Biotic and abiotic factors that affect contaminant concentrations in Lake Trout from Rocky Mountain lakes

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:49521

Donal, D B ^[1]; Kidd, K A ^[2]

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1. Inland Waters Directorate, Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada)
2. Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). Dept. of Zoology

Lake trout were collected from 14 lakes in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in 1991 and 1992. Fish fillets were analyzed for organochlorines using GC-ECD and quantified using internal and external standards. Concentrations of these contaminants ranged considerably between lakes. Mean {Sigma}DDT, {Sigma}PCB and {Sigma}CHB (toxaphene) concentrations ranged from 4 to 92, < 4 to 119, and < 4 to 73 ng g{sup {minus}1} wet weight respectively. Regression analyses indicated that the concentrations of organochlorines were significantly related to drainage area of the lake and log mean weight of the fish. Contaminant levels were not related to mean age of the fish or percent lipid in the muscle tissue. An index was used to determine if length of the food web explained the between-lake variability in organochlorine concentrations. Contaminant concentrations were not significantly related to the presence/absence of mysis or forage fishes, or lake class. The authors are currently the using stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen to determine trophic status of the lake trout from these mountain lakes, and to interpret the variability in contaminant concentrations between and within lakes.

• OSTI ID: 49521
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CANADA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FOOD CHAINS
LAKES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
ROCKY MOUNTAINS
SENSITIVITY
TROUT
WATER POLLUTION