Characterizing contaminants of emerging concern in Lake Sturgeon tissues and implications for management

Bellamy, Amber

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109852 Copy

Description

Title

Characterizing contaminants of emerging concern in Lake Sturgeon tissues and implications for management

Author(s)

Bellamy, Amber

Issue Date

2021-04-27

Keyword(s)

• emerging contaminants
• fish

Abstract

Presented by: Amber Bellamy – Fish and Wildlife Biologist at US Fish and Wildlife Service, amber_bellamy@fws.gov Co-authors: Jo Ann Banda, Dan Gefell, Viktoriya An, Zy Biesinger, James Boase, Justin Chiotti, Dimitry Gorsky, Timothy Robinson, Scott Schlueter, Jonah Withers, and Stephanie Hummel Abstract: Laboratory research indicates certain CECs have biological impacts on fish yet little is known about the potential for impacts from CECs in the environment to large, long-lived, or rare species such as lake sturgeon. The purpose of this study was to determine concentrations of CECs in lake sturgeon serum and gametes in order identify the potential for biological effects to sturgeon. Serum was collected non-lethally from lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) at four lower Great Lakes basin sites (Detroit, upper Niagara, lower Niagara, and St. Lawrence rivers) and gametes were collected in the St. Lawrence River for analyses of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as indices of CEC exposure. Overall, 44 different PPCPs were identified in serum and gamete samples, with differences observed in the presence and concentrations of PPCPs in serum across sites. Twenty-six PBDE congeners were identified in 25% of serum samples and 24 were identified in 25% of gamete samples. PBDEs were detected in all serum and gamete samples. Managers working on the recovery of lake sturgeon populations may need to consider the impacts of CECs in areas with increased inputs of PPCPs and PBDEs when identifying locations for rearing and reintroduction. Biography: B.S. in Environmental Science from Gardner-Webb University. Ph.D. in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology from Ohio State University (dissertation research focused identifying sources of organic matter supporting lower aquatic food webs using stable isotopes and radiocarbon). Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology prior to becoming a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Series/Report Name or Number

2021 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC21)

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Language

en

Permalink

• http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109852
• https://youtu.be/F7hT4BBpdpo

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