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Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm

Received: 23 April 2018     Accepted: 8 May 2018     Published: 28 May 2018
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Abstract

Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 6, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
Page(s) 47-52
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Macroinvertebrates, Fish, Specific Conductance

References
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[2] Scott, R. L. and R. M. Hays (1975). Inactive and abandoned underground mines—water pollution prevention and control. U.S. EPA—440/9-75-007. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Water; Washington, D. C.
[3] Rose, A. W. and C. A. Cravotta, III (1998). Geochemistry of coal mine drainage. Coal Mine Drainage Prediction and Pollution Prevention in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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[7] Kimmel, W. G., and D. G. Argent (2006). Development and application of an index of biotic integrity (IBI) for fish communities of wadeable Monongahela River tributaries. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 21 (2), 183-190.
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[9] Knuth, M., J. L. Jackson, and D. O. Whittemore (2005). An integrated approach to identifying the salinity source contaminating a ground-water supply. Groundwater 28 (2), 207–214.
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[12] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (2011). A field-based aquatic life benchmark for conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams. National Center for Environmental Assessment. Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH. EPA/600/R-10/023F.
[13] Skousen, J. K., K. Politan, T. Hilton, and A. Meeks (1990). Acid mine drainage treatment systems: chemicals and costs. Green Lands 20 (4), 31-37.
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[16] Hedin, R. S., G. R. Watzlaf, and R. W. Nairn (1994). Passive treatment of acid mine drainage with limestone. Journal of Environmental Quality 23, 1338-1345.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    William Griffiths Kimmel, David Gordon Argent. (2018). Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 6(2), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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    ACS Style

    William Griffiths Kimmel; David Gordon Argent. Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2018, 6(2), 47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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    AMA Style

    William Griffiths Kimmel, David Gordon Argent. Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2018;6(2):47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12,
      author = {William Griffiths Kimmel and David Gordon Argent},
      title = {Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {6},
      number = {2},
      pages = {47-52},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20180602.12},
      abstract = {Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm
    AU  - William Griffiths Kimmel
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    Y1  - 2018/05/28
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 47
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
    AB  - Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, California University of Pennsylvania, California, USA

  • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, California University of Pennsylvania, California, USA

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