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Seasonal dynamics of PCB and toxaphene bioaccumulation within a Lake Michigan food web

Publication ,  Journal Article
Stapleton, HM; Skubinna, J; Baker, JE
Published in: Journal of Great Lakes Research
January 1, 2002

Seasonal variations in PCB and toxaphene concentrations were measured in bulk zooplankton, mysid shrimp, benthic amphipods, alewife, and bloater chub collected from Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan between April and September of 1997 and 1998. Concentrations of PCBs in the dissolved phase of the water column were consistent over time; however, seasonal changes in contaminant concentrations within the biota were significant. Seasonal changes were most pronounced in zooplankton, which displayed highest PCB burdens in April and decreased by as much as 75% through September, coincident with changes in phytoplankton biomass, species composition, and changes in the particulate pools of PCBs within the water column. Mysis sp. display a similar PCB trend as zooplankton, while Diporeia sp. displayed maximal PCB concentrations in late summer during 1997. PCB trends in the primary forage fish alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and bloater (Coregonus hoyi) were correlated more to shifts in lipid content and seasonal diet preferences. PCB concentrations were higher (p < 0.01) in bloater (310 ± 98 ng/g wet weight) than alewife (233 ± 70 ng/g wet weight), however alewife possessed higher toxaphene burdens (198 ± 72 ng/g wet weight) than bloater (88 ± 36 ng/g wet weight). Alewife contaminant burdens were high in spring and fall of both years, decreasing by as much as 60% in midsummer, and were reflective of changes measured in their lipid content associated with gamete production and spawning. These results suggest that despite invariant concentrations of the dissolved pool of PCBs within the lake, accumulation of PCBs by the biota on seasonal scales is controlled appreciably by growth and lipid dynamics, and foraging behavior.

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Published In

Journal of Great Lakes Research

DOI

ISSN

0380-1330

Publication Date

January 1, 2002

Volume

28

Issue

1

Start / End Page

52 / 64

Related Subject Headings

  • Fisheries
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
 

Citation

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Stapleton, H. M., Skubinna, J., & Baker, J. E. (2002). Seasonal dynamics of PCB and toxaphene bioaccumulation within a Lake Michigan food web. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 28(1), 52–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(02)70562-5
Stapleton, H. M., J. Skubinna, and J. E. Baker. “Seasonal dynamics of PCB and toxaphene bioaccumulation within a Lake Michigan food web.” Journal of Great Lakes Research 28, no. 1 (January 1, 2002): 52–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(02)70562-5.
Stapleton HM, Skubinna J, Baker JE. Seasonal dynamics of PCB and toxaphene bioaccumulation within a Lake Michigan food web. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 2002 Jan 1;28(1):52–64.
Stapleton, H. M., et al. “Seasonal dynamics of PCB and toxaphene bioaccumulation within a Lake Michigan food web.” Journal of Great Lakes Research, vol. 28, no. 1, Jan. 2002, pp. 52–64. Scopus, doi:10.1016/S0380-1330(02)70562-5.
Stapleton HM, Skubinna J, Baker JE. Seasonal dynamics of PCB and toxaphene bioaccumulation within a Lake Michigan food web. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 2002 Jan 1;28(1):52–64.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Great Lakes Research

DOI

ISSN

0380-1330

Publication Date

January 1, 2002

Volume

28

Issue

1

Start / End Page

52 / 64

Related Subject Headings

  • Fisheries
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience