| Abstrakt: |
Selection of fish species for sampling to assess extent and potential effects of fish tissue contaminants is a critical consideration in the design of regional probability-design surveys. The ideal species would be ubiquitous, bioaccumulate toxic chemicals, and be prey of consumers of concern (piscivorous wildlife, humans). In first to third order streams, small short-lived forage fish (minnows (F. Cyprinidae), darters (F. Percidae), and sculpins (F. Cottidae), are more frequently found and therefore likely to be prey to more species of wildlife than those of sportfish whose adults grow to a large size (suckers (F. Catostomidae), trout (F. Salmonidae), bass, and sunfish (F. Centrarchidae), and carp). Targeting smaller forage fish should also produce a larger number of individuals per sample on average than may be achieved with the larger species. An analysis of fish collected in 1993 and 1994 as part of the Mid-Atlantic Highlands Assessment (MAHA) showed that, as expected, forage fish were more ubiquitous than sportfish species. Analysis also revealed that, on a regional basis, forage fish bioaccumulated comparable levels to sportfish, of some widely occurring contaminants such as DDT, MeHg, and PCBs. Results indicated that smaller forage fish can be used as indicator species for a regional assessment for most contaminants (Zn being the one clear exception), that was not significantly different from one based on the larger species. Forage fish may therefore be an excellent choice as indicator species for regional streams ecological risk assessment studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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