(PW279) Recent advances (2000-2004) in the use of field-based artificial stream systems to assess the effects of pulp and paper and metal mine effluents on Canadian waters.
Dube, M.1, MacLatchy, D.2, Rickwood, C.1, 3, Hruska, K.1, 3, Glozier, N.4, Culp, J.5, Cash, K.4, 1 National Water Research Institute, Saskatoon, SK, Canada2 University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, Canada3 University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada4 Environment Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada5 National Water Research Institute, Fredericton, NB, Canada
ABSTRACT- Artificial stream systems have been developed in Canada for over a decade to assess the effects of complex effluents (e.g., pulp and paper, metal mining, municipal sewage) on benthic invertebrate communities and fish populations. Since 1990, field-based studies have been conducted on at least 20 occasions in 4 Canadian provinces in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments. Studies have been conducted on single benthic invertebrate populations (e.g., mayflies, chironomids), benthic invertebrate communities, and using 7 different small-bodied fish species including juvenile Atlantic salmon, mummichog, fathead minnow, longnose dace, pearl dace, and creek chub. These research efforts have resulted in the acceptance of artificial stream systems as alternative approaches to use in different phases of the legislated Canadian Environmental Effects Monitoring Program. A brief synopsis of these studies will be presented showing the progression of system development over the past decade. Up until 2002, fish studies in the artificial stream systems focused exclusively on the effects of effluents on endpoints such as survival, gonad size, liver size, reproductive hormone levels, and growth after a 30-60 day exposure period. Benthic invertebrate studies examined changes in community structure in exposure streams relative to reference streams after a typical 30 d exposure. In an effort to develop a better understanding of reproductive effects, a significant effort has been made since 2002 developing the systems to assess lifecycle and partial lifecycle endpoints in both a benthic invertebrate (Chironomus tentans) and the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) after exposure to pulp mill and metal mining effluents in the field. These recent advancements will be shown using case studies from a metal mine in Sudbury, ON, Canada and a pulp mill in Terrace Bay, ON, Canada.
Key words: pulp mill effluent, artificial streams, metal mine effluent, environmental effects monitoring