Mercury Residues and Productivity in Osprey and Grebes From a Mine‐dominated Ecosystem

Anderson, Daniel W.; Suchanek, Thomas H.; Eagles‐Smith, Collin A.; Cahill, Thomas M.

doi:10.1890/06-1837.1

Cited by 28 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…This conclusion resulted from both a refinement of the original methodology and site-specific data on fish tissue concentration relationships between trophic levels. In addition to these findings, MeHg concentrations that would be protective of Osprey, a common piscivorous bird species nesting and reproducing at Clear Lake (see Anderson et al 2008), were calculated at 0.10 mg/kg and 0.17 mg/kg for trophic level 3 and trophic level 4 fish, respectively. Based on these calculations, nearly all of the largemouth bass and channel catfish at Clear Lake would exceed tissue Hg concentrations that would be protective of Bald Eagles and Osprey (see Fig.…”

Section: Wildlife Health Criteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal Trends in Fish Mercury From a Mine‐dominated Ecosystem: Clear Lake, California

Suchanek

Eagles‐Smith

Slotton

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Clear Lake, California, USA, receives acid mine drainage and mercury (Hg) from the Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Superfund Site that was active intermittently from 1873 to 1957 and partially remediated in 1992. Mercury concentrations were analyzed primarily in four species of Clear Lake fishes: inland silversides (Menidia beryllina, planktivore), common carp (Cyprinus carpio, benthic scavenger/omnivore), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, benthic omnivorous predator), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, piscivorous top predator). These data represent one of the largest fish Hg data sets for a single site, especially in California.Spatially, total Hg (TotHg) in silversides and bass declined with distance from the mine, indicating that the mine site represents a point source for Hg loading to Clear Lake. Temporally, fish Hg has not declined significantly over 12 years since mine site remediation. Mercury concentrations were variable throughout the study period, with no monotonic trends of increase or decrease, except those correlated with boom and bust cycles of an introduced fish, threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense). However, stochastic events such as storms also influence juvenile largemouth bass Hg as evidenced during an acid mine drainage overflow event in 1995.Compared to other sites regionally and nationally, most fish in Clear Lake exhibit Hg concentrations similar to other Hg-contaminated sites, up to ;2.0 mg/kg wet mass (WM) TotHg in largemouth bass. However, even these elevated concentrations are less than would be anticipated from such high inorganic Hg loading to the lake. Mercury in some Clear Lake largemouth bass exceeded all human health fish consumption guidelines established over the past 25 years by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (1.0 mg/kg WM), the National Academy of Sciences (0.5 mg/kg WM), and the U.S. EPA (0.3 mg/kg WM). Mercury in higher trophic level fishes exceeds ecotoxicological risk assessment estimates for concentrations that would be safe for wildlife, specifically the nonlisted Common Merganser and the recently delisted Bald Eagle.Fish populations of 11 out of 18 species surveyed exhibited a significant decrease in abundance with increasing proximity to the mine; this decrease is correlated with increasing water and sediment Hg. These trends may be related to Hg or other lake-wide gradients such as distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation.

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Section: Wildlife Health Criteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal Trends in Fish Mercury From a Mine‐dominated Ecosystem: Clear Lake, California

Suchanek

Eagles‐Smith

Slotton

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

Self Cite

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“…This study provides the linkage between MeHg entry at the base of the food web, through accumulation in higher trophic level fishes and piscivorous birds (Anderson et al 2008). It also provides a foundation for understanding the relative importance of both foraging habitat and trophic position in the transfer of Hg through successive trophic levels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Mercury Trophic Transfer in a Eutrophic Lake: The Importance of Habitat‐specific Foraging

Eagles‐Smith

Suchanek

Colwell

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Mercury (Hg) trophic transfer and bioaccumulation in fish from a mineimpacted, eutrophic lake were examined in relation to foraging habitat, trophic position, and size. Diet analysis indicated that there were clear ontogenetic shifts in foraging habitats and trophic position. Pelagic diet decreased and benthic diet increased with increasing fish length in bluegill, black crappie, inland silverside, and largemouth bass, whereas there was no shift for prickly sculpin or threadfin shad. Stable carbon isotope values (d 13 C) were inversely related to the proportion of pelagic prey items in the diet, but there was no clear relationship with benthic foraging. There were distinct differences between pelagic and benthic prey basal d13 C values, with a range of approximately À28ø in pelagic zooplankton to approximately À20ø in benthic caddisflies. Profundal prey such as chironomid larvae had intermediate d13 C values of approximately À24ø, reflecting the influence of pelagic detrital subsidies and suppressing the propagation of the benthic carbon isotope signal up the food chain. Fish total mercury (TotHg) concentrations varied with habitat-specific foraging, trophic position, and size; however, the relationships differed among species and ages. When controlling for the effects of species, length, and trophic position, TotHg and d 13 C were positively correlated, indicating that Hg trophic transfer is linked to benthic foraging. When examined on a species-specific basis, TotHg was positively correlated with d 13 C only for bluegill, largemouth bass, and threadfin shad. However, diet-based multiple regression analyses suggested that TotHg also increased with benthic foraging for inland silverside and black crappie. In both species, benthic prey items were dominated by chironomid larvae, explaining the discrepancy with d 13 C. These results illustrate the importance of foraging habitat to Hg bioaccumulation and indicate that pelagic carbon can strongly subsidize the basal energy sources of benthic organisms.

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“…In 1992, Hg residues in grebes at Clear Lake were elevated relative to those at two comparison sites in northeastern California (Eagle Lake and Tule Lake) and were approaching approximate threshold levels for reproductive effects in birds. Still, there were no discernible population-level effects of Hg measured in adult grebes during intensive studies from 1992 to 2001 (and at least through 2006;Anderson et al 2008). Improved nesting success of grebes was not attributable to mine site remediation and declining Hg residues (exposure) but rather to protection of colonies from major disturbance events.…”

Section: Mercurymentioning

confidence: 90%

Wintering ecology of sympatric subspecies of Sandhill Crane: Correlations between body size, site fidelity, and movement patterns

et al. 2015

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Mercury Residues and Productivity in Osprey and Grebes From a Mine‐dominated Ecosystem

Cited by 28 publications

References 46 publications

Spatiotemporal Trends in Fish Mercury From a Mine‐dominated Ecosystem: Clear Lake, California

Spatiotemporal Trends in Fish Mercury From a Mine‐dominated Ecosystem: Clear Lake, California

Mercury Trophic Transfer in a Eutrophic Lake: The Importance of Habitat‐specific Foraging

Wintering ecology of sympatric subspecies of Sandhill Crane: Correlations between body size, site fidelity, and movement patterns

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