Exposure and Effects Pilot Study Small Fish Mercury Project Ben Greenfield 1, Letitia Grenier 1, Andrew Jahn 2, Seth Shonkoff 1, Mark Sandheinrich 3, Joy.

Exposure and Effects Pilot Exposure and Effects Pilot StudyStudy

Small Fish Mercury Project Small Fish Mercury Project

Ben GreenfieldBen Greenfield11, Letitia Grenier, Letitia Grenier11, Andrew Jahn, Andrew Jahn22, ,

Seth ShonkoffSeth Shonkoff11, Mark Sandheinrich, Mark Sandheinrich33, Joy Andrews, Joy Andrews44,,

Jay DavisJay Davis11

1. SFEI; 2. 1000 Riverside Drive, Ukiah, CA; 3. River Studies Center, University of 1. SFEI; 2. 1000 Riverside Drive, Ukiah, CA; 3. River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse; 4. California State University – East BayWisconsin – La Crosse; 4. California State University – East Bay

EEPS ― Small Fish Hg EEPS ― Small Fish Hg ProjectProject

GoalsGoals Characterize food-web mercury at finer Characterize food-web mercury at finer

spatial and temporal scales than sport spatial and temporal scales than sport fish studiesfish studies

Detect regional trends in bioaccumulation Detect regional trends in bioaccumulation of Hg related to wetland restorationof Hg related to wetland restoration

Identify differences in pattern between Identify differences in pattern between benthic and pelagic food websbenthic and pelagic food webs

EEPS ― Small Fish Hg EEPS ― Small Fish Hg ProjectProject

DesignDesign 8 sites from South Bay to Suisun Bay8 sites from South Bay to Suisun Bay

4 sites near restoration projects4 sites near restoration projects 4 index sites near extant marshes4 index sites near extant marshes

Additional samples in deep waterAdditional samples in deep water Sample benthic and pelagic species at each siteSample benthic and pelagic species at each site

Use related types of species to create data sets Use related types of species to create data sets comparable across a wide range of salinitiescomparable across a wide range of salinities

Topsmelt/Mississippi (inland) silversides (Atherinopsidae)Topsmelt/Mississippi (inland) silversides (Atherinopsidae) Arrow goby, cheekspot, and Shimofuri goby (Arrow goby, cheekspot, and Shimofuri goby (TridentigerTridentiger)) Bay goby from deep waterBay goby from deep water

DesignDesign Four composites per species per site - Four composites per species per site -

allow statistical comparisonallow statistical comparison 5-10 individuals/composite5-10 individuals/composite Minimize covariates by using consistent Minimize covariates by using consistent

sizessizes

EEPS ― Small Fish Hg EEPS ― Small Fish Hg ProjectProject

Collaboration and leverageCollaboration and leverage Analytical lab - UW LaCrosse River Studies Analytical lab - UW LaCrosse River Studies

CenterCenter Additional samples for individual Hg Additional samples for individual Hg

analysis by CSU - East Bay (Joy Andrews)analysis by CSU - East Bay (Joy Andrews) Extra samples collected using clean Extra samples collected using clean

techniques for trace organics analysistechniques for trace organics analysis Looking for funding for analysisLooking for funding for analysis

Bay Gobies from IEP trawl surveysBay Gobies from IEP trawl surveys

EEPS ― Small Fish Hg EEPS ― Small Fish Hg ProjectProject

Coordination with other monitoringCoordination with other monitoring GeographicGeographic

EEPS samples bay edge - South, Central and EEPS samples bay edge - South, Central and North BayNorth Bay

South Bay Salt Pond Hg project samples South Bay Salt Pond Hg project samples inside marshes, ponds, and sloughs inside marshes, ponds, and sloughs

CBDA Fish Mercury Project - North Bay, more CBDA Fish Mercury Project - North Bay, more freshwater focusfreshwater focus

SpeciesSpecies Intent to produce data set as comparable as Intent to produce data set as comparable as

possible across regionpossible across region

EEPS ― Small Fish Hg EEPS ― Small Fish Hg ProjectProject

Station Sal

inity

Tops

mel

t

Silv

ersi

de

Bay

Gob

y

Che

eksp

ot G

oby

Arr

ow G

oby

Shi

mof

uri G

oby

Alviso Slough 23 4 4China Camp 26 4 4Newark Slough 27 2 4 4Eden Landing 29 1 4 4Birds Island 29 2 3 4Oakland Harbor 32 4 4

IEP Treasure Island 4IEP Candlestick 4

EEPS ― Small Fish Hg EEPS ― Small Fish Hg ProjectProject

3

EEPS ― Small Fish Hg EEPS ― Small Fish Hg ProjectProject

TreatmentReferenceBay Goby

Preliminary ResultsPreliminary Results

72 Composite samples analyzed 72 Composite samples analyzed Data received last weekData received last week QA was goodQA was good

94% recovery of spiked samples94% recovery of spiked samples 5% relative standard deviation of 5% relative standard deviation of

triplicate samplestriplicate samples

Pelagic Species Higher

Spatial PatternsSpatial Patterns

Alviso Slough

Newark SloughBird Island

Eden Landing

Oakland Middle Harbor

China Camp

Benicia Park

Comparison to Fish/WildlifeComparison to Fish/WildlifeRisk ThresholdsRisk Thresholds

* Tissue concentration dry weight

Source1. Johnson and Looker 20042. Beckvar et al. 20063. Calculated from BTAG Toxicity Reference Values

Threshold Endpoint # Above % Above0.030 TMDL Target for wildlife (1) 37 41%0.200 Fish growth, reproduction, development, behavior (2) 3 3%0.130* NOAEL for small sized piscivorous birds (3) 72 80%1.440* LOAEL for medium sized piscivorous birds (3) 1 1%

SummarySummary

Variation among speciesVariation among species Mississippi Silverside > Topsmelt > Mississippi Silverside > Topsmelt >

Arrow/Cheekspot Gobies > Bay GobyArrow/Cheekspot Gobies > Bay Goby Variation among stationsVariation among stations

Alviso Slough generally elevatedAlviso Slough generally elevated Southern stations elevated in silversides Southern stations elevated in silversides

(Alviso, Newark, Bird Island)(Alviso, Newark, Bird Island)

Future StepsFuture Steps

Evaluate species selectionEvaluate species selection Are we on the right track with chosen Are we on the right track with chosen

species?species? Evaluate sample sizes and study Evaluate sample sizes and study

designdesign Power analysisPower analysis

Estimate wildlife riskEstimate wildlife risk Long-term trend evaluationLong-term trend evaluation

Thanks to…

April RobinsonBridget MooneyCindy PattyDarell SlottenMarco SigalaDave CraneSarah CohenMeg SedlakJoel BakerArthur FongSF Bay National Wildife RefugeCalifornia State ParksCA Department Fish & Game