The American Dipper as a Bioindicator of Selenium Contamination in a Coal Mine-Affected Stream in West-Central Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Elevated levels of selenium have been found in water and aquatic biota downstream from two open-pit coal mines in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta. Birds are particularly sensitive to excessive dietary selenium. However, there is relatively little information on selenium accumulation in birds' eggs on fast-flowing mountain streams. We determined levels of selenium in water samples, caddisfly larvae and eggs of American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) nesting on the Gregg River, downstream from the mines, and on reference streams in the same general vicinity. Selenium levels (mean, 95% confidence limits) in water samples and caddisflies collected from sites near dipper nests on the Gregg River (water: 4.26, 1.90-9.56 microg L(-1); caddisflies: 8.43, 7.51-9.46 microg g dry wt(-1)) were greater than those collected from sites near nests on reference rivers (water: 0.38, 0.21-0.71 microg L(-1); caddisflies: 4.65, 4.35-4.97 microg g dry wt(-1)). The mean (+/- 1SE) selenium level in dipper eggs from the Gregg River (6.3 +/- 0.2 microg g(-1) dry wt) was significantly higher than it was in eggs from reference streams (4.9 +/- 0.2 microg g(-1) dry wt). Concentrations of selenium in eggs were significantly correlated with those in water samples (r = 0.45). The maximum selenium level in eggs from the Gregg River (9.0 microg g(-1)) may have been high enough to warrant concern from an ecotoxicological perspective. The American dipper can serve as a useful bioindicator of selenium contamination in mountainous, lotic ecosystems.

Mercury concentrations in tidal marsh sparrows and their use as bioindicators in Delaware Bay, USA

“…Contaminant burdens in birds are presently being used worldwide as ecological endpoints to inventory and monitor contaminants in many ecosystems. For example, American Dippers (Cinclus mexicanus), an aquatic bird that occurs on fast-flowing streams of NW North America (Kingery 1996), has been proposed as a bioindicator of selenium levels in coal mineaffected streams (Wayland et al 2006) and the closely related Eurasian dipper (Cinclus cinclus) has been used as an indicator of stream quality in Europe for many years (O'Halloran et al 2003;Tyler 1987, 1990). Also, the Red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), a grassland bird dependent on soil invertebrates, has been proposed as a species that could be used as a bioindicator of soil condition (Bignal and Curtis 1989), specifically the extent of bacterial resistance to antibiotics related to agricultural manuring in Spain (Blanco et al 2009).…”

Realizing Beneficial End Uses from Abandoned Pit Lakes

“…Lower nutrient status often limits primary production and thus fishery food availability [43,44]. Conversely, generally good water quality that contains elevated COPC that may biomagnify may actually present a risk to end users, including higher orders of consumers such as birds and mammals, reptiles [45][46][47][48], and human game fishers and hunters [49,50].…”

Selenite Stable Isotope Fractionation during Abiotic Reduction by Sodium Sulfide

“…The release of selenium (Se) into the environment from anthropogenic activities, such as coal mining and agriculture, can result in negative health effects for fish, amphibians, waterfowl, mammals, and reptiles. − Potential consequences can include lower birth rates, delayed growth, mutations, kidney damage, and mortality for both wild and domestic animals . Although Se is a micronutrient at low concentrations for humans (40–400 μg/day), consuming plants or animals with elevated Se levels can lead to selenosis. , Symptoms of selenosis can include hair and finger-nail loss, mood disorders, heart problems, and at high dosages, death. − The distribution and occurrence of both elevated natural Se in soils and Se contaminated sites has garnered growing international attention.…”