshwater mussels across sites , especially those with significant habitat alteration/restoration. Altered health status and depressed reproductive/endocrine function is also associated with agricultural exposures and exposure to mercury. Alligator tissues are complete for OC and target contaminant analyses, however, analyses of non-classic/non-target compounds such as pharmaceuticals etc are currently underway. These efforts significant exposures for alligators in WCA's and other restored/reclaimed sites, as well as exposure to historic and current use agricultural and urban-runoff chemical contaminants. Fish samples have been collected from an extensive collection of sites during the non-reproductive season, mercury analyses are complete and OCP and other contaminant analyses are in progress. Initial analyses suggest significant exposures and significant distribution differences across S. Florida ecosystems and an altered distribution of mercury with the implementation of STA's. Fish efforts have been in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District. Amphibian surveys and collections are complete and chemical analyses will be conducted during 2004-5. These efforts are in collaboration with Ken Rice and with the University of Florida-IFAS and Syngenta, Corp. Initial efforts to identify colonies of wading birds is underway and collections have occurred during 2003 with analyses to follow during 2004-5 Recent & Planned Products: To assess whether chemical contaminants/stressors in South Florida harm wildlife and to evaluate or predict future restoration driven processes and alterations in the distribution, fate and transport or effects of environmental contaminants, we must first complete the proposed assessment of contaminant distribution across trophic levels. These efforts are underway and should be completed by the completion of FY 2005. Results have been presented at the 2003 GEER conference and portions will also be presented at the 2003 SETAC conference. Two manuscripts are currently in progress and a PhD student focusing on mercury analyses will complete her degree during mid 2005. Relevance to Greater Everglades Restoration Information Needs: The results of this study will be critical to a ecological risk assessment of current contaminant related processes and effects, as well as for the prediction of future restoration-driven effects and alterations. The results thus far, demonstrate significant and varying exposure across sites and exposures which will likely be impacted by restoration processes. In addition, non-lethal, physiological effects are evident and will likely be altered by restoration efforts as well. These results are critical to a eco-risk assessment and to our ability to assess, evaluate and predict restoration-driven effects and should be useful in the development of strategies for minimizing adverse effects of restoration process. Key Findings:
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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
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Last updated: 06 February, 2004 @ 01:58 PM(TJE)