Net trophic transfer efficiency of PCBs to Lake Michigan coho salmon from their prey

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es980277n· OSTI ID:290189

Madenjian, C P; Schmidt, L J; Desorcie, T J; Hesselberg, R J; Quintal, R T; Begnoche, L J ^[1]; Elliott, R F; Bouchard, P M; Holey, M E ^[2]

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1. Geological Survey, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
2. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay, WI (United States). Green Bay Fishery Resources Office

Most of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) body burden accumulated by coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) from the Laurentian Great Lakes is from their food. The authors used diet information, PCB determinations in both coho salmon and their prey, and bioenergetics modeling to estimate the efficiency with which Lake Michigan coho salmon retain PCBs from their food. The estimate was the most reliable estimate to date because (a) the coho salmon and prey fish sampled during the study were sampled in spring, summer, and fall from various locations throughout the lake, (b) detailed measurements were made on the PCB concentrations of both coho salmon and prey fish over wide ranges in fish size, and (c) coho salmon diet was analyzed in detail from April through November over a wide range of salmon size from numerous locations throughout the lake. The authors estimated that coho salmon from Lake Michigan retain 50%$ of the PCBs that are contained within their food.

• OSTI ID: 290189
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 32; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
LAKE MICHIGAN
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
SALMON
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION