PW10 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Wednesday
(PW183) Great Blue Heron at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge: Exposure and effects of PCBs.
Straub, C1, Lydy, M1, Halbrook, R1, 1 Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, United States
ABSTRACT- Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (CONWR) is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and is located in southern Illinois. It is used as a refuge, and for munitions manufacture, recreation, agriculture, and industrial activities. Previous industrial use resulted in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination. In 1987, CONWR was placed on the National Priorities List, and the 1990 Record of Decision provided for remediation of PCBs by excavation and incineration of soils and sediments; however, sediments at the east end of Crab Orchard Lake (COL) remain contaminated (Aroclor 1254 ranged between 15 – 690 ppb) and remediation is ongoing. It is important to determine if there is continued risk to wildlife at CONWR resulting from exposure to these PCB contaminated sediments. The objective of the current study included evaluating two great blue heron (Ardea herodias) rookeries, located near COL, to determine accumulation and reproductive effects of PCBs. One colony is located at the east end of the lake, near areas where elevated concentrations of PCBs have been reported in sediment and fish. The other colony is located on the west end of the lake and is not thought to be exposed to PCBs. The number of eggs laid and the number of chicks hatched were recorded to determine reproductive success. A significant difference (P≤0.05) in reproductive success between the rookeries was determined. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were found to be the dominant fish species consumed by heron. PCB concentrations and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity were measured in heron from both rookeries and from collected gizzard shad.
Key words: great blue heron Ardea herodias, Polychlorinated biphenyls