Evaluating amphibian responses in wetlands impacted by mining activities in the western United States

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5719235

Linder, G; Wyant, J; Meganck, R; Williams, B

An increasing awareness of declining amphibian populations in the United States requires that the authors develop strategies for evaluating anthropogenic impacts on wetlands and the biota dependent upon these habitats. For example, in the western United States, mining activities may impact a wetland and its biota directly through habitat destruction or run-off of sediments and contaminants generated during mining operations. Amphibians which frequent these transition zones between terrestrial and aquatic habitats may be key biological indicators of a wetland's status. Through a demonstration project located in the mining regions of western Montana, the authors are currently using laboratory and field methods for a wetland evaluation required within a Superfund ecological risk assessment.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR (United States). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5719235
• Report Number(s): PB-91-191106/XAB; EPA--600/D-91/097
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
AMPHIBIANS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FIELD TESTS
HABITAT
MASS TRANSFER
MINING
MONITORING
MONTANA
MORTALITY
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POPULATION DYNAMICS
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTS
SENSITIVITY
TESTING
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
WETLANDS