Bioaccumulation in aquatic- and riparian-feeding birds at the Kingston Ash Spill

Jesse Morris †

Elizabeth Burton †

Suzy Young ‡

Amber Stojak ‡

T. Hill Henry ¶

†Restoration Services Inc.; ‡ ARCADIS U.S., Inc.; ¶ Tennessee Valley Authority

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TVA Response to the Spill: Birds

Osprey nest

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Study Objectives

Determine whether trace elements are bioavailable to birds occupying different trophic levels/feeding ecologies

Compare observed concentrations to literature-derived values to assess potential exposure and effects to bird populations

Conceptual Exposure Model

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Study Design: Collection

Study Design: Processing

Kingston Fossil Plant

Canada GeeseSites = 6

n = 5 (2009)n = 25 (2010)n = 23 (2011)

OspreySites = 10

n = 9 (2009)n = 10 (2010)

HeronSites = 2

n = 10 (2009)n = 13 (2010)n = 20 (2011)

Sample Locations

Results

Osprey and goose eggs: Preliminary analysis of 2009 and 2010 data

Heron eggs: In depth modeling of all trace elements and biometrics for 2009 and 2010

2011 data

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Great Blue Heron Eggs

15 of 26 trace elements not detected

No significant biometrics

Barium

Calcium

Copper

Magnesium

Manganese

Mercury

Potassium

Selenium

Sodium

Strontium

Zinc

11 trace elements detected:

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Selenium Toxicity in Birds

From: Skorupa & Ohlendorf, 1991. Contaminants in drainage water and avian risk thresholds. Pp 345-386 In:The economics and management of water and drainage in agriculture (Dinar & Ziberman, eds).

http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/pp1655/pp1655_v1.1.pdf

Selenium and Hatchability Mallard: 7.7-15 mg/kg

(Adams et al. 2003; Ohlendorf 2003, 2007; Beckon et al. 2008)

Black-necked-stilt: 6-7 mg/kg or 21-31 mg/kg (USDOI 1998, Adams et al. 2003)

Black-crowned night heron: 16.5 mg/kg (Smith et al. 1998)

American avocet: 60 mg/kg (USDOI 1998)

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Great Blue Heron EggsS

ele

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Eg

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(mg

/kg

dry

mass

)

Selenium

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5 --

4 --

3 --

2 --

Tukey-Kramer, Impacted 2010>Reference 2009 (p=0.0091)

2009 2010 2009 2010

Impacted Reference

Selenium

Osprey Eggs

T-test, Site (p=0.928)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Blue Heron Canada Goose Osprey

Re

fere

nce

Site

Re

fere

nce

Site

Re

fere

nce

Site

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Blue Heron Canada Goose Osprey

Refe

rence

Site

Refe

rence

Site

Refe

rence

Site

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E

gg

s(m

g/k

g d

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ass

)

Note: Includes 2009 and 2010 data.

Reference Impacted

Selenium

Canada Goose Eggs

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Reference Site

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(mg

/kg

dry

mass

)

Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney, Site (p<0.0001)

Reference

Note: Includes 2009 and 2010 data.

Impacted

Selenium

Discussion

Selenium concentrations Heron and goose eggs: Elevated

Osprey eggs: Similar between locations

Potential causes Difference in trophic level

and feeding ecology

Time lag

Many variables

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Path Forward

Analyze remaining osprey and goose data for other trace elements

Analyze 2011 data for heron and geese

Explore relationships with other studies

John H

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Additional Acknowledgements

Adam JohnsonTravis WallsMirtha Martin

Neil CarrikerWes JamesLori WhitehorseTransmission Crew

Jacqueline Iannuzzi Gina HouckTim NegleyCarolyn Meyer

Tom BockJason BrownDavid Greenberg

Dr. William Hopkins

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Harriman Utility Board

Questions?