Donald S. Cherry

An integrative assessment of a watershed impacted by abandoned mined land discharges.

The Ely Creek watershed in Lee County, VA, USA, contains an abundance of abandoned mined land areas with acid mine drainage (AMD) that contaminate the majority of the creek and its confluence into Stone Creek. Acidic pH measurements ranged from 2.73 to 5.2 at several stations throughout the watershed. Sediments had high concentrations of iron (approximately 10,000 mg kg-1), aluminum (approximately 1,500 mg kg-1), magnesium (approximately 400 mg kg-1) and manganese (approximately 150 mg kg-1), and habitat was partially to non-supporting at half of the stations due to sedimentation. Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys at six of 20 stations sampled in the watershed yielded no macroinvertebrates, while eight others had total abundances of only one to nine organisms. Four reference stations contained > or = 100 organisms and at least 13 different taxa. Asian clam in situ toxicity testing supported field survey results. Laboratory, 10-day survival/impairment sediments tests with Daphnia magna and Chironomus tentans and 48-h water column bioassays with Ceriodaphnia dubia indicated environmental stress to a lesser degree. Ten parameters that were directly influenced by AMD through physical, chemical, ecological and toxicological endpoints were assimilated into an ecotoxicological rating (ETR) to form a score of 0-100 points for the 20 sampling stations, and the lower the score the greater the AMD stress. Twelve of the 15 sampling stations influenced by AMD received an ETR score of 13.75-57.5, which were categorized as severely stressed (i.e. comprised the < 60 percentile category) and worthy of the highest priority for future ecological restoration activities in the watershed.

Algal-periphyton population and community changes from zinc stress in stream mesocosms

Three treatments of zinc (0.05, 0.5, 1.0 mg Zn l−1) and a control could be identified by different algal communities in outdoor, flow-through, stream mesocosms. Established communities were continuously exposed to Zn, and samples were collected on days 0, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 after treatment began. Experiments were conducted in spring, summer, and fall 1984. Control stream mesocosms could be identified by diatoms in all seasons. The 0.05 mg Zn l−1 treatment could be identified by certain diatom taxa being more abundant than in the control in all seasons and by a filamentous green alga in summer and fall. The 0.5 mg Zn l−1 treatment could be identified by a filamentous green alga in fall. The 1.0 mg Zn l−1 treatment was dominated by unicellular green algae in all seasons and by a filamentous blue-green alga in summer. A similarity index (SIMI) indicated that Zn-stressed samples generally became less similar to control samples as Zn concentration increased from 0.05 to 1.0 mg Zn l−1. Total biovolume-density of all taxa responded slower than individual taxa in spring and failed to distinguish between Zn treatments in summer and fall. Zinc bound to periphyton was much better than total Zn in water for identifying Zn treatments. Zinc treatments as low as 0.05 mg Zn l−1 changed algal species composition despite 0.047 mg Zn l−1 being the Criterion of the US Environmental Protection Agency for the 24-h average of total recoverable Zn.

The influence of substrate, pH, diet and temperature upon cadmium accumulation in the asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) in laboratory artificial streams

The influence of substrate, pH, diet and temperature upon the accumulation of cadmium (0.05 mg l−1 dose < 0.001 mg l−1 control) in the visceral mass of the Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea was studied in laboratory artificial stream systems at intervals of 0, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14-day exposures. Four substrate conditions, sand; sand, silt and clay (SSC); sand, clay and organic matter (SCO); and no substrate (NoS), were considered. The greatest tissue accumulation of cadmium in C. fluminea occurred at 0.05 mg l−1 Cd in NoS and the lowest in clams occupying SCO. Complexation of available metals, lower clam filtering rates and physical protection by the substrate were attributed to the depressed cadmium accumulation of clams exposed in the SCO substrate. Lower pH exposures (5.0 vs 7.8) significantly (P ⩾ 0.05 level) reduced cadmium uptake at 21°C but had little effect at 9°C. Uptake was higher in clams fed with cadmium-exposed Chlamydomonas reinhardt at 21°C but not at 9°C. In temperature exposures alone at 0.05 mg l−1 Cd, accumulation was significantly higher in C. fluminea exposed at 21°C than at 9°C. The results are discussed relative to the importance of standardized laboratory protocol and the use of C. fluminea as a bioindicator of heavy metal stress.

Valve closure responses of the Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea exposed to cadmium and zinc

The valve movement patterns of immobilized Asiatic clams (Corbicula fluminea) were monitored during exposure to constant concentrations of cadmium (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg 1−1) or zinc (0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.9 mg 1−1) for 24 h following a 24-h acclimation period. Data indicate that the duration of response was concentration dependent and toxicity related. Durations of periods with valves parted declined as the concentration of heavy metal increased. Behavior was consistent for both mean time to first closure following the initial exposure and mean time per valve parting episode over a 24-h exposure period. Mean time per valve parting episode during the 24-h exposure period ranged from ≃ 600 minutes for control trials to 36 and 69 minutes for the highest concentrations of cadmium and zinc tested, respectively. There was no association between durations of periods with valves sealed and solutions of cadmium; however, lengthening durations of periods with valves sealed coincided with exposure of clams to progressively more concentrated zinc solutions. In addition, Asiatic clams demonstrated a greater rate of response (decline in the duration of periods with valves parted) to progressively more concentrated solutions of cadmium than to comparable increases in the concentrations of zinc solutions.

Heavy metal indicator potential of the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) in artificial stream systems

The potential of the Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea, as a bioindicator of cadmium, copper, and zinc was studied during 28-day exposures in field artificial streams receiving river water on a once-through basis. Copper, at aquatic concentrations of 0.016 and 0.057 mg l-1, showed the greatest degree of tissue uptake and had bioconcentration factors (BCF) of 22 571 and 17 720, respectively. A significant correlation (coefficient = 0.639) was observed between water concentration and tissue accumulation. Cadmium was intermediate relative to BCF (3 770 and 1 752 at aquatic exposures of 0.023 and 0.055 mg l-1, respectively), and had a correlation coefficient of 0.758. Zinc had the lowest potential for concentration (631, 358, and 511 BCF at 0.218, 0.433, and 0.835 mg l-1, respectively) with a correlation coefficient of 0.478. The rate of accumulation in Corbicula reached a maximum after 11 days for cadmium while a steady state condition for copper was not observed in 28 days. Zinc accumulation, like copper, showed a relative increase throughout the 28-day exposure period. Data from this study show that the Asiatic clam may be a reliable indicator of uptake for exposure to selected heavy metals.

Potential effects of Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) die-offs on native freshwater mussels (Unionidae) I: water-column ammonia levels and ammonia toxicity

Abstract The Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) co-occurs with unionid mussels in many riverine ecosystems. Clam populations can reach high densities and may undergo rapid die-offs, particularly during the low flow and warm temperatures of summer drought. Our study objective was to determine whether ammonia produced by decaying clam tissues during die-offs could affect unionid mussels. We induced C. fluminea die-offs in artificial streams to simulate die-off effects in natural habitats, and measured total and unionized ammonia (NH3-N) and dissolved oxygen (DO) in the overlying water. When water flow was stopped, reductions in DO preceded the onset of mortality in streams having the highest density of clams (∼10,000 clams/m2). NH3-N concentrations in the overlying water increased in association with clam mortality and reached concentrations of up to 5.04 mg/L at 26 ± 2°C. Temperature significantly influenced the rate of DO reduction and NH3-N production in the systems, while resumption of water flow led to rapid dissipation of NH3-N from the water column. We also conducted laboratory experiments to determine median lethal concentrations (LC50s) of total ammonia and NH3-N for glochidia and juveniles of the unionid mussel Villosa iris, adults of the unionid Pyganodon grandis, and juveniles and adults of C. fluminea. The 96-h LC50s (24-h for V. iris glochidia) for NH3-N ranged from 0.11 mg/L for V. iris glochidia to 0.8 mg/L for adult C. fluminea, indicating that NH3-N levels produced by Asian clam die-offs have the potential to exceed acute effects levels for at least some species of unionid mussels.

Sensitivity of juvenile freshwater mussels (Lampsilis fasciola, Villosa iris) to total and un‐ionized ammonia

This study evaluated the sensitivity of juveniles of two freshwater unionid mussel species (Villosa iris [Lea] and Lampsilis fasciola [Rafinesquel) to un-ionized and total ammonia. Five concentrations of ammonium chloride were tested using 96-h static-renewal toxicity tests at 12 and 20 degrees C. Based on their respective mean 96-h lethal concentration to 50% (LC50s), V. iris (0.11 mg/ L NH3-N) was more sensitive than L. fasciola (0.26 mg/L NH3-N). At 96 h, significant differences in sensitivity to un-ionized ammonia between the two temperatures were not observed for either species. Comparison of LC50s reported for other aquatic organisms to the 96-h LC50s calculated for juvenile L. fasciola and V. iris shows these two mussel species to be among the most sensitive to un-ionized ammonia. Based on reported levels of un-ionized ammonia in the aquatic environment from anthropogenic sources, un-ionized ammonia may be an important limiting toxicological factor to freshwater mussel populations.

Isolation and characterization of hepatic metallothionein from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri).

1. A low molecular weight (7,700) Zn- and Cu-containing protein was isolated from the livers of Zn-injected rainbow trout by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Purity of the isolated protein was assessed by native and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. 2. The purified protein was positively identified as a metallothionein on the basis of its molecular size, high metal content (3.6 g atoms Zn and 2.6 g atoms Cu per mole; 5.2% metal), heat stability, u.v. absorption spectrum, charge and amino acid composition (25% cysteine, no histidine and tryptophan, and trace tyrosine and phenylalanine). 3. The relatively high Cu content of this protein was unexpected and may be attributed to the presence of high levels of Cu, as Cu-thionein, in the livers of non-injected fish. 4. The comparative differences in the metal content of hepatic MT in trout and other animals are discussed.

Tolerance of the Asiatic clam Corbicula spp. to lethal level of toxic stressors-a review.

Studies assessing the tolerance of the Asiatic clam, Corbicula spp., to a variety of chemical, environmental, and physical stressors are summarised and reviewed. A majority of the studies were conducted (1) in the laboratory, (2) with juvenile and adult stages and (3) with only one stressor per treatment. Trends in the data demonstrate that (1) equivalent median lethal concentrations were generated in studies using both static and flow-through techniques; (2) substantial increases in the levels of mortality among treated clams were obtained by extending exposure durations; (3) incorporation of recovery periods into experimental designs permitted the development of latent mortalities among treated clams; (4) tolerance among larvae was stage dependent while tolerance among adults was not; (5) higher levels of mortality were obtained when tests were conducted at higher temperatures; and (6) testing in the presence of substrate resulted in a decrease in the levels of mortality among treated clams. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to efforts to mitigate the fouling effects of Asiatic clams in industrial cooling water systems by exposure to toxic chemicals.

Biological monitoring part V—Preference and avoidance studies

Abstract Although the literature on preference and avoidance and other types of fish behavior (and to lesser extent of other aquatic organisms) is abundant, little industrial and regulatory interest in this subject is apparent. Two factors could change this situation: (a) An extention of U.S. legislation (and that of other countries) of Section 316 of U.S. Public Law 92-500 from heated wastewaters discharges to include chemicals. Essentially, such legislation provided for obtaining variances to state and federal legislation on the basis of site-specific evidence that no harm will result to the indigenous biota. In short, permission to make fuller use of the nondegrading natural assimilative capacity for industrial wastes would depend on the acquisition of a substantial information base at a particular locale. We have found temperature preference-avoidance and other behavior studies to be essential to the implementation of Section 316 (a) of Public Law 92-500. (b) Greater attention is paid to mixing zones. This term is used in the biological sense of an area in violation of existing standards for the protection of aquatic organisms. If the standards are not met at the point of discharge and a mixing zone is permitted, it would be helpful to show that zones of passage for migratory fish have not been disrupted and that organisms would not be attracted into lethal concentrations of toxic materials and that they would, in fact, avoid these consequences.