Thesis
Impacts of contaminated sediment remediation on early life stages of rainbow trout
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101639
Abstract
Fish in the salmonid family are of particular importance economically, socially, and ecologically. Consequently, a great deal of interest has been given to researching environmental impacts on salmonid health to better protect these valued species. Sediment contamination is vast and poses a potential ecological risk in watersheds across the United States. Contaminated sediments may directly or indirectly affect fish populations. Current sediment remediation practices primarily involve capping, dredging or monitored natural attenuation approaches - each has its own drawbacks in relation to the aquatic ecosystem. An innovative remedial approach, using solid peroxide within the sediment to increase available oxygen for microbial degradation of organic contaminants, was examined in this study. Sediments are low oxygen environments; increasing the oxygen available to be used as the terminal electron acceptor during microbial degradation may facilitate this process. The effects of this unique remediation method on rainbow trout at two different life stages were evaluated in relation to environmental parameters and fish condition. Remediated and non-remediated contaminated sediment impacts on yolk-sac fry and juvenile trout were evaluated following 29 and 30 day exposures, respectively. Contaminant uptake, environmental condition and fish condition were evaluated. Results suggest that dissolved oxygen within the water was significantly increased in aquaria undergoing the remediation treatment. The contaminant used in this study, phenanthrene, was degraded in both remediated and un-remediated treatments and was not significantly increased by the remediation treatment. This may be a result of the experimental set-up, and given more time significant differences might be observed. Fish condition factor, a relationship between length and weight, varied across treatment types. However, all fish condition factors were relatively close to 1.0, a value suggesting good fish condition. Fish were observed to uptake phenanthrene during Phase I, but not Phase II - likely a result of lower sediment phenanthrene concentrations during Phase II. This suggests the remediation treatment resulted in an observable impact on environmental parameters, specifically dissolved oxygen, and fish condition.
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Details
- Title
- Impacts of contaminated sediment remediation on early life stages of rainbow trout
- Creators
- John Richard Foltz
- Contributors
- Jeffery L. Ullman (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525399801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis