Effects of a mine tailings spill on feeding and metal concentrations in yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
- Trent Univ., Peterborough, Ontario (Canada)
In this study, the authors examined the effects of a gold mine tailings spill in the Montreal River (northern Ontario, Canada) on juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a benthic-feeding fish, and identified the major contributors to their uptake of tailings metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu) in dietary items and river water. Juvenile perch sampled from a 6-km reach of the river where most of the tailings were deposited had significantly less food in their stomachs than individuals sampled from a reference reach of the river. Concentrations of Pb in invertebrate prey taxa from the contaminated reach were 9 to 20 times higher than in those sampled from the reference reach. These differences were consistent with a higher concentration of Pb in perch from the contaminated reach. In contrast, Zn concentrations were high in river water and perch from both the reference and contaminated reaches, and little difference was found in Zn concentration between invertebrate prey types sampled from the two reaches. No significant differences were found in Cu or Cd concentrations in yellow perch sampled from the two reaches. Higher levels of Pb in the major prey types from the contaminated reach indicate that dietary uptake may be the major vector for Pb accumulation in yellow perch from the Montreal River.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 675407
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 17, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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