Nutrient and hydrologic budgets of a great lakes coastal freshwater wetland during a drought year

A coastal wetland along Lake Erie (Ohio, U.S.A.) was studied to determine hydrologic and phosphorus budgets and spatial and temporal variation of phosphorus and related chemical parameters. The wetland was influenced by changing Lake Erie water levels, seiches, shifting shoreline sediments, and watershed inflow during a year of severe drought. The water budget for a 7-month period (March – September, 1988) had average inflow of 15 200 m³ day^–1 from the watershed and 3.5 m³ day^–1 from Lake Erie. The wetland increased in volume by 700 m³ day^–1 despite a drought that resulted in 80% more evapotranspiration than rainfall as a barrier beach isolated the wetland from Lake Erie for 77% of the study period. Conductivity decreased by 34% as water flowed through the wetland and turbidity and total suspended solids were variable and statistically similar at inflow and outflow. Average total phosphorus concentrations in the inflow and outflow were also similar (247 and 248 µg P l^–1 respectively) although total soluble phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus decreased significantly (=0.05) from inflow to outflow (averages 94 to 45 µg P l^–1 and 7.5 to 4.0 µg P l^–1 respectively). Nutrient budgets from field data estimate a retention of 36% of the phosphorus, presumably in the sediments (0.8 mg P m^–2 day^–1). A general nutrient retention model, an estimated deposition rate from a sediment core and a simulation model predicted higher mass retention of phosphorus but similar percentage retention.SommaireUn marecage qui côtoie le lac Erie (USA) a servi de site expérimental pour en déterminer les budgets d'eau et de phosphore, de même que pour la variation spatiale et temporelle du phosphore et d'autres facteurs chimiques. Le marécage a été influencé par: niveaux d'eau qui changeaient; seiches; sédiments mouvants du littoral; et afflux de la ligne de partage des eaux dans une année de grande sécheresse. Le budget d'eau dans une période de 7 mois (mars–septembre 1988) montre un afflux de 15 200 m³ jour^–1 de la ligne de partage, et 3.5 m³ jour^–1 du lac Erie. Le volume du marécage a augmenté par 700 m³ jour^–1 malgré une sécheresse qui a produit plus d'évapotranspiration (80%) que de pluie pendant qu'une plage-obstacle a isolé le marecage du lac Erie pendant 77% de la période d'observation. La conductivité a diminué par 34% pendant que l'eau coulait, et la turbidité et les TSS ont varié, tout en démontrant des statistiques similaires à l'afflux et au déversement. Les moyennes pour les concentrations du total du phosphore à l'afflux et au déversement ont été similaires (247 and 248 µg P l^–1), quoique le TSP et le SRP ont diminué (=0.05) de l'afflux au déversement (donant des moyennes de 94 à 45 µg P l^–1 et de 7.5 à 4.0 µg P l'^–1). Les budgets de substances nutritives pour les données suggèrent une reténtion de 36% du phosphore, évidemment dans les sédiments (0.8 mg P m^–2 jour^–1). Un modèle pour la rétention des nutrients, un taux de déposition, estimé par un noyau de sédiments, et une simulation avaient prédit un plus grand taux de rétention de phosphore, mais un pourcentage similaire pour la rétention.From a paper presented at the Third International Wetlands Conference, 19–23 September, 1988, University of Rennes, France.     

Contaminant Trends in Freshwater Fish from the Laurentian Great Lakes: A 20-Year Analysis

Although dietary concerns of Laurentian Great Lakes (GL) fish focus on the risk from persistent bioaccumulative toxicant (PBT) contaminants, fish are also an important source of nutrients beneficial to human health such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid). This study presents PBT trend data from the GL tribal fisheries over the past 20 years. PBT contaminants (282 analytes) from fillet portions of lake trout and whitefish were analyzed for trending patterns from 1992 to 2011 and are reported on five of the ATSDR/USEPA Great Lakes biomonitoring legacy contaminants (Hg, ΣDDE, ΣDDT, HCB, mirex, and ΣPCBs), two of the optional biomonitoring PBTs (toxaphene and Σdioxins/furans) and PCB 153 as a specific congener marker. Similar to other recent reports our data indicate that most PBT contaminant concentrations in the GL biota have decreased, which may indicate progress in reducing environmental emissions. Our research confirms that all contaminants demonstrate significant declines except Hg and toxaphene. Both of those remained constant after correcting for known independent factors of age, lipid, and size. These results are potentially encouraging and may provide useful data for the long distance and perhaps global influences of PBTs on the safety of fish consumption.     

Comparison of sleds versus plankton nets for sampling fish larvae and eggs

Fish larvae and fish eggs were sampled from the inshore waters of eastern Lake Michigan from 1978 through 1980, using a benthic sled and a plankton net towed within 0.5 m of the lake bottom. Differences between estimates of ichthyoplankton abundance based on the benthic sled and those based on the plankton net towed near bottom were examined along with interactions between gear, bottom depth, and time of day. Time of day was determined to be an important factor in comparing these two gear, but data were inconclusive as to the effect of depth on gear differences. Abundance of fish eggs calculated using sled tow data was significantly higher than that for the plankton net. For nighttime collections, density of alewife Alosa pseudoharengus larvae sampled in the plankton net significantly exceeded that for the sled, whereas density of spottail shiner Notropis hudsonius larvae based on sled data was significantly higher than that based on the plankton net for day sampling. Overall, the plankton net appeared to be adequate for sampling abundance of alewife larvae, while the sled was preferred for sampling fish eggs, spottail shiner larvae, and the following less common, but apparently demersal larvae: trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus, johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum, ninespine stickleback Pungitius pungitius, and slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus.     

Population Substructuring in a Migratory Freshwater Fish Prochilodus argenteus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae) from the São Francisco River

The construction of hydroelectric dams, pollution of rivers and other environmental changes are responsible for the disappearance of many natural fish stocks. The purpose of this work was to analyze the fish Prochilodus argenteus inhabiting the region of the Três Marias dam in the São Francisco River (Brazil) collected in two sites having distinct environmental characteristics. Three novel homologous and one known cross-specific microsatellites were used to assess genetic variation within and between the two collection sites (namely A and B) in order to confirm the occurrence of population substructuring previously suggested using RAPD markers. A higher number of exclusive alleles and a greater genetic variability in region B strongly reinforce the co-existence of different reproductive units in this area. F _ST estimates showed a significant population differentiation between the two sites, indicating the possible existence of distinct gene pools. Considering the economic importance of this fishery resource in the São Francisco River, these findings could provide very important information for fisheries management, aquaculture and conservation of the stocks of this species.     

Predation of zebra mussels by round gobies, Neogobius melanostomus

Preliminary gut analysis of a recent Great Lakes invader, the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (7.0–8.4 cm), collected from the Detroit River, showed that they ate zebra mussels (58%), snails (6%), and other invertebrates (36%), including aquatic insects (Hexagenia), softshelled crayfish, and zooplankton. Because zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, predominated as prey, we investigated the ability of round gobies to consume different size classes of zebra mussels. In laboratory experiments, we examined feeding preferences of three size classes of round gobies (5.5–6.9 cm; 7.0–8.4 cm; 8.5–10.3 cm standard length) on four different size classes of zebra mussels (6.0–9.9 mm, 10.0–12.9 mm, 13.0–15.9 mm, 16.0–18.9 mm). All sizes of round gobies ate zebra mussels < 10.0 mm. Only the largest size class of round gobies ate larger zebra mussels (10.0–12.9 mm) when all prey sizes were presented. The association between the total mass of zebra mussels available and the amount consumed by round gobies increased positively up to about 6.5 g of available mussels and then levelled off. Round gobies consumed an average of 1.0 g of mussels in 24 h. There was a significant positive relationship between gape size and standard length of round gobies. Although larger round gobies (over the size range of fish in our study) are able to consume larger zebra mussels, small mussels were preferred. Our findings suggest that the preference of small zebra mussels by round gobies has the potential to alter the size structure of zebra mussel populations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Aquatic insect emergence in two Great Lakes marshes

This study determined total number, biomass, taxa, and seasonal occurrence of adult aquatic insects emerging from four vegetation zones in one diked and one undiked freshwater coastal marsh on hypereutrophic lower Green Bay, Lake Michigan, USA during the summer of 1984. Floating box traps were placed in open water, sparse emergent, dense emergent, and wet meadow vegetation zones in each marsh. Insects were collected during 20 24-hour periods, each four days apart, from June 11 to August 26. Two-way ANOVA was used to test differences in number and biomass of insects between marshes and among vegetation zones. Polynomial regression was used to evaluate seasonal emergence patterns. More insects, insect biomass, and insect taxa were found in the diked marsh, especially during the first half of the sampling period. Damselflies were much more abundant in the diked marsh. Most insects and insect biomass were found in the sparse emergent vegetation zone of both marshes. The emerging insect community in the diked marsh appears enhanced by its separation from the hypereutrophic and turbid waters of lower Green Bay.     

Changes in the abundance and diversity of coastal wetland fauna from the open water/macrophyte edge towards shore

Great Lakes coastal wetlands are widely recognized as areas of concentrated biodiversity and productivity, but the factors that influence diversity and productivity within these systems are largely unknown. Several recent studies have suggested that the abundance and diversity of flora and fauna in coastal wetlands may be related to distance from the open water/macrophyte edge. We examined this possibility for three faunal groups inhabiting a coastal wetland in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. We sampled crustacean zooplankton and benthic macro-invertebrates at five distances from open water in the summer 1994, and fish at three distances from open water in 1994 and 1995. We found significant spatial trends in the total abundance and diversity of zooplankton and fish, as well as the diversity of benthic macro-invertebrates. Zooplankton abundance and taxa richness were highest at intermediate distances from open water in a transition zone between the well-mixed bayward portion of the wetland, and the non-circulating nearshore area. Benthic macro-invertebrate taxa richness increased linearly with distance from open water. In contrast, fish abundance and species richness declined linearly and substantially (abundance by 78%, species richness by 40%) with distance from open water. Of the 40 taxa examined in this study, 21 had significant horizontal trends in abundance. This led to notable differences in community composition throughout the wetland. Our results suggest that distance from open water may be a primary determinant of the spatial distributions of numerous organismal groups inhabiting this coastal wetland. Several possible reasons for these distributions are discussed.     

The development of ecosystem objectives for the Laurentian Great Lakes

Historically management of human use of ecosystems has been based around engineering and chemical approaches and through the construction of treatment facilities, effluent controls and setting chemical concentrations, both at end of pipe and in the aquatic environment. However, the general continued degradation of many ecosystems shows these approaches alone are insufficient. In the Laurentian Great Lakes the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was first signed in 1972 and ratified in 1978 and in 1987 tacitly acknowledged the problems with a chemical only approach by requiring the development of ecosystem objectives in the 1978 agreement. Furthermore, the agreement specifically identified numerical ecosystem objectives in the 1987 agreement. The evolution of ecosystem objectives in the Great Lakes has expanded from the strictly numerical objectives such as production of lake trout and abundance of the amphipod Pontoporeia hoyi. More recent developments in ecosystem objectives have been the inclusion of indicators for wildlife, habitat, human health and stewardship.Prepared as a discussion paper presented to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's seminar on an Ecosystems Approach to Water Management (May 27–31, 1991).