Workgroup Updates Focus for 2007 Defining the important questions Outlining a five-year strategy...
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Transcript of Workgroup Updates Focus for 2007 Defining the important questions Outlining a five-year strategy...
Workgroup Updates
Focus for 2007 Defining the important questions Outlining a five-year strategy (and budget)
Outline for today Update on 2007 activities Present specific questions Proposed 2008 activities
Workgroup UpdatesExposure and Effects
RMP Objective #4 Measure pollution exposure and effects on
selected parts of the Estuary ecosystem (including humans)
Measuring potential impact to: Humans Birds Benthos Fish Food webs
Exposure and EffectsRisks to Birds - Hg
USGS Avian Studies 2007Hg in eggs
Extra High
Egg
[T
Hg]
(µ
g/g
dw
)
5
6
7
8
9
10
Random Failed to Hatch
Abandoned
Moderate
High
Risk Factor
Egg Fate
Forster’s Terns (P<0.05)
USGS Avian Studies 2007Chick Survival
0.1
1.0
10.0
100.0
Avocet Stilt
Chi
ck d
own
feat
her
[TH
g] (
µg
g-1 fw
)
Live chicksDead chicks
Newly Hatched
1. Egg drilling 2. Albuminmicrosampling
3. Egg sealing 4. Egg replacementand monitoring
USGS Avian Studies 2007Measuring egg albumin
Exposure and Effects Birds
Exposure and EffectsBirds
Specific questions for next five years:1. Is there clear evidence of pollutant effects
on survival, reproduction, or growth of individual birds?
2. Are pollutants in the Bay adversely affecting bird populations?
3. Do spatial patterns in accumulation indicate particular regions of concern?
Exposure and EffectsBirds
Five-year plan:Q1 & Q2 (contaminant effects) addressed
through USGS studies2008: Funding a study of Hg/Se effects on
reproductive success, egg hatchability, and chick survival
Q3 (Spatial patterns) Are pollutants in the Bay adversely affecting bird populations?
2008: S&T triennial bird egg monitoring
Exposure and EffectsBenthos
• Observe sediment toxicity • Cause is not well understood
• 2007 Causes of toxicity study:
• 4 sites (Pt Pinole, Mission Creek, San Leandro Bay, and Oakland Inner Harbor)• Sediment tox. tests – TIEs on toxic sites (survival < 50%)• Will continue in 2008 (carryover)
Exposure and EffectsBenthos
Specific questions next five years:1. What are the spatial and temporal impacts of
sediment contamination on benthic biota
2. Which pollutants are responsible for observed impacts on benthic biota?
3. Are the toxicity tests, benthic community assessment approaches and the overall SQO framework we are using reliable indicators of impacts on benthic biota?
Exposure and EffectsBenthos
Plan for next five years:• Q1 (spatial/temporal trends) addressed
thru by incorporating benthos into S&T• Begin 2008
• Q2 (pollutants causing impacts) addressed thru causes of sed. tox.• Biennial – 2009, 2011,
• Q3 (understanding sed. assessments) addressed thru data integration.• Coordinate workshops in 2008
Exposure and EffectsFish
2007: Update on CSU-LB studies• Looking at endocrine disruption:
• Thyroid hormones• Stress hormones• Impairment of growth & increase in
parasites
• Correlating to contaminants (PCBs, PAHs, pesticides)
0
20
40
60
80
100
San PabloBay
Berkeley Waterfront
RedwoodCity
Oakland Inner Harbor
Tomales Bay
(8) (13) (17) (12) (5)
Pla
sma T
hyro
xin
e
Pla
sma T
hyro
xin
e
(T4
) (T
4)
Conce
ntr
ati
on,
Conce
ntr
ati
on,
ng/m
lng/m
l
Pacific Pacific StaghoStaghorn rn SculpiSculpinn
Thryoxine (T4) Levels in Pacific Thryoxine (T4) Levels in Pacific Staghorn SculpinStaghorn Sculpin
0
400
800
1200
Redwood City
Oakland Inner
Harbor
Berkeley Waterfro
nt
San Pablo Bay
17 16 13 19
Pacific Staghorn SculpinPacific Staghorn Sculpin
Pla
sma C
ort
isol
Conce
ntr
ati
on (
ng/m
l) aa aa
bb
cc
Stress ResponseStress Response
Exposure and EffectsFish
Specific questions next five years:1. Are pollutants, individually or in combination,
reducing the reproductive ability, growth and health of sensitive fish populations?
2. What are appropriate thresholds of concern for contaminant concentrations for Bay species?
3. What are cost-effective indicators for monitoring effects of contaminants on fish populations?
Exposure and EffectsFish
Five-year plan:• Q1(effect of pollutants) & Q2 (appropriate
thresholds) addressed thru• 2008/2009 NOAA study of PAH effects on
early life stages
• Q1 & Q3 (indicators) addressed thru• S&T triennial sportfish monitoring
• PS/SS EDC study
Workgroup UpdatesEmerging Contaminants
RMP Objective #1Describe spatial patterns and long-term
trends of pollutant concentrations in the Estuary
Focus to date has been identifying a strategy for ECs
Workgroup UpdatesEmerging Contaminants
Strategy Target chemicals: widely used,
bioaccumulative, persistent, toxic, methods available, concern for Bay, and panel recommendation
High priority:Alternatives to PBDEsPerfluorinated
Pilot Study of Apex Predators
• Collaborating with Marine Mammal Center – Chemical analysis of 21 harbor seals– Part of larger study
PFOS in SF Bay Sealsand Elsewhere
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Baltic Sea(n=18)
Baltic Sea(n=26)
Can. Artic(n=12)
NorwegianArtic (n=18)
SF Bay(n=14)
SF Ref.(n=7)
Location
PF
OS
co
nc
in p
las
ma
(n
g/L
)
Workgroup UpdatesEmerging Contaminants
2008Study examining alternatives to PBDEsContinuation of PFOS in harbor sealsBudget $75,000/yr