Contaminant biomonitoring at the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge in 1988
Trace element concentrations in sediment samples from Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge were not elevated relative to the western U.S. geometric mean concentrations. Boron concentrations in aquatic plants approached the concentration of boron in Mallard (Anas platyrhyncos) diets that reduced hatching success. Among the three invertebrate taxa sampled, only midge larvae (Chironomidae) bioaccumulated selenium. Selenium concentrations in Eared Grebe livers exceeded the levels found in the livers of Mallards that experienced reproductive problems. Four hundred thirty-eight water bird nests were located during nest searches, and 536 eggs were examined from 179 of those nests. A minimum of 8.4% of the eggs laid contained dead embryos, and 0.1% contained abnormal embryos. Rates of embryo death and abnormality were similar to rates of presumably unpolluted natural populations. Mean selenium concentrations in Eared Grebe, Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Mallard, and American Coot (Fulica americana) eggs exceeded the 3 micrograms/g dry weight concentration typical of natural background levels. However, only one of three deformed bird embryos had a selenium concentration greater than 3 micrograms/g dry weight. Organochlorine residues in bird eggs did not exceed concentrations believed to be harmless.
- Research Organization:
- Fish and Wildlife Service, Helena, MT (United States). Montana State Office
- OSTI ID:
- 6012148
- Report Number(s):
- PB-92-105923/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CONTAMINATION
BORON
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
MONTANA
WATER POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
SELENIUM
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIRDS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INVERTEBRATES
NATURE RESERVES
ANIMALS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
RESOURCES
SEMIMETALS
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VERTEBRATES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology