Geochemistry of surface water in alpine catchments in central Colorado, USA: Resolving host-rock effects at different spatial scales

Wanty, Richard B.; Verplanck, Philip L.; Juan, Carma A. San; Church, Stanley E.; Schmidt, Travis S.; Fey, D.L.; DeWitt, Ed; Klein, Terry L.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.12.012

Cited by 32 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The primary output of the BLM (concentration of metal at which 50% mortality occurs) is not ecologically meaningful, because it does not describe possible consequences to higher levels of biological organization (e.g., populations, communities, ecosystems) [20]. Neither does the model predict the effects of metal mixtures on aquatic communities, a situation more common in areas influenced by acid rock drainage [1,2]. If the BLM is to be employed to set site-specific waterquality criteria protective of aquatic communities, it should be capable of predicting the responses of natural populations and communities in streams [21].…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Commensurate with these changes in landscape characteristics are changes in the concentrations of major cations, anions, and DOC that alter the bioavailability of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems [2,15,16]. Regional-scale biological assessments of trace-metal contamination would benefit from a model that incorporates site-specific variation in aqueous chemistry to more precisely approximate the bioavailable fraction of trace metals to aquatic organisms [17,18].…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Chem. 2010;29:2432-2442 Elevated concentrations of acid and trace metals in surface water draining mineralized and historically mined lithologies are common in Colorado, USA [1,2]. Exposure to elevated concentrations of trace metals adversely affects aquatic populations and communities [1].…”

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confidence: 99%

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Development of a new toxic‐unit model for the bioassessment of metals in streams

Schmidt

Clements

Mitchell

et al. 2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Two toxic-unit models that estimate the toxicity of trace-metal mixtures to benthic communities were compared. The chronic criterion accumulation ratio (CCAR), a modification of biotic ligand model (BLM) outputs for use as a toxic-unit model, accounts for the modifying and competitive influences of major cations (Ca²(+), Mg²(+), Na(+), K(+), H(+)), anions (HCO₃⁻, CO²⁻₃ ,SO²⁻₄, Cl⁻, S²⁻) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in determining the free metal ion available for accumulation on the biotic ligand. The cumulative criterion unit (CCU) model, an empirical statistical model of trace-metal toxicity, considers only the ameliorative properties of Ca²(+) and Mg²(+) (hardness) in determining the toxicity of total dissolved trace metals. Differences in the contribution of a metal (e.g., Cu, Cd, Zn) to toxic units as determined by CCAR or CCU were observed and attributed to how each model incorporates the influences of DOC, pH, and alkalinity. Akaike information criteria demonstrate that CCAR is an improved predictor of benthic macroinvertebrate community metrics as compared with CCU. Piecewise models depict great declines (thresholds) in benthic macroinvertebrate communities at CCAR of 1 or more, while negative changes in benthic communities were detected at a CCAR of less than 1. We observed a 7% reduction in total taxa richness and a 43% decrease in Heptageniid abundance between background (CCAR = 0.1) and the threshold of chronic toxicity on the basis of continuous chronic criteria (CCAR = 1). In this first application of the BLM as a toxic-unit model, we found it superior to CCU.

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Development of a new toxic‐unit model for the bioassessment of metals in streams

Schmidt

Clements

Mitchell

et al. 2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Spatially extensive surveys of streams in North America, Europe, New Zealand, and other regions have been used to identify regional reference conditions [40] and to classify watersheds based on landscape features [41]. We know from these studies that underlying geomorphological characteristics of a watershed determine local water quality [42] and contaminant bioavailability; however, we know relatively little about how these features will affect ecological responses to contaminants. In a regional assessment of geology, water quality, and macroinvertebrate communities in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Schmidt et al [43] showed that variation in the effects of metals among watersheds was likely a result of underlying geology.…”

Section: Effects Of Contaminantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do aquatic communities respond to contaminants? It depends on the ecological context

Clements

Hickey

Kidd

2012

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Recognizing patterns in nature and using these observations to generate and test hypotheses are fundamental components of scientific inquiry [1]. The science of ecotoxicology aims to identify patterns that describe population and community responses to contaminants. Our ability to predict these responses is generally greatest for communities that change consistently in response to a specific contaminant or class of contaminants, thereby providing a direct path to extrapolation, hypothesis testing, and scientific inference (see Predicting the Effects of Contaminants). Although evidence suggests that some communities respond similarly to both natural and anthropogenic stressors [2], we know that regional variation in how communities are composed as a result of environmental, historical, biogeographical, or climatic factors complicates our ability to identify general patterns. Several studies have reported that the effects of contaminants on populations and communities vary along environmental In This Issue: ET&C FOCUSFocus articles are part of a regular series intended to sharpen understanding of current and emerging topics of interest to the scientific community.Abstract-Context dependency refers to variation in ecological patterns and processes across environmental or spatiotemporal gradients. Research on context dependency in basic ecology has focused primarily on variation in the relative importance of species interactions (e.g., competition and predation) among communities. In this Focus article, the authors extend this concept to include variation in responses of communities to contaminants and other anthropogenic stressors. Because the structure of communities varies naturally along environmental gradients, their responses to contaminants may also vary. Similar to the way in which aquatic toxicologists assess abiotic factors associated with contaminant bioavailability, observations about context dependency could be used to test hypotheses about ecological mechanisms responsible for differences in sensitivity among communities. Environ. Toxicol.

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“…Empty spaces no data Sample locations are in Fig. 6 HDW hand dug well, BH borehole dissolution of minerals such as pyroxene, calcite, gypsum, anhydrite and dolomite (Wanty et al 2009). The sources of these minerals are associated with limestone, marl, dolerite and pyroclastic materials associated with the shale rocks in the study area.…”

Section: Physical Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrochemistry of surface water and groundwater in the shale bedrock, Cross River Basin and Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

et al. 2015

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Water chemistry in the shale bedrock of the Cretaceous-Tertiary of the Cross River and Niger Delta hydrological basins has been investigated using major ions. To carry out a characterization of the water bearing units, 30 and 16 representatives surface and groundwater samples were collected. The evolution of the water is characterized by enhanced content of sodium, calcium and sulphate as a result of leaching of shale rock. The spatial changes in groundwater quality of the area shows an anomalous concentrations of ions in the central parts, while lower values characterize the eastern part of the basin covering Ogoja, Ikom and Odukpani areas. The values of total dissolved solids (TDS) and ions increases down gradient in the direction of groundwater flow. The dissolution of halite and gypsum explains part of the contained Na ? , Ca 2? , Cl -and SO 4 2-, but other processes such as ion exchange, silicate weathering and pyrite oxidation also contribute to water composition. The assessment with contamination indicators such as TDS, hardness, chloride, nitrate and sulphate indicates that the water in area is suitable for human consumption in some locations. Modelling using MINTEQA2 program shows that the water from all the shale water bearing units are under saturated with respect to gypsum.

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Geochemistry of surface water in alpine catchments in central Colorado, USA: Resolving host-rock effects at different spatial scales

Cited by 32 publications

References 35 publications

Development of a new toxic‐unit model for the bioassessment of metals in streams

Development of a new toxic‐unit model for the bioassessment of metals in streams

How do aquatic communities respond to contaminants? It depends on the ecological context

Hydrochemistry of surface water and groundwater in the shale bedrock, Cross River Basin and Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

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