Environment Environnement 1+ Canada Fisheries and Pêches et Marine sciences de la mer

Benthos Studies ( 1971 and 1972 ) on the Winnipeg in the Vicinity of The Abitibi Paper Company, Pine Falls, Manitoba

by L.A. Gregory and J.S. Loch

Technical Report Series No: CEN T -73-3 Resource Management Branch Central Region BENTHOS STUDIES (1971 and 1972) ON THE WINNIPEG RIVER

IN THE VICINITY OF

THE ABITIBI MANITOBA PAPER COMPANY, PINE FALLS, MANITOBA

By

. L.A. Gregory

and

J.S. Loch

Resource Management Branch

Fisheries Operations Directorate

Fisheries & Marine Service

Canada Department of the Environment

Winnip'eg

June, 1973 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page Abs tract . ii

Acknowledgements. iii

List of Figures. iv

List of Tables · . v

Introductian . 1

Description of Study Area. 2

Materials and Methods .....••.•..••.•..•••....•..•••.•..•.. 5

Results and Discussion...... 9

Conclusions...... 26

Summary...... •. 27

Literature Cited...... 28

Personal Communication Cited.• 30

(i) ABSTRACT

Benthic surveys were conducted in the summers of 1971 and 1972 to assess the condition of the Winnipeg River in thevicinity of the Abitibi

Manitoba Paper Company's pu1p mi11 at Pine Falls, Manitoba. Both qualitative and quantitative (genera diversity indices and information ana1ysis) analyses of the benthic data indicated that severe to moderate po11utant-effects pre­ vai1ed at the mi11's outfa11 and extended for up to four miles downstream.

No change in the condition of the benthic conwunity occurred between the sum­ mers of 1971 and 1972.

(ii) AC KNOWLEDGEMENTS

J. Rudolph, C. Remple, C. Penny, S. Kostiuk and P. Stewart assisted in collecting and sorting the samples. P. Stewart also helped identify the

Chironomidae. Their assistance is appreciated.

Jo-Anne Crowe of the Manitoba Department of Mines, Resources and

Environmental Management verified the Hirudinae identifications; E. EIders verified the clam identifications and Dr. O.E. Saether and W. Warwick verified the chironomid identifications.

Dr. R.H. Green provided invaluable advice and assistance on the quantitiative methods of analysis.

(iii) LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 Benthos survey stations (1972) in the 3 Winnipeg River.

2 Information-analysis dendogram from the 16 fifteen substations sampled in each of the months: August (1-5), September (6-10) and October (11-15), 1971.

3 Three-dimensional cumulative diversity 20 indices for the fifteen substations sampled in each of the months, August, September and October, 1971. (DottedY Dâversdty Indices <2 (White) Diversity Indices >2 <3 (Shaded) Diver~ity I~d~ces >3 The stippled line indicates the substation grouping from information-analysis.

4 Three-dimensional genera diversity indi­ 22 ces for the eighteen substations sampled in duplicate in July, 1972. The line a above the bar represents the maximum estimated error from taking only two samples.

5 Information-analysis dendogram for the 23 eighteen substations sampled in July, 1972.

(iv) LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Description of the 1972 study area. 4

2 Percent organic content. of the substrate 10 from each of the 1972 substations.

3 The accumulated number of benthic organisms Il p~r genera and the number of individuals and representative groups for each of the fifteen substations sampled in August, September and October, 1971.

4 The number of benthic organisms per genera 13 and the number of individuals and repre­ sentative groups for each of the eighteen substations sampled on July 31, 1972.

5 Information-analysis grouping with respect 17 to month (August, September and October) and substation for the three different levels from Figure 2.

6 Cumulative diversity values for the fif­ 18 teen substations sampled in each of August, September and October, 1971.

(v) INTRODUCTION

A pulp and paper mill operated by Abitibi Manitoba Paper Company is situated at Pine Falls on the Winnipeg River. This is an integrated news­ print mill; the newspr.int is made from 75% ground pulp, 20% sodium-based sulphite and 50% kraft pulp.

Previous studies on the benthic communities in the vicinity of the mill have been conducted (Dickson 1961; Cober 1966 and Loch 1972). The most recent (Loch 1972) indicated that the mill effluent and the wood fiber accumulation in and beside the river had a detrimental effect (as measured by number of genera present and genera diversity) on the benthic fauna in the vicinity of the mill. This study has a two-fold purpose: first, to analyze data from both years using diversity indices as weIl as a more sophisticated method of quantitative analysis and, second, to determine whether changes have occurred in the benthic fauna between the summers of 1971 and 1972.

-1- DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA

The Winnipeg River has its sources in the system and the . It extends approximately 320 kilometers (200 miles) fromKenora on Lake of the Woods to Traverse Bayon .

The area of the Winnipeg River sampled is located in Township

19, Range 9, East, in the east-central part of Manitoba. This study area extends from the Pine Falls power dam to the village of Fort Alexander on the Winnipeg River (Figure 1). The pulp mill in question is situated 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) downstream from this power dam. Fort Alexander is

3.2 kilometers (2 miles) upstream from the mouth of the river •

. There are a series of power installations on the Winnipeg River 3 and, .the flow is thereby regulated at an average of 8,500 m /sec (30,000 cfs) .

Descriptions of the 1971 .st at.Lcns are found in Loch (1972). The

1972 stations were similar to the 1971 stations, however, the 1972 station near the outfall (6) was only represented as one substation (IVa) in 1971.

In addition, the 1972 station 1 was located approximately one mile closer to the pulp mill discharge than the 1971 station I.

In 1972, six transects (stations) were selected in the vicinity of the pulp mill (Figure 1). These stations were selected at locations that would reflect some stage of the effect of discharge. One station was located at the point of discharge (outfall), one slightly upstream from the outfall and the other four, below the outfall. Three substations were set up' along each transect. Similar ranges of depth and current were con- sidered in final positioning of the stations and substations. A description of the study stations is given in the following table.

-2- FORT . ALEXANDER

N

1 W 1

1 1 1 mile

POWER DAM

Figure 1. Benthos Survey Stations (1972) in the Winnipeg River. TABLE 1 Description of the 1972 benthic sampling stations in the Winnipeg River in the vicinity of Pine Falls, Manitoba

Location (Dist. Description Depth From Outfall-Mi Channel's (At Substation) Station Downstream) Width--Mi Currents Substrate "A" "B" "c"

1 3 3/4 Moderate Wood Fiber 40' 43' 24' (up to 50%) and Mud

2 2 1/2 Moderate Wood Fiber 25' 24' 35' (50%) and Mud (50%)

3 0.8 2/5 Calm To Wood Fiber 14' 18' 18' Moderate (50%-100%) and Mud

4 North Shore just Moderate Mud & Clay 27' 29' 35' below & across Some Barks from outfall a- and Twigs- long edge of log Little Wood boom Fiber

5 North Shore just .Moderate Mud & Clay 38' 43' 40' above outfall a- Some Barks long edge of log and Twigs-- boom Little Wood Fiber

6 South Shore just Calm WoodPulp 20' 25' 12' below outfall and Fiber

-4- MATERIALS AND METHODS

Benthic sampling was accomplished as described by Loch (1972).

Duplicate bottom samples were collected at each substation using a Ponar

Grab. The grab sample was emptied into a conieal net of Nitex nylon (60% micron opening), washed, placed in a plastic bag and preserved with a sol­ ution of ethyl alcohol and rose bengal (100 mg/l 9S% ethyl alcohol) diluted to 70%. Rose bengal is a vital stain and enhances the ability to perceive small organisms (Lackey and May 1971). The samples were then returned to the laboratory where they were washed in a seive (300 micron opening) to re­ move excess mud, spread out in a white enamel tray and sorted with forceps.

All visible organisms were removed and preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol. The number of organisms in each major taxonomie group (family, order or class) was recorded. In the case of Oligochaeta which were greatly fragmented, only segments having a head were considered. With the exception of Nematoda and

Oligochaeta, the benthic fauna was then identified to genus. Chironomidae were mounted in a colourless mounting fluid and identified according to the provisional key by Hamilton and Saether of the Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg.

Various authorities assisted in the identification of other organisms.

After sorting and identification, the datawere assembled in a ma­ trix form with substation and number of organismsper genus being the two variables.. Data for each duplicate was pooled. ie Diversity indices were

*Several samples were misplaced (lcii, 3bi, Sbi, 6aii) and, therefore, the number of individuals in the single sample was doubled.

-5- ca1cu1ated for each substation. In addition, an information-ana1ysis was performed on the data matrix.

Species diversity indices enab1e quantitative comparisons between samp1es. They are based on the theory that diversity is equated with the uncertainty that exists concerning the identity of an individua1 co11ected at random from a community. The fewer species present and the more unequa1 their abundance, the 1ess the uncertainty and the lower the diversity (Pie1ou

1969). In a po11uted area, fewer species wou1d be present, there wou1d be

1ess inter-specifie competition and the to1erant species would flourish. The diversity wou1d therefore be low.

The index described by Pielou (1969) was employed in this study.

It is given by the formula:

s d = lIN (log N! 2: log N.!) i=l 1. where d is the species diversity index

where N is the total number of individua1s in the sample

where N. is the number of individuals in the ith species 1. where s is the number of species

For the purpose of eva1uating this index, the approximation

Inn] = n(lnn - 1) + ~ ln 2 'If n

The diversity was ca1cu1ated for each substation at the genus

1evel. It was fe1t that identification to species for many of the organisms wou1d be tenuous and that a classification 1evel above genus would not reveal significant pollutant effects due to the likely lack of differences in habitat differences among fami1ies, orders or classes. The theory of diversity is independent, except in arder of magnitude, of the level of taxonomie classification (Pie1ou 1967).

-6- Diversity indices are single parameters which measure bath the number of species (or genera) present and the relative abundance of each

'(evenness). Interpretation of the indices can therefore be ambiguous: a

sample with few org~nisms and high evenness could have the same diversity

as a sample with many organisms but low evenness (Pielou 1969). The short-

comings of the diversity index have been further discussed by Green and Loch

(personal communication).

Information-analysis overcomes sorne of these short-comings (Green

and Loch ,personal communication). It is a hierarchial method of analysis in which individuals are progressively fused by their similarity in attribute

structure (Williams et aL 1966). The information statistic used is as

described by Williams et aL (1966), and is given by the formula:

P l pn log n L: (a. log a. + (n - a.) log (n - a.) j=l JJ J J

where l is the information statistic

Where N is the total number of organisms in the sample

Where p is the number of genera

Where a. is the number of individuals in the jth genera of the sample J "1" is derived from the concept of entropy and is a measure of the

disorder of the group. The two groups which upon fusion result in the smallest

increase in "1" (relative ta the sum of their individual values) are in the

lowest state of disorder and, therefore, are most similar in attribute

structure. They are grouped together. The "1" value from their fusion is

obtained from the pooled number of organisms present. It then becomes the

new "1" value for the fused pair of substations.

-7- An additional Ponar grab sample was taken from each substation in order to perform sorne qualitative substrate analyses. The percent organic content was determined using the wet weight minus the ash weight (dried in a kiln for l ho ur at 425 degrees centigrade). Anattempt was made to determine the percent content of different particle sizes. However, except for sub­ stations 4a, band c and 5a and b, the substrate coagulated as a clay baIl or the hard fiber present prevented accurate analysis.

-8- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Substrate Ana1ysis

The percent organic composition of the substrate samp1es from each of the 1972 substations is given in Table 2. No rea1 trend is appa­ rent. This may in part be due to the extent to which the samp1es were sieved, the depth of substrate penetrated by the grab or the current at each substation. Qualitative substrate ana1ysis indicated that station 6 consisted a1most entire1y of wood pu1p; stations 4 and 5 contained mud with some large twigs and pieces of bark and transects 3, 2 and 1 contained decreasing (100 to 50%) amounts of wood fiber respective1y.

Benthic Samp1eAna1ysis

Qualitative - Genera Lists and Indicator Groups

The number of benthic organisms per genus and the number of indi­ vidua1s and represented groups for each substation are given for 1971 (Table

3) and 1972 (Table 4). A detai1ed qualitative description of the genera pre­ sent in the 1971 samp1es is given by Loch (1972). 01igochaeta and Chironomi­ dae predominated. Chironomus~ Tribelos and Phaenospectra were the most abun­ dant genera at substations c10sest to the outfa11. Ephemeroptera (Hexagenia) and Pe1ecypoda (Pisidium and Sphaerium) were found in increasing numbers at the control station and at stations removed from the point of effluent dis­ charge. No discernable trend was apparent for Amphipoda (Hual.el.la) , Hirudi­ nae (Helobdella) or Trichoptera (Neuroclipsis) , a1though the latter two groups

-9- TABLE 2 Percent organic content of substrate samples from each of the 1972 substations.

% Organic Stations Substations liB" "C"

One 11.2 48.0 16.5

Two 16.8 32.5 12.0

Three 47.3 51.4 6.7

Four 20.6 11.2 24.0

Five 58.5 14.4 23.6

Six 37.4 37.8 90.6

-10- TABLE 3 - THE ACCUMULATED NUMBER OF BENTHIC ORGANISMS PER GENERA AND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND REPRE­ SENTATIVE GROUPS FOR EACH OF THE 15 SUBSTATIONS SAMPLED IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1971 .

....continued TABLE 3 - Continued

r II III IV V STATION STATION STATION STATION STATION A BC A B C A B C A B C A B C

Chironomidae: Pevr.a.te.Y11ÜpU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 . Clyc.o:te.ncUpe/.:l 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 V.{CJ!.o:te.Y11ÜpU 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MiCJl.O.6pe.c..:tJr.a 0 0 0 0 9 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 1 P/1.0 c1.a.CÜ1.L6 2 3 1 18 10 18 16 4 17 5 23 29 55 50 79 Ablabumy.{a. 39 51 5 31 28 58 6 '20 5 2 13 18 27 13 13 Thie.ne.manny.{a. gp 0 0 l 0 9 2 0 0 1 0 3 3 3 2 3 Coi: e.pD.6 eaina: 0 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 2 Ep.{o coc1.a.CÜ1.L6 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 1 0 He.:teJ1..o:t.fU..6.6 ac1.a.CÜ1.L6 0 0 0 2 4 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 PoUhCl.6tia 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1-' N

1 Number of Individuals: 174 127 82 400 585 502 478 331 354 200 590 491 475 448 367

Number of Representative Groups: 18 12 11 16 22 22 8 14 14 10 23 20 22 21 18 TABLE 4 - THE NUMBER OF BENTHIC ORGANISMS PER GENERA AND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUPS FOR EACH OF THE 18 SUBSTATIONS SAMPLED ON JULY 31, 1972

STATIONS STATIONS STATIONS STATIONS STATIONS STATIONS la lb le 2a 2b 2e 3a 3b 3e 4a 4b 4e 5a 5b 5e 6a 6b 6e

Triehoptera: Che.wna.:t0p.6yc.he a 0 22 0 a a a 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 a 0 a Newwc.üp.6-U 000000 a00 02 a 0 a 0 0 0 a

Amphipoda: Hyaleil.a 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 16 1 7 18 6 0 0 a GammvUda.e a 3 a a a a a a a 8 a a a a 1 a a a

Peleeypoda: P-u'<'iÜu.m 3 5 4 a 7 8 0 0 21 17 14 6 1 a a a a a SphaeJUwn 27 6 6 a a 11 2 6 62 2 9 1 2 a a a a a Lamp.6-<-LL6 0 a a 1 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 a 0 a a a a 0

Hirudinea: He1.obdeil.a 11 11 0 1 5 5 1 a 6 13 17 6 4 0 0 0 0 a Nephe1.0pM 1 0 a 0 1 a 0 0 a a 1 0 1 0 1 0 a 0 GtoM'<'pho gM a a 0 0 a 0 a 0 0 a 1 0 a 0 a a 0 0 EJr.opodel.ta. 0 a a 0 a 1 a a a 0 1 0 0 0 a 0 0 a ...... w Ephemeroptera: Hexa.gen.<.a. 15 a 22 a a 38 0 a 17 15 5 1 26 48 29 0 1 a 1 Gastropoda: Phyoa. 0aaaaa 1a1 aa a a 0 a a a a Ceratupogonia: P~obezzia a 2 a a a 2 a a 1 12 3 a a a a a a a Oligoehaeta: (With Heads) 30 27 17 56 24 29 42 32 110 42 31 la 6 1 2 4 13 60

Chironomidae: Ch-<-M nomM 48 6 la 69 44 0 65 56 38 4 a a 8 2 49 4 25 17 T~be1.o.6 14 26 42 5 11 15 13 12 19 0 11 1 49 2 4 2 6 4 Endo c.h-<-M nomM 1 a a 4 12 a 9 8 2 a 4 1 11 4 1 0 2 3 PMenG.6 pecou: 0 0 0 a 2 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 a a 1 1 Potypeeüum 2 6 2 0 0- 4 0 0 1 1 23 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 C~yp.to c.h-<-M nomM 0 7 0 2 1 0 a a 2 1 3 1 1 4 a 0 0 0 PMatenMpe.-6 0 1 a 0 0 0 1 a a 0 a 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 M-i.c.M.6pec.;tJr.a. a 1 2 a 2 a a a a 2 17 4 16 0 0 0 a 0 Tany-tCVl.lJ M a 5 .0 1 1 2 3 0 0 7 15 2 14 2 8 a 1 1 PfLO~ 2 4 2 2 4 12 10 2 8 13 1 8 32 6 15 2 3 2 Abtab esmy-<-a. 19 11 16 1 14 16 1 0 10 la 1 1 14 0 1 a 5 7 Th-<-ene.ma.n.ny-<-a. gp a 8 14 2 5 a a a 3 0 1 1 3 a a 0 2 4 He;te.JLo:f:JUA.6 ocèadiu» 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 4 0 0 0 0 Ep-<-Oc.o~ a 0 4 0 a a a a a a a a 2 2 a 0 0 0

Number of Individuals: 143 102 124 88 109 113 r07 88191 124 149 35 200 94 115 8 46 39

Number of Representative Groups: 11 15 11 la 13 12 11 6 14 14 21 14 19 11 10 3 9 8 were abundant at the control stations.

The 1972 data (Table 4) show similar qualitative results. Oligo­ chaeta and Chironomidae (in particular Chironomus and Tribelos) predominated.

Hexagenia~ Pisidium~ Sphaerium~ Helobdella and Hyalella were the other major representative groups. Substations 6 a, band c and 3 b, which were situated closest to the mill's outfall and where the substrate contained large amounts of wood fiber, had the least number of individuals and representative groups.

There was no definite separation amongst the remaining substations. However, the control station (5) had the greatest number of Hexagenia and Hyalella.

Trichoptera were found only at this station.

Benthic organisms have been cited as useful qualitative indicators of the condition of aquatic areas (Cairns and Dickson 1971). They are tenta­ tively divided into three indicator groups; pOllution-sensitive, pollution­

tolerant and moderately tolerant. The qualitative resultq of this study were similar for both 1971 and 1972. Oligochaeta and Chironomidae considered as pollution-tolerant organisms, predominated at all of the sample stations

(1971 and 1972) and were, except for one individual, the only organisms pre­

sent at stations IV a (1971) and six (1972), the positions immediately below

the outfall. Chironomus was the most abundant Chironomid found in the samples.

The organism is considered by Hynes (1960) to be very pollution-tolerant.

Other Chironomidae such as Ablabesmyia and Procladius were present only in

small numbers at the areas immediately below the outfall but were abundant at the substations .further removed from the point of discharge. ·This suggests

that care is required when describing an area as pollûtant affected merely on

the basis of the abundance of Chironomidae. Ephemeroptera, considered to

be pollution-sensitive, were the most prevalent at the stations

-14- opposite the outfall (IVb, c and Va, b, c, 1971 and 4 and 5, 1972) and those areas further downstream from the point of discharge (1 and II, 1971 and 1 and 2, 1972) suggesting that these areas are less pollutant-affected than those near the outfall. The moderately-tolerant Sphaeridae ~ere relatively abundant at aIl stations except IVa (1971) and 6 (1972) indicating that in

~o area was there absolutely clean water and that stations IVa and 6 were most affected by pollutants.

Quantitative - Diversity Indices and Information Analysis

Loch (1972) calculated the genera diversity indices for each of

August, September and October, 1971. Further calculations, using quantitative information-analyses techniques have now been performed on the 1971 data. The resulting information-analysis dendogram (Figure 2) shows the fusion of simi­ lar substations sampled in each of August, September and October, 1971. Tabu­ lating the group separation at the 300, 600 and 900 information levels (from

Figure 2) against the three months (Table 5) showed that the fused substations did not relate to the sample time but rather to the sample location. This in­ dicated that the separation of substations was independent of sampling date and enabled calculation of the cumulative genera diversi~y indices through the pooling of the duplicate samples of August, September and October together

(Table 6). Diversity values based on only two replicates show considerable variation due to the density dependent nature of the index. However, after a sufficient number of replicates are accumulated the values become asymptotic because the number of individuals increases and simultaneously, the number of representative genera decreases (Wilhm1970).

-15- i ,1937 900~------_ ... ------1 2 3 1 i i 839

600 ~------1 2 3 4

500

...... 0' 1 1 400

300-l------1 2 3 4 5 6

200

100

01 r=l 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Il! r===rT1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Il! Ile GCI le 1 7C1 98 1 781 3A 38 3C liA lA 2B 8 138 9A

SU8STATIONS

Figure 2. Information-ana1ysis Dendogram From The Fifteen Substations in each of the months: August (1-5), September (6-10) and October (11-15), 1971 TABLE 5 INFORMATION ANALYSIS GROUPING WITH RESPECT TO THE MONTH AND SUBSTATION FOR THE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS FROM FIG. 2.

MONTH STATION 1 STATION 2 STATION 3 STATION 4 STATION 5 a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c

900 Level August 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 3 3 3 September 3 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 3 3 3 3 October 1 1 1 3 3 3 2 2. 2 2 3 3 3 3 3

600· Level August 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 3 1 3 2 2 4 4 4

September 4 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 3 3 1 1 4 4 4 1-' October 1 1 1 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 "

300 Level August 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 3 1 3 2 2 5 5 5 September 5 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 4 4 1 1 6 6 6 October 1 1 1 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 6 6 5 5 5 EACR OF

ESTIMATED ERROR AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER BETWEEN 2 AND 6 1 2 _1_ 2 1 2 REPLICATES. la 2.259 2.485 2.616 2.883 2.961 3.066 17.3 lb 1.900 1.875 2.141 2.242 2.394 2.172 13.7 lb 0.532 1.813 2.050 2.137 2.306 2.327 22.1 lIa 2.262 2.708 2.729 2.729 2.694 2.738 7.0 lIb 3.054 3.251 3.412 3.357 3.407 3.362 3.3 Ile 2.381 2.645 3.015 3.219 3.340 3.431 22.6 t-' 00 1 IlIa 1.110 1.229 1.388 1.490 1.229 1.251 1.8 IIlb 2.697 2.701 2.985 3.018 2.932 2.848 5.2 llIe 2.058 2.069 2.470 2.251 2.093 2.044 -1.2

IVa 1.575 1.658 1.656 1.734 1. 723 1. 715 3.3 IVb - 2.560 3.199 3.314 3.331 3.198 19.9 IVe 2.844 3.118 3.194 2.894 2.861 2.797 -11.4

Va 2.557 2.914 3.333 3.021 3.137 3.242 10.1 Vb 2.655 2.996 3.122 3.093 3.108 3.237 7.4 Ve 2.231 2.328 2.878 2.998 3.082 3.145 26.0 The cumulative diversity indices (Table 6) varied only slightly

after three to five replicates wereaccumulated. The upper valu~s are a more

accurate index because they are independent of sample size (Wilhm \. 1970). . The cumulative diversity indices for the fifteen 1971 substations are shown diagrammatically in Figure 3. They were divided into three groups;

« 2; > 2 <3; > 3) and the substations belonging to each group are indicated by different shadings on the front of the bars. The lowest diversity values were observed at the substations closest to the mill's outfall. There was no distinct separation between the substations with diversity values >2 <3 and >3. However, the three control substations had indices >3.

The stippled lines in Figure 3 show how information-analysis fused the 1971 substations at the 900 level. There is a distinct separation into

three areas: (1) the substations closest to the outfall, (2) the areas above the outfal1 and (3) the samples further downstream from the outfall.

The 1971 substations were divided into three groups using both quantitative information-analysis (900 information level) and genera diver- sity indices. Information-analysis is in fact a more sophisticated method of quantitative analysis than are diversity indices because it considers the

relative abundance of particular genera whereas diversity indices consider

the relative abundance of ail genera present and are calculated for each

independent station. The three groupings arising from the 900 information

level were: (1) the substations closest to the outfall where Oligochaeta,

Chironomus and Tribelos were abundant and whose substrate contained large

amounts of wood fiber, (2) the control substations where pollution-sensitive

and moderately-sensitive organisms predominated and whose substrate con-

sisted almost entirely of mud and (3) the substations downstream from the

outfall where the number of individuals in the representative genera were

similar to group (2) except for Helobdella3 Neuroclipsis and Procladius

-19- Scale: 4

3

2 C B

1 oN 1

--

PULP MILL DISCHARGE

Figure 3. Three-dimensional Cumulative Diversity Indices, For the Fifteen Substations Sampled in each Of The Months, August, September and October, 1971. (Dotted) Diversity Indices <2, (White) Diversity Indices >2 <3, (Shaded) Diversity Indices >3. The Stippled Line Indicates The Substation Groupings From Information-analysis. which were present in reduced numbers. The substrate 'in this third group con­ sisted of decreasing amounts of wood fiber (50% to 0%).

The genera diversity' indices and information-analysis dendogram for the 1972 data were det ermt.ned (see Figures 4 and 5, respectively). Duplicate samples were used for t~ese quantitative analyses. An indication of the error involved in determining diversity indices for only two accumulated samples was estimated by calculating the percent change between two and six cumulative values from the 1971 data (Table 6). The maximum estimated error (26%) is shown as a line above the diversity index bars (Figure 4).

Irrespective of the possible error, the diversity values (Figure 4) were lowest « 2) at positions closest to the mill's outfall (6a, b, c; 3a, b;

2a) where the substrate contained large amounts of wood fiber. The remaining substations had diversity values of > 2. Only 4b and 5a had indices> 3.

Stations 4 and 5 were taken beside a log boom and their substrate contained some pieces of bark and twigs. They would, however, be little affected by the mill's effluent because they were directly opposite and across the river from the out­ fall and the strong river current would prevent much direct transverse water move­ ment. Substations la, b, c; 2b, c and 3c were situated 4.8, 3.2 and 1.3 km, respectively, downstream and had diversity values:>2 (2.43 to 2.97). The effluent in these areas would be relatively dilute but their substrate contained large amounts of wood fiber.

The information-analysis dendogram showed no real separation

(Figure 5) for the 1972 data except it independently fused two of the substa­ tions nearest the outfall (6b and c).

Wilhm and Dorris (1968) suggest that species diversity indices of

1 indicate heavily polluted areas, 2 to 3 indicate moderately polluted areas and 3 indicate areas of clean water. The present study involves genera di­ versity indices which. change the 'order of magnitude (Pielou 1967). However,

-21- Secte. 4

3 2 A C

C

C c

1 N N 1

3 PULPMILL DISCHARGE

Figure 4. Three':":dimensiona1 Genera Diversity Indices For The Eighteen Substations Samp1ed In Dup1icate in Ju1y, 1972. The Line Above The Bar Representsthe Maximum Estimated Error From Taking Taking On1y Two Samp1es. 120

100

80

60

1 N UJ 1 40

20

1 1 1 1 1 1 a 6A 3A 38 2A 5C 28 lA 3C 5A IC 18 4C 58 2C 4A48 6C 68 SUBSTATIONS

Figure 5. Information-ana1ysis Dendogram For The Eighteen Substations Samp1ed in Ju1y, 1972. the substations in this study were separated using the above groupings and al­ though the division was not as precise as that from information-analysis the general trend was similar. That is, the areas close to the outfall had low diversity indices « 2) and the control stations high values (> 3).

The quantitative results from the 1972study are similar to those of 1971 and are supported by the 1972 qualitative observations. This simil­ arity suggests that no change has occurred in the benthos population over the

(Jn~ year period. The benthos:lIl,t:1:le vicinity of the mill is being severely to moderately affected by the mill's discharge. This biological observation is substantiated by the fact that no attempt has been made in 1972 to remove the bark-fiberpile from the river.

Overall Biological Effects of Effluent

The mill's discharge contains both liquid wastes and solid wood fibers, both of which can have detrimental effects on the benthic and pelagie fauna. It is difficult to separate these two factors because both are pre- sent in either increasing or decreasing amounts. However, studies have been conducted on the effect of wood fiber accumulation on the survival of walleye

(Stizosi;edium vitreum) eggs and fry(Smith and Kraemer 1963; Smith et al 1963 and Colby and Smith 1967). These authors found that wood fiber accumulation

(particularly from conifers) stimulated the growth of a slime bacteria (Sphaero­ tilus) which prevented walleye eggs from emerging; that low oxygen levels (4.6 to S.l ppm) due to fiber matskilledyoung walleye and that the ,presence of dissolved sulphides in the fibers was toxic to eggs and fry and other benthic organisms. The emergence 'ofgas when the Ponar grab was removed with the

Winnipeg River substrate suggests that these areas of fiber accumulation are anoxie.

-24- The ground wood used at the Abitibi mill is from black spruce and jack pine (bath conifers). Walleye inhabit the Winnipeg River and would no doubt be influenced by the wood fiber mats and their resulting effects. White­ fish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Cisco (Coregonus artedi) are also found in the Winnipeg River and could be influenced by the wood fiber, although this has not been substantiated.

Removal of the log boom and particularly of the wood fiber-pulp-bark pile at the outfallwould be of value ta

-25- CONCLUSIONS

Qualitative and quantitative indices (~eneradiversity and informa­ tion-analysis) have shown that the Winnipeg River bentllic connnunity is moder­ ately to severelyaffected bythe Abitibi Manitoba Pulp andPapeJ:;" Company dis.,.. charges and that no change has occurred over the 1971to 1972periôd.

The discharges .consist of both liquid wastes and wood fibers, the latter originating both from the outfall area and the log boom. Removal of the wood fiber source would be of value to the aquatic connnunity.

-26- SUMMARY

(1) Oligochaeta and Chironomidae (in particular Chironomus and Tribelos)

described as pollution-tolerant organisms predominated atareas near the

outfall in both 1971 and 1972.

(2) Quantitative diversity indices and information-analysis indicated

that the areas closest to the mill's outfall were severely pollution­

affected. Heavy to moderate pollution effects existed up to four miles

downstream from the point of discharge.

(3) Information-analysis proved to be a useful and more.biologically

meaningful method for analysis of benthic survey data than diversity indices

(4) No change in the benthic community occurred between August, 1971

and July, 1972.

(5) The pulp mill discharge consists of both liquid wastes and solid

wood fibers. The wood fibers accumulate atthe outfall andaccount for

up to 50% of the substrate three miles from the outfall. Wood fiber

mats have been shown to àffect hatching of fish eggsand survival of

fry.

-27- LIT~RATURE CITED

Cairns, J. Jr. and K.L. Dickson. 1971. A.simple method for the biological

assessment of the effects of waste discharges on aquatic bottom-

dwellingorganisms. Jour. Water Poll..Control Fed , 43:755~772.

Cober, Jo-Anne, M.R. MS. Survey of the be:nttlic of the Winni-

peg River below Finè Falls area in July, 1966. Depa~tment of ) .. Mines and Natural Resources, Manitoba. 12 p.

Colby, P.J. and L.L. Smith. 1967. Survival of walleye eggs and fryin

paper fiber sludge deposits in Rainy River, .

Amer. Fish. Soc. 96:278-296.

Dickson, I. MS. 1961. Winnipeg River pollution survey. Burèau of

Public Health Engineering. Manitoba Department .of Health. 62 p.

Hynes, H.B.N. i960. The biology of pollute4 waters. Liverpool ·Univer-

sity Press, :Liverpool. 202 p.

Lackey, R.T. and B.E.May. 1971. Use of sugar flotation and dye to sort

benthic semples. Trans. Amer. F:i.sh. Soc. 100:794-797.

Loch, J.S. MS. 1972; Benthos survey in the Winnipeg Riv~r in the vici~

nity of the Abitibi Manitoba Paper qompany, PineFalls, Manitoba.

Res<;,urce Development Branch, Fisheries Service, Dêpartment of the

Environment, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 29p.

"';28- Pielou, E.C. 1967. The use of information theory in the study of the di-

versity of biological populations. Proc. 5th Berkeley Symposi-

um on Math. Stat. and Probe 4l163-177.

Pielou, E.C. 1969. An introduction to mathematical ecology. Wiley·

and Sons, Toronto. 286 p.

Smith, L.L., Jr., R.H. Kraemer and J.C. MacLeod. 1965. Effects of pulp-

wood fibers on fathead minnows and walleye fingerlings. Jour.

Water PolI. Control Fed. 37:130-140.

Smith, L.L., Jr. and R.H. Kraemer. 1963. Survival of walleye eggs in

relation to wood fibers and SphaerotiZus natans in the Rainy River

Minnesota. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 92:220-234.

Wilhm, J.L. and T.C. Dorris. 1968. Biological parameters for water

quality criteria. Bioscience. 18:477~481.

Wilhm, J.,L. 1970. Effect of sample size on Shannon's formula. The

Southwestern Naturalist. 44:441-445.

Williams, W.T., J~M. Lambert and G.N. Lance. 1966. Multivariate methods

in plant ecology. V. Similarity analyses and information-analy-

sis. Jour. Ecol. 54:427-455.

-29- PERSONAL COMMUNICATION CITED

Green, R.H. and J.S. Loch. 1973. The analysis of spatial patterns of

species composition in aquatic communities. Paper presented at

the 'Canadian Committèe on Freshwater Fi~heries Research', in

Halifax, January 4~6, 1973.

~30-