Laboratory to field validation in an integrative assessment of an acid mine drainage–impacted watershed

Abstract

Abstract-An integrative assessment was conducted in the Puckett's Creek watershed of southwestern Virginia, USA, to investigate the environmental impacts of acid mine drainage (AMD) inputs. Twenty-one sampling stations were categorized into groups based on five degrees of AMD input: (1) none, (2) intermittent acidic/circum-neutral AMD, (3) continuous acidic AMD, (4) continuous circum-neutral AMD, and (5) receiving system stations with at least two levels of dilution. Bioassessment techniques included water/sediment chemistry, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, laboratory acute water column toxicity testing, laboratory chronic sediment toxicity testing, and in situ toxicity testing with Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea [Müller]). Group 3 stations had significantly altered water chemistry (low pH, high conductivity, and high water column metals) relative to the other groups and significantly higher sediment iron concentrations. Both group 3 and group 4 stations had significantly decreased ephemeropteraplecoptera-trichoptera richness and percent ephemeroptera abundance relative to unimpacted stations. Group 3 stations also had decreased total taxon richness. Water column toxicity testing was sensitive to AMD impacts, with samples from group 3 stations being significantly more toxic than those from groups 2 and 4, which in turn were more toxic than those from groups 1 and 5. Similar results were observed for in situ toxicity testing. No differences in sediment toxicity test survival and impairment results were observed among the station groups. Stepwise multiple linear regression and simple bivariate correlation analyses were used to select parameters for use in an ecotoxicologic rating system, which was successful in differentiating between two levels of environmental impact relative to stations receiving no AMD input.

SERDP SEED Project (CS-1161) Final Report: Feasibility Study: Lab-on-a-chip and In Situ Bioassay Techniques for Rapid Resolution of Ion Signatures for Disturbances of Biological Significance in Streams

“…While in situ bioassays can be used to obtain rapid predictive results at low cost, studies dealing with environmental damage have clearly demonstrated that the greatest degree of accuracy is obtained by use of multi-tiered or multidisciplinary studies that incorporate a combination of laboratory and field bioassays with field bioassessments (e.g., Cherry et al 2001;Crane et al 1995;Poirier and Surgeoner 1988;Pontasch et al 1989;Soucek et al 2000). Extensive studies clearly would be needed (and justified) for validating and further developing of our predictive approach.…”

Benthic Communities of Low-Order Streams Affected by Acid Mine Drainages: A Case Study from Central Europe

“…As has been shown by Gray and Delaney [23], the effects of low pH and high metal loads on aquatic invertebrate diversity may be similar, and they usually cannot be separated (but, see Soucek et al, Gerhardt et al [58,59]). Similar to the effect of acidity, streams contaminated by metals show reduced richness of many invertebrate groups (Appendix Table A1).…”

Ecological Recovery of the River Pelenna (South Wales) Following the Passive Treatment of Abandoned Mine Drainage

“…A reduction in the invertebrate taxonomic richness at sites impacted by minewaters has been found by Amisah and Cowx (2000), Malmqvist and Hoffsten (1999), Mori el al. (1999) andSoucek et. al.…”

“…Nelson and Roline (1996) also found that the number of taxa in the Ephemeroptera order increased following minewater treatment along with Plecoptera and Trichoptera. Ephemeroptera were identified as being intolerant to elevated metal concentrations by Malmqvist and Hoffsten (1999) and Soucek et al (2000). Leuctra spp.…”