International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis

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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: 08 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.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 6, Issue 2, April 2018)
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), 2024. 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.
[4] Butler, R. L., E. L. Cooper, D. C. Hales, C. C. Wagner, W. G. Kimmel, and J. K. Crawford (1973). Fish and food organisms in acid mine waters of Pennsylvania. Office of Research and Monitoring, EPA-R-73-032. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D. C.
[5] W. G. Kimmel (1983). The impact of acid mine drainage on the stream ecosystem. In S. K. Majumdar & Miller, E. W. (Eds.), Pennsylvania coal: resources, technology and utilization. Pennsylvania Academy of Science, Easton, Pennsylvania.
[6] Kimmel, W. G., C. A. Miller, and T. C. Moon (1981). The impact of a deep-mine drainage on the water quality and biota of a small hard-water stream. Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 55, 137-141.
[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.
[8] R. Ventorini (2002). Fish community in warmwater tributaries of the Youghiogheny River impacted by net alkaline deep mine discharges. MS Thesis. California University of Pennsylvania, California, Pennsylvania, 57.
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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.
[14] J. K. Skousen (N. D.). Overview of acid mine drainage treatment with chemicals. West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.
[15] R. S. Hedin (1989). Treatment of coal mine drainage with constructed wetlands. In S. K. Majumdar, Brooks, R. P., Breener, F. J., & Tiner, R. W. Wetlands Ecology and Conservation: Emphasis in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Academy of Science, Easton, Pennsylvania.
[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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[18] Kimmel, W. G., and D. G. Argent (2012). Status of fish and macroinvertebrate communities in a watershed experiencing high rates of fossil fuel extraction: Tenmile Creek, a major Monongahela River tributary. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 223 (7), 4647-4657.
[19] Kennedy, A. J., D. S. Cherry, and R. J. Currie (2003). Field and laboratory assessment of a coal processing effluent in the Leading Creek Watershed, Meigs County, Ohio. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 44 (3), 324–331.
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[25] Barbour, M. T., J. Gerritsen, B. D. Snyder, and J. B. Stribling (1999). Rapid bioassessment protocols for use in streams and wadeable rivers: periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish, second edition. EPA 841-B-99-002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Water; Washington, D. C.
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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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    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://download.sciencepg.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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    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    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
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