STABLE ISOTOPE SmYOF RWERINE BENTHIC FOOD WEBS INFLLJ'ENCED BY ANTHROPOGENIC DEVELOPMENTS A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Guelph by ANDREA J.C. FARWELL In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January, 2000 O Andrea FarweIl, 2000 National Libtary Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliogiaphic Services seMces bibliographiques 305 WelMgîm Street 395, rue Wetlington ûîtawaON K1AU Oltrwa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author bas granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence ailowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seii reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur fomat électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conseme la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be p~tedor othenuise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT STABLE ISOTOPE STUDY OF RIVERINE BENTHIC FOOD WEBS iNFLüENCED BY ANTHROPOGEMC DEVELOPMENTS Andrea Joan Catherine Farwell Advisors: University of Guelph, 2000 KR.Solomon and KR.Munkittrick Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were used to assess the potential impacts of hydroelectric development and pulp miIl activity on benthic food web interactions in the tributaries of the Moose River Drainage Basin in Northeastem Ontario. Secondly, the appiicability of stable carbon isotopes as a tool to indicate exposure to pulp mil1 effluent in wild white sucker (Catostomus commerso~~i)located downstrearn of hydroelectric facilities and pulp miIl emuent discharges was assessed. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) of the benthivorous white sucker From an undeveloped tnbutary (Missinaibi River) showed no significant spatial or temporal variability in the 6'3~(mean 2 SE (n) = -29.3 960 f 0.2 (47)) and 6"~values (mean It SE (n) = 8.3 %O f O. 1 (47)) of muscle tissue. The range of 613c (-3 1.4 to -26.5 960) and 6lb (6.3 to 9.4) were used as an indicator of normal fluctuation in the isotopic composition of white sucker in an undeveloped river in the Moose River Basin. Stable isotope analysis of white sucker muscle fiom a regulated river (Groundhog River) were found to be "C and 1% depleted upstream of hydroelectric development. Downstrearn, there were indications (fiom pre-impoundment and post-impoundment liver comparisons) of 13c depletion and 15N e~chmentof white sucker tissues associated with this recent hydroeiectric development (commissioned in fall of 199 1 ). Isotopic trends of white sucker established for the Missinaibi and Groundhog Rivers were used as a reference to detennine changes in benthic food web interactions associated with histoncal log drives and pulp mill effluent discharges on regulated nvers (Mattagarni and Kapuskasing Rivers). Bark and wood accumulations from historical log drives did not appear to infiuence benthic food web dynamics. ')c depleted particulate organic material fiom upstream of the dam combined with "C enriched particulate organic material from pulp mil1 eWuent discharges resulted in the cornbineci 13c values detected in white sucker. The ability to dicerentiate the 613c of white sucker exposed to pulp mill effluent versus the 6"~of white sucker fiom non-impacted sites may be dependent on several factors, including the sire of the reservoir, water discharge, efiluent composition and discharge, and fish mobility. S"N of white sucker did not appear to be infiuenced by pulp mil1 activities. The implications of this study of benthic invertebrates and benthivorous fish fiom the tributaries of the Moose River were discussed with regard to the use of stable isotopes to define fish exposure to pulp mil1 effluent, and to detine suitable reference sites for assessing the impacts of anthropogenic developments on wild fish populations. The thesis is organized as a series of papers (Chapter 2-5) that will be subtnitted for publication. Chapter 1 provides the general introduction and Chapter 6 provides the thesis conclusions. References to Chapters 1-6 are presented in Chapter 7 (References). To the memory of my father, John Francis Fanvell and a fnend, Arthur Woodgate Love always, Andrea Joan iii Acknowleâgmeats The best of life begins with fnends and family! My family and friends mean the worid to me and it is with their support and encouragement that 1 am able to accomplish this and al1 tiiture endeavors. You may never completely understand, but 1 know what rnakes each and every one of you special to me and for this, 1 thank you dl. 1 also know there is no way in heaven that 1 can deny you the 'glory' of seeing your name in print. Special thanks to Michele Burley, Linda Bailey, Susan Gloguaer, Rhonda Wadel, Shona McIntyre and Ingrid Burgetz for putting up with me and making me la@. Thanks to my family, al1 27 of you! I could not image what my life would be like without you! Special thanks to my mother, Jean Nice Farwell, for always being there for al1 of us. Your strength and devotion to your family are tmly inspirational. I thank God for you! It is an honor to dedicate this thesis to the memory of my father, John Francis Fmell and have it serve as a reminder of the value of even the smallest gestures of kindness. An act as simple as changing a bumt out headlight in my car, not because 1 couldn't, but because Dad could, and he could do it for me! Dad, I love you, and miss you, always! 1 am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to interact with several research groups including Kelly Munkittick's and Mark Servos's crews at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCiW), Burlington, Keith Solomon's group at the Centre of Toxicology (Environmental Biology), University of Guelph and the Environmental Isotope Lab in Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo. There were times when I believe I was lost in this mysterious Burlington - Guelph - Waterloo triangle. Loa perhaps but never for long, thanks to a group of reliable, helpfùl and Wendly individuals. Special thanks to Elayne Starr, Centre of Toxicology for keeping me up to date on University of Guelph events and for your helpful assistance when I was on campus. Elayne and the many friendly faces, both staff and graduate students, have made the Centre of Toxicology a most enjoyable place, and their comedic stories will always be remembered. Also, 1 have had the privilege to meet various fiin-loving, hard working individuals at CCIW. Special thanks to Michele Burley, Bev Blunt, Janet Jardine, Lynne Luxon, and Lynda McCarthy for always knowing where to find or how to get exactly what 1 needed and for bemg such Rice people! 1 am forever indebted to Bob Drimmie for allowing me to work out of the Environmental Isotope Lab, Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo. Special thanks to Bob Drimmie and Bill Mark, for the srniling faces that always made me fa1 wekome in iv the isotope lab. Also, the Biology Department at the University of Waterloo has a very positive and energetic group of isotope people and 1 have enjoyed the formal and not so fomal isotope debates over the years. In particular, 1 would Iike to acknowledge Karin Guiguet, a fiiend and fellow PhD thesis writer, for her emotional and scientific suppon during the final stages of thesis writing. This thesis would not be possible without field collections and the tireless effort of so many individuals. Special thanks to Cam Pom and his associates, for the collection of Bsh samples for this project. Over the years there have been numerous individu& fishg the tributanes of the Moose River including Mark McMaster, Wade Gibbons, Mark Hewitt, Michael van den Heuvel, Dana Boyter. Janet Jardine, John Nickle, Lisa Ruemper, Ken Oakes and more! 1 gratefidly acknowledge the efforts of J.S. Griffiths, R.W. Sheehan and E.A. McLeod from Natural Sciences Department, Technical Resources, Ontario Hydro Technologies for the collection of samples and data for various sites on the Missinaibi River in the fall of 1996. Individuals fiom Ontario Hydro aiso collected samples downstream on the Mattagami River at the Kipling dam. Thanks for al1 the effort! Special thanks to Michelle Burley (CCIW) for the collection of water wnples for chernical analysis and field assistance. 1 thank Bruce Gray, Ken W. John Kraft and Ross Neureuther from Technical Operations (CCIW), for their hvaluable assistance in the survey and colleaion Water chemistry parameters were analyzed at the Enviromnent Canada National Lab for Environmental Testing (N'LET) at CCIW, Burlington. Isotope values for DIC were analyzed thanks to Ray Hesslein. Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg. Stable isotope analysis at the Environmentai Isotope Laboratory (EL), Earth Sciences Department, University of Waterloo, was made possible thanks to Bill Mark Bob Drimmie and vaiious members of the support staff. The question remains, where would 1 be without my PhD advisory cornmittee? 1 am truly fortunate to have had a comminee assembled of such dynamic individuals including my CO-supervisors, Dr. Kelly Munkittrick, and Dr. Keith Solomon, and cornmittee members Dr. Mark Servos and Dr. Narinder Kaushik. 1 greatly appreciate al1 the suppon and advise throughout the course of this degree. It has been a privilege to interact with you on professional and persona1 levels, and now 1 have a better undetstanding of the whole business of science. Special thanks to Kelly Munkittrick for your financial assistance, and your endless encouragement and enthusiasm.