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Foodweb modeling for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Twelvemile Creek Arm of Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, USA

Author

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  • Rashleigh, Brenda
  • Barber, M. Craig
  • Walters, David M.

Abstract

PCBs from the Sangamo-Weston Superfund Site near Clemson, South Carolina, USA, were released into the Twelvemile Creek Arm of Lake Hartwell until the early 1990s. Monitoring data have shown that while PCB concentration in sediments declined since 1995, PCB concentrations in fish have remained elevated, e.g., largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) concentrations have ranged from 5 to 10ppm. The EPA aquatic ecosystem model AQUATOX was applied to this system to better characterize foodweb dynamics that lead to biomagnification of PCBs. The model was calibrated with observed fish biomass data. Simulated PCB loading over a 12-year period provided a reasonable fit to observed PCB data in fish. The model demonstrated that contaminated labile detritus loaded to the system was incorporated into the foodweb rather than deposited, thereby maintaining the PCB concentrations in fish while concentrations in the sediment declined. A dominant PCB pathway was from detritus to daphnia to shad to largemouth bass. Fish PCB concentrations showed moderate sensitivity to toxicant parameters; model runs incorporating uncertainty in these parameters predicted recovery (<2ppm PCB) for all species in the range of years from 2008 to 2013. The high sensitivity of the model to parameters related to growth strongly affected PCB concentrations in fish and should be considered in future AQUATOX applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Rashleigh, Brenda & Barber, M. Craig & Walters, David M., 2009. "Foodweb modeling for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Twelvemile Creek Arm of Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, USA," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(2), pages 254-264.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:220:y:2009:i:2:p:254-264
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.09.007
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    Cited by:

    1. John Sherwood & Michael Carbajales-Dale & Becky Roselius Haney, 2020. "Putting the Biophysical (Back) in Economics: A Taxonomic Review of Modeling the Earth-Bound Economy," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Niu, Zhiguang & Gou, Qianqian & Wang, Xiujun & Zhang, Ying, 2016. "Simulation of a water ecosystem in a landscape lake in Tianjin with AQUATOX: Sensitivity, calibration, validation and ecosystem prognosis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 335(C), pages 54-63.
    3. Zhang, Lulu & Liu, Jingling & Li, Yi & Zhao, Yanwei, 2013. "Applying AQUATOX in determining the ecological risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in Baiyangdian Lake, North China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 265(C), pages 239-249.
    4. Bai, Jing & Zhao, Jian & Zhang, Zhenyu & Tian, Ziqiang, 2022. "Assessment and a review of research on surface water quality modeling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 466(C).
    5. Taner, Mehmet Ümit & Carleton, James N. & Wellman, Marjorie, 2011. "Integrated model projections of climate change impacts on a North American lake," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(18), pages 3380-3393.

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