Mussel Watch Pilot Expansion: an active biomonitoring effort to assess contaminants in the nearshore ecosystems of the Salish Sea
Presentation Abstract
Toxic substances enter Puget Sound from a variety of pathways. Although chemical contaminants in Puget Sound sediments and some biota are monitored on a regular basis, the condition of contaminants in nearshore biota has long been recognized as a monitoring gap. In 2012-13 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the help of partners and citizen science volunteers, conducted the first synoptic, Sound-wide assessment of toxic contaminants in nearshore biota. In this study we transplanted native mussels (Mytilus trossulus) from an aquaculture source to 108 shoreline locations along the Salish Sea. Monitoring sites were selected to represent a range of upland land-use types, with percent impervious surfaces (IS%) in adjacent upland watershed units used as a proxy for urban development. The mussels were left on-site for two months and were retrieved in January, 2013. Mussel mortality increased with IS% in adjacent watersheds. There was a significant positive relationship between the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mussels and IS%, with order of magnitude increases in areas of high urbanization (e.g. Elliott Bay, Commencement Bay). In addition, high levels of PAHs were noted near ferry terminals (e.g. Eagle Harbor, Edmonds, and Anacortes). Other persistent organic contaminants (PCBs, PBDEs, DDTs) also showed significant positive relationships to areas of high IS%. Overall, metal concentrations in mussels were relatively low and did not vary greatly from baseline (starting) values. Four out of six metals tested were weakly correlated with IS%; copper, lead and zinc were elevated in areas with relatively high IS%, but mercury showed the opposite trend. These findings suggest toxic contaminants are entering the nearshore food web of the Salish Sea, especially along shorelines adjacent to highly urbanized areas. We recommend that Washington State develop a long-term, regional, nearshore contaminant monitoring program that uses caged mussels as a sentinel species and engages citizen science volunteers to help with monitoring.
Session Title
Session S-02B: Toxics in the Nearshore
Conference Track
Toxics
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
30-4-2014 1:30 PM
End Date
30-4-2014 3:00 PM
Location
Room 608-609
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Mussels--Washington (State)--Salish Sea--Observations; Water--Pollution--Washington (State)--Salish Sea
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Mussel Watch Pilot Expansion: an active biomonitoring effort to assess contaminants in the nearshore ecosystems of the Salish Sea
Room 608-609
Toxic substances enter Puget Sound from a variety of pathways. Although chemical contaminants in Puget Sound sediments and some biota are monitored on a regular basis, the condition of contaminants in nearshore biota has long been recognized as a monitoring gap. In 2012-13 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the help of partners and citizen science volunteers, conducted the first synoptic, Sound-wide assessment of toxic contaminants in nearshore biota. In this study we transplanted native mussels (Mytilus trossulus) from an aquaculture source to 108 shoreline locations along the Salish Sea. Monitoring sites were selected to represent a range of upland land-use types, with percent impervious surfaces (IS%) in adjacent upland watershed units used as a proxy for urban development. The mussels were left on-site for two months and were retrieved in January, 2013. Mussel mortality increased with IS% in adjacent watersheds. There was a significant positive relationship between the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mussels and IS%, with order of magnitude increases in areas of high urbanization (e.g. Elliott Bay, Commencement Bay). In addition, high levels of PAHs were noted near ferry terminals (e.g. Eagle Harbor, Edmonds, and Anacortes). Other persistent organic contaminants (PCBs, PBDEs, DDTs) also showed significant positive relationships to areas of high IS%. Overall, metal concentrations in mussels were relatively low and did not vary greatly from baseline (starting) values. Four out of six metals tested were weakly correlated with IS%; copper, lead and zinc were elevated in areas with relatively high IS%, but mercury showed the opposite trend. These findings suggest toxic contaminants are entering the nearshore food web of the Salish Sea, especially along shorelines adjacent to highly urbanized areas. We recommend that Washington State develop a long-term, regional, nearshore contaminant monitoring program that uses caged mussels as a sentinel species and engages citizen science volunteers to help with monitoring.
