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Toxic Contaminants in Puget Sound's Nearshore Biota: a Large-Scale Synoptic Survey Using Transplanted Mussels (Mytilus Tross

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Toxic Contaminants in Puget Sound's Nearshore Biota: a Large-Scale Synoptic Survey Using Transplanted Mussels (Mytilus Tross Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) Toxic Contaminants in Puget Sound’s Nearshore Biota: A Large-Scale Synoptic Survey Using Transplanted Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) Final Report September 4, 2014 Jennifer A. Lanksbury, Laurie A. Niewolny, Andrea J. Carey and James E. West WDFW Report Number FPT 14-08 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................................... i LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Project Goals ............................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Background .............................................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.1 Mussels as Biomonitors .................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.2 Other Mussel Monitoring Programs ................................................................................................. 7 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Study Area and Site Selection ................................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Transplanted (i.e. Caged) Mussels ......................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Study specimen: Mytilus trossulus ......................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Exposure Timing .................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Spawning......................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.2 Rainfall ............................................................................................................................................ 15 2.5 Length of Exposure ................................................................................................................................ 16 2.6 Sample Units - Mussel Cages ................................................................................................................ 16 2.6.1 Preparation ...................................................................................................................................... 16 2.6.2 Deployment and Retrieval .............................................................................................................. 18 2.7 Biological Endpoints .............................................................................................................................. 18 2.7.1 Mortality Assessment...................................................................................................................... 18 2.7.2 Growth ............................................................................................................................................ 19 2.7.3 Condition Index .............................................................................................................................. 19 2.8 Chemical Analyses ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.8.1 Composite Sample Preparation ....................................................................................................... 19 2.8.2 Analytical Methods ......................................................................................................................... 20 2.9 Data Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 21 2.9.1 Contaminant Concentrations ........................................................................................................... 21 2.9.2 Impervious Surface and Road Area ................................................................................................ 21 2.9.3 Data Transformations and Statistical Analyses .............................................................................. 22 2.9.4 Pattern Analysis of PAHs ............................................................................................................... 23 2.9.5 PCB ratios ....................................................................................................................................... 24 i 2.9.6 Averaging of Hylebos Waterway and Ruston Waterfront Sites ..................................................... 24 2.9.7 Transplanted vs. Wild Mussels ....................................................................................................... 26 3 RESULTS ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 27 3.2 Biological Endpoints .............................................................................................................................. 27 3.2.1 Survival and Mortality .................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.2 Growth ............................................................................................................................................ 32 3.2.3 Condition Index .............................................................................................................................. 33 3.3 Overview of organic contaminant results............................................................................................... 35 3.3.1 Total PAHs...................................................................................................................................... 38 3.3.2 Pattern Analysis of PAHs ............................................................................................................... 40 3.3.3 PCBs ............................................................................................................................................... 43 3.3.4 PCB Ratios ...................................................................................................................................... 45 3.3.5 Total PBDEs ................................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.6 Total DDTs ..................................................................................................................................... 47 3.3.7 Chlordanes ...................................................................................................................................... 49 3.3.8 Dieldrin ........................................................................................................................................... 50 3.3.9 Hexachlorobenzene ......................................................................................................................... 51 3.3.10 Mirex ............................................................................................................................................... 51 3.3.11 Other Organohalogens .................................................................................................................... 51 3.4 Metals ..................................................................................................................................................... 52 3.4.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 52 3.4.2 Lead................................................................................................................................................. 54 3.4.3 Copper ............................................................................................................................................. 56 3.4.4 Zinc ................................................................................................................................................. 58 3.4.5 Mercury ........................................................................................................................................... 58 3.4.6 Arsenic and Cadmium..................................................................................................................... 60 3.5 Comparison of Transplanted and Wild Mussels ...................................................................................
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