Environmental factors affecting mercury in Camp Far West Reservoir, California, 2001-03

Alpers, Charles N.; Stewart, Aubrey; Saiki, Michael K.; Marvin-DiPasquale, Mark C.; Topping, Brent R.; Rider, Kelly M.; Gallanthine, Steven K.; Kester, Cynthia A.; Rye, Robert O.; Antweiler, Ronald C.; Wild, J. F.

doi:10.3133/sir20065008

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…For example, chlorophyll a concentrations in surface water were highest (mean value of 13 ± 5.4 mgÁL -1 ) in the fall and winter as water levels rose and lowest (3.5 ± 0.90 mgÁL -1 ) in the spring and summer as water levels declined. The peak in chlorophyll concentrations during fall of both years occurred at low water while the reservoir was thermally stratified (Alpers et al 2008) and was generally sustained as the reservoir filled. The development of the bloom prior to destratification was not expected, since algal blooms typically occur when nutrients are mixed from the deep portions of the reservoir into surface waters following destratification, particularly in oligotrophic systems such as CFWR (N:P ratios of 136 to 5191; Kuwabara et al 2003).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Total mercury concentrations in sediments from abandoned mine sites are as high as 45 000 mgÁg -1 (Alpers et al 2005b), whereas total mercury in sediments from CFWR range from about 0.3 to 1.0 mgÁg -1 dry weight (M. Marvin-DiPasquale, unpublished data). Mercury-contaminated sediment continues to be transported in the Bear River watershed and other Sierra Nevada watersheds affected by historical mining, especially during high-flow events (Alpers et al 2008). Three sites in CFWR located along a downstream gradient from the inflow at the Bear River arm to the outflow at the dam were sampled quarterly for 2 years (Fig.…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vertical profiles of dissolved oxygen and pH taken on each sampling trip did not indicate the occurrence of a deep chlorophyll maximum (Alpers et al 2008), and so it was assumed that surface samples were generally representative of the particles available to grazing zooplankton. Duplicate water samples (n = 2) were filtered within 2 h of collection onto 25 mm and precombusted 13 mm glass fiber filters (nominal pore size of 0.7 mm), frozen on dry ice, and then later stored at -80 8C.…”

Section: Phytoplankton Biomass Suspended Particulate Material and Zmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of plankton mercury dynamics and trophic pathways on mercury concentrations of top predator fish of a mining-impacted reservoir

Stewart

Saiki

Kuwabara

et al. 2008

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Physical and biogeochemical characteristics of the aquatic environment that affect growth dynamics of phytoplankton and the zooplankton communities that depend on them may also affect uptake of methylmercury (MeHg) into the pelagic food web of oligotrophic reservoirs. We evaluated changes in the quality and quantity of suspended particulate material, zooplankton taxonomy, and MeHg concentrations coincident with seasonal changes in water storage of a mining-impacted reservoir in northern California, USA. MeHg concentrations in bulk zooplankton increased from 4 ngÁg -1 at low water to 77 ± 6.1 ngÁg -1 at high water and were positively correlated with cladoceran biomass (r = 0.66) and negatively correlated with rotifer biomass (r = -0.65). Stable isotope analysis revealed overall higher MeHg concentrations in the pelagic-based food web relative to the benthic-based food web. Statistically similar patterns of trophic enrichment of MeHg (slopes) for the pelagic and benthic food webs and slightly higher MeHg concentrations in zooplankton than in benthic invertebrates suggest that the difference in MeHg bioaccumulation among trophic pathways is set at the base of the food webs. These results suggest an important role for plankton dynamics in driving the MeHg content of zooplankton and ultimately MeHg bioaccumulation in top predators in pelagic-based food webs.Résumé : Les caractéristiques physiques et biogéochimiques du milieu aquatique qui affectent la dynamique de la croissance du phytoplancton et les communautés zooplanctoniques qui en dépendent peuvent aussi influencer l'introduction de méthylmercure (MeHg) dans le réseau alimentaire pélagique des réservoirs oligotrophes. Nous déterminons les changements dans la qualité et la quantité des matières particulaires en suspension, dans la taxonomie du zooplancton et dans les concentrations de MeHg qui coïncident avec les changements saisonniers d'emmagasinement d'eau dans un réservoir affecté par des activités minières dans le nord de la Californie, É .-U. Les concentrations de MeHg dans le zooplancton global augmentent de 4 ngÁg -1 aux basses eaux à 77 ± 6,1 ngÁg -1 aux hautes eaux et elles sont en corrélation positive avec la biomasse des cladocères (r = 0,66) et en corrélation négative avec la biomasse des rotifères (r = -0,65). Une analyse des isotopes stables indique des concentrations globalement plus élevées de MeHg dans le réseau alimentaire pélagique que dans le réseau alimentaire benthique. Les patrons statistiquement semblables d'enrichissement trophique de MeHg (pentes) dans les réseaux alimentaires pélagiques et benthiques et des concentrations légèrement supérieures de MeHg dans le zooplancton par rapport aux invertébrés benthiques font penser que la différence de bioconcentration de MeHg entre les voies trophiques s'établit dès la base des réseaux alimentaires. Ces résultats indiquent un rôle important joué par la dynamique du plancton dans le contenu en MeHg du zooplanction et, en fin de compte, dans la bioconcentration de MeHg chez les prédate...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Phytoplankton Biomass Suspended Particulate Material and Zmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of plankton mercury dynamics and trophic pathways on mercury concentrations of top predator fish of a mining-impacted reservoir

Stewart

Saiki

Kuwabara

et al. 2008

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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“…The primary source of mercury to Camp Far West Reservoir is suspected to be transport of contaminated sediments from upstream reaches of the Bear River, especially during high-flow events (Kuwabara et al 2003;Alpers et al 2008). Historically, hundreds of gold mining operations occurred in the Bear River watershed upstream from the reservoir, each contributing to mercury loss during the gold-recovery process.…”

Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specific objectives were as follows: (1) determine if mercury concentrations varied spatially and temporally in selected fish species and (2) determine if mercury concentrations exceeded toxic threshold levels or related criteria for piscivorous fish and wildlife, and human consumers. The results were also intended to contribute towards a multidisciplinary federal investigation of mercury uptake and cycling within the reservoir, and help to identify mercury "hot spots" in the Bear-Yuba river watersheds for possible future remedial action (e.g., Kuwabara et al 2003;Alpers et al 2008;Stewart et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury concentrations in fish from a Sierra Nevada foothill reservoir located downstream from historic gold-mining operations

Saiki

Martin

May

et al. 2009

Environ Monit Assess

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Forecasting fish biomasses, densities, productions, and bioaccumulation potentials of mid‐atlantic wadeable streams

Barber

Rashleigh

Cyterski

2015

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Regional fishery conditions of Mid-Atlantic wadeable streams in the eastern United States are estimated using the Bioaccumulation and Aquatic System Simulator (BASS) bioaccumulation and fish community model and data collected by the US Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). Average annual biomasses and population densities and annual productions are estimated for 352 randomly selected streams. Realized bioaccumulation factors (BAF) and biomagnification factors (BMF), which are dependent on these forecasted biomasses, population densities, and productions, are also estimated by assuming constant water exposures to methylmercury and tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorinated biphenyls. Using observed biomasses, observed densities, and estimated annual productions of total fish from 3 regions assumed to support healthy fisheries as benchmarks (eastern Tennessee and Catskill Mountain trout streams and Ozark Mountains smallmouth bass streams), 58% of the region's wadeable streams are estimated to be in marginal or poor condition (i.e., not healthy). Using simulated BAFs and EMAP Hg fish concentrations, we also estimate that approximately 24% of the game fish and subsistence fishing species that are found in streams having detectable Hg concentrations would exceed an acceptable human consumption criterion of 0.185 μg/g wet wt. Importantly, such streams have been estimated to represent 78.2% to 84.4% of the Mid-Atlantic's wadeable stream lengths. Our results demonstrate how a dynamic simulation model can support regional assessment and trends analysis for fisheries.

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Environmental factors affecting mercury in Camp Far West Reservoir, California, 2001-03

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Influence of plankton mercury dynamics and trophic pathways on mercury concentrations of top predator fish of a mining-impacted reservoir

Influence of plankton mercury dynamics and trophic pathways on mercury concentrations of top predator fish of a mining-impacted reservoir

Mercury concentrations in fish from a Sierra Nevada foothill reservoir located downstream from historic gold-mining operations

Forecasting fish biomasses, densities, productions, and bioaccumulation potentials of mid‐atlantic wadeable streams

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