Presentation Abstract

Most research on the effects of copper (Cu) on marine ecosystems has focused on benthic organisms and Cu concentrations in the sediments. In contrast, little is known about the effects of dissolved copper (dCu) in pelagic food webs. In most marine waters, more than 99.9% of dCu is bound to organic ligands. These ligands diminish dCu toxicity to aquatic organisms by lowering the concentrations of inorganic dCu, the most bioavailable species of Cu. For the past year, we have studied seasonal trends of dCu concentrations in the Strait of Georgia and have measured and characterized its speciation in seawater. Measurements taken in 2016 ranged from 5.4 to 23.3nM dCu, which are comparable to those found in San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound. Additionally, the highest concentrations were measured when the Fraser River flow rates were the fastest. Dissolved Cu levels were highest in the surface layer (0-50m), followed by the deep layer (200m to the bottom), with the lowest levels occurring in the intermediate waters. The concentrations in the intermediate layer coincide with those in the incoming low dCu- waters from the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, using 64Cu as a radiotracer, we have measured uptake rates of Cu, from the dissolved and the particulate fractions, by local calanoid copepods exposed to in situ Cu levels. Our data show that copepods can easily accumulate Cu from the dissolved phase. This research provides much-needed information on dissolved Cu in a region historically known to harbor smelting and mining activities, and currently active maritime trade.

Session Title

Posters: Fate, Transport, & Toxicity of Chemicals

Keywords

Strait of Georgia, copper, Trace metals

Conference Track

SSE18: Posters

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)

Document Type

Event

SSEC Identifier

SSE18-59

Start Date

5-4-2018 11:30 AM

End Date

5-4-2018 1:30 PM

Type of Presentation

Poster

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters

Contributing Repository

Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Copper--Dissolution--Georgia, Strait of (B.C. and Wash.); Trace elements--Environmental aspects--Georgia, Strait of (B.C. and Wash.); Copepoda--Georgia, Strait (B.C. and Wash.)

Geographic Coverage

Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Georgia, Strait of (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

Share

COinS
 
Apr 5th, 11:30 AM Apr 5th, 1:30 PM

Dissolved Cu concentrations in the Strait of Georgia: trends, speciation, and accumulation by local calanoid copepods

Most research on the effects of copper (Cu) on marine ecosystems has focused on benthic organisms and Cu concentrations in the sediments. In contrast, little is known about the effects of dissolved copper (dCu) in pelagic food webs. In most marine waters, more than 99.9% of dCu is bound to organic ligands. These ligands diminish dCu toxicity to aquatic organisms by lowering the concentrations of inorganic dCu, the most bioavailable species of Cu. For the past year, we have studied seasonal trends of dCu concentrations in the Strait of Georgia and have measured and characterized its speciation in seawater. Measurements taken in 2016 ranged from 5.4 to 23.3nM dCu, which are comparable to those found in San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound. Additionally, the highest concentrations were measured when the Fraser River flow rates were the fastest. Dissolved Cu levels were highest in the surface layer (0-50m), followed by the deep layer (200m to the bottom), with the lowest levels occurring in the intermediate waters. The concentrations in the intermediate layer coincide with those in the incoming low dCu- waters from the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, using 64Cu as a radiotracer, we have measured uptake rates of Cu, from the dissolved and the particulate fractions, by local calanoid copepods exposed to in situ Cu levels. Our data show that copepods can easily accumulate Cu from the dissolved phase. This research provides much-needed information on dissolved Cu in a region historically known to harbor smelting and mining activities, and currently active maritime trade.