Effects of selenium on benthic macroinvertebrates and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) in a boreal lake ecosystem

Graves, Stephanie D.; Liber, Karsten; Palace, Vince; Hecker, Markus; Doig, Lorne E.; Janz, David M.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.06.037

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…In fact, current Se benchmarks derived based on Se accumulation in fish tissue assume that this threshold is protective of all aquatic biota (British Columbia Ministry of Environment [BCMoE], 2014; ECCC, 2021; US Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA], 2016). Recent studies, however, have demonstrated adverse effects of Se (selenite) on benthic macroinvertebrate richness and density at concentrations below the current Canadian benchmark of 1 µg/L (Graves et al, 2019b). Also, in mine‐influenced streams, benthic macroinvertebrate taxa bioaccumulated the highest Se concentrations among all taxa analyzed, including fish and salamanders (Cianciolo et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selenium Distribution and Trophic Transfer in the Periphyton–Benthic Macroinvertebrate Food Chain in Boreal Lakes Downstream from a Milling Operation

Mendes

Cupe-Flores

Liber

2022

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient with a narrow essentiality-toxicity range known to bioaccumulate in aquatic food webs. Selenium uptake and trophic transfer at the base of aquatic food chains represent a great source of uncertainty for Se risk assessment. The goal of the present study was to investigate Se distribution in water and sediment and its subsequent transfer into the periphyton-benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) food chain in boreal lakes downstream from a Saskatchewan uranium mill. In particular, the present study aimed to assess potential differences in Se bioaccumulation patterns by BMI taxa to contribute to the current knowledge gap. During summer 2018 and 2019, water, sediment, periphyton, and BMI were sampled at two sites in Vulture Lake, seven sites in McClean Lake east basin, and one reference site in McClean Lake west basin. Periphyton and BMI taxa were sampled with artificial substrates (Hester-Dendy) deployed for 5 weeks in 2018 and 7 weeks in 2019; BMI were sorted into the lowest practical achievable taxonomic level and analyzed for total Se concentrations. At the diluted effluent exposure sites, Se concentrations in BMI ranged from 1.3 to 18.0 µg/g dry weight and from 0.3 to 49.3 µg/g dry weight in 2018 and 2019, respectively, whereas concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 3.5 µg/g dry weight at the reference site. Selenium concentrations in periphyton and some BMI taxa sampled near the effluent diffuser (Se < 1 µg/L) reached levels comparable to higher effluent exposure sites (Se > 2 µg/L). Despite differences in Se bioaccumulation among BMI taxa, an approximately one-to-one trophic transfer ratio was observed for benthic primary consumers and benthic predatory taxa.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selenium Distribution and Trophic Transfer in the Periphyton–Benthic Macroinvertebrate Food Chain in Boreal Lakes Downstream from a Milling Operation

Mendes

Cupe-Flores

Liber

2022

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…In addition to the observed decreases in BMI and crustacean zooplankton density/biomass with increasing Se concentrations, we found that chlorophyll a concentrations increased approximately 2‐ to 3‐fold in the highest Se treatment (7.9 µg/L) relative to the controls. This finding suggests that there was no inhibition of algal growth by Se, and rather, that algal growth may have increased either indirectly—as a result of decreased grazing pressure (Graves et al, 2019a)—or directly—as a result of Se supplementation supporting algal growth (Abdel‐Hamid & Skulberg, 1995). In the present study, as well as in a previous study (Graves et al, 2019a), invertebrate biomass decreased in the higher Se treatments at the end of the experimental period, which suggests that there were fewer invertebrates present to consume algae at higher Se levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This finding suggests that there was no inhibition of algal growth by Se, and rather, that algal growth may have increased either indirectly—as a result of decreased grazing pressure (Graves et al, 2019a)—or directly—as a result of Se supplementation supporting algal growth (Abdel‐Hamid & Skulberg, 1995). In the present study, as well as in a previous study (Graves et al, 2019a), invertebrate biomass decreased in the higher Se treatments at the end of the experimental period, which suggests that there were fewer invertebrates present to consume algae at higher Se levels. However, it is possible that the increased algal growth occurred independently of the decreased invertebrate biomass—and the two possible explanations cannot be teased apart in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Benthic macroinvertebrate emergence and larval abundance decreased following 42 days of exposure to 10 µg Se/L in 714‐L mesocosms (Henry & Wesner, 2018). In 3000‐L limnocorrals spiked with an average of 8.9 µg Se/L, BMI diversity, biomass, and density decreased relative to controls after a 77‐day experimental period (Graves et al, 2019a). In addition, Debruyn and Chapman (2007) demonstrated that internal Se effect concentrations (ECs) for invertebrates ranged from 1.0 to 60 µg/g dry mass and lethal concentrations ranged from 8.3 to 125 µg/g dry mass.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, little information is available regarding the potential ecological impacts of elevated Se on other organisms such as benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI) and zooplankton; and it is presently unclear whether these fish tissue guidelines are protective of the invertebrate taxa inhabiting an aquatic system. Furthermore, there is a need for organism-based tissue Se guidelines for the protection of aquatic life in fishless waters, because excess Se has the potential to adversely impact aquatic invertebrates at environmentally relevant levels (Debruyn & Chapman, 2007;Graves et al, 2019aGraves et al, , 2019b.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of Crustacean Zooplankton and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities to Selenium Additions in a Boreal Lake

Graves

Liber

Palace

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Selenium (Se) is a contaminant of concern in Canada mainly due to its teratogenic effects on fish and birds. However, few studies have assessed the effects of Se on invertebrates in a field setting. The objective of this experiment was to assess potential community-level impacts of Se additions on zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates in a boreal lake ecosystem. From June to August 2018, Se (as selenite) was added to six limnocorrals in Lake 239 at the International Institute for Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area, Northwestern Ontario, Canada, to achieve mean measured aqueous concentrations of 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.4, 5.6 and 7.9 µg Se/L, with three untreated limnocorrals serving as controls (background Se = 0.08-0.09 µg/L). Periphyton, phytoplankton, and invertebrates (zooplankton and benthos) were monitored for 63 days. Zooplankton community composition shifted as a function of Se exposure, with Cladocera biomass and density decreasing with increasing Se concentrations. Similarly, cumulative abundance and biomass of Heptageniidae decreased with increasing Se treatment throughout the experimental period. The present study demonstrated that Se can have impacts on aquatic invertebrates at environmentally relevant exposure levels, and that future ecological risk assessments should consider the impacts of Se on both vertebrates and invertebrates.

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Application of autonomous sensor technology to estimate selenium exposure and a site‐specific selenium threshold in a Canadian boreal lake

Mendes

Cupe-Flores

Panigrahi

et al. 2022

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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There is an increasing trend in the use of real-time sensor technology to remotely monitor aquatic ecosystems. Commercially available probes, however, are currently not able to measure aqueous selenium (Se) concentrations. Because of the well-described bioaccumulation potential and associated toxicity of Se in oviparous vertebrates, it is crucial to monitor Se concentrations at sites receiving continuous effluent Se input. This study aimed to estimate Se concentrations in a boreal lake (McClean Lake) downstream from a Saskatchewan uranium mill using real-time electrical conductivity (EC) data measured by autonomous sensors. Additionally, this study aimed to derive a site-specific total aqueous Se (TSe) threshold based on Se concentrations in periphyton and benthic macroinvertebrates sampled from the same lake. To characterize effluent distribution within the lake, eight Smart Water (Libelium) sensor units were programmed to report EC and temperature for five and seven consecutive weeks in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In parallel, periphyton and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled with Hester-Dendy's artificial substrate samplers (n = 4) at the same sites and subsequently analyzed for Se concentrations. Electrical conductivity was measured with a handheld field meter for sensor data validation and adjusted to the median lake water temperature (13 °C) registered for the deployment periods. Results demonstrated good accuracy of sensor readings relative to handheld field meter readings and the successful use of real-time EC in estimating TSe exposure (r = 0.87; r 2 = 0.84). Linear regression equations derived for Se in detritivores versus Se in periphyton and Se in periphyton versus sensor-estimated TSe were used to estimate a site-specific TSe threshold of 0.7 µg/L (±0.2). Moreover, mean Se concentrations in periphyton (16.7 ± 4.4 µg/g dry weight [d.w.]) and benthic detritivores (6.0 ± 0.4 µg/g d.w.) from one of the exposure sites helped identify an area with potential for high Se bioaccumulation and toxicity in aquatic organisms in McClean Lake.

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Effects of selenium on benthic macroinvertebrates and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) in a boreal lake ecosystem

Cited by 9 publications

References 47 publications

Selenium Distribution and Trophic Transfer in the Periphyton–Benthic Macroinvertebrate Food Chain in Boreal Lakes Downstream from a Milling Operation

Selenium Distribution and Trophic Transfer in the Periphyton–Benthic Macroinvertebrate Food Chain in Boreal Lakes Downstream from a Milling Operation

Response of Crustacean Zooplankton and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities to Selenium Additions in a Boreal Lake

Application of autonomous sensor technology to estimate selenium exposure and a site‐specific selenium threshold in a Canadian boreal lake

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