Combining the use of gradients and reference areas to study bioaccumulation in wild oysters in the Hunter River estuary, New South Wales, Australia

Two approaches for measuring the effects of human activities on aquatic biota are gradient studies and comparison of impacted areas to external references. Wild oysters were sampled at 12 sites adjacent to, upstream and downstream of a steelworks in the Hunter River estuary and in two reference estu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2004-05, Vol.48 (9), p.873-883
Main Authors: Lincoln-Smith, Marcus P., Cooper, Timothy F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Bivalvia - metabolism
Brackish
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Geography
Metallurgy
Metals
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Mollusca
New South Wales
Ostreidae
PAH
Phenols - analysis
Point source
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis
Regression Analysis
Rivers - chemistry
Saccostrea glomerata
Steelworks
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:Two approaches for measuring the effects of human activities on aquatic biota are gradient studies and comparison of impacted areas to external references. Wild oysters were sampled at 12 sites adjacent to, upstream and downstream of a steelworks in the Hunter River estuary and in two reference estuaries. Regression analyses for the Hunter indicated reduced concentrations with distance from the point source for some metals and PAHs. Data compared from the reference estuaries to the two sites nearest and the two furthest from the point source in the Hunter indicated elevated concentrations of contaminants both near the point source and on an estuary-wide basis. The gradient approach was useful in identifying the industrial effluent as a point source for bioavailable chemicals. Combining this with the use of reference estuaries provided a broad geographic context in which to interpret results from the Hunter and identified estuary-wide effects.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2003.11.003