Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Timothy S. Gross Mike Meyer Publication_Date: 2005 Title: Ecological Risk Assessment of Toxic Substances in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem: Wildlife Effects and Exposure Assessment Online_Linkage: http://sofia.usgs.gov/projects/eco_risk/ Description: Abstract: This project will be carried out in several locations throughout those areas critical to the South Florida Restoration Initiative. These areas include: 1) Water Conservation Areas 1, 2, and 3 of the Central Everglades, 2) Everglades National Park, 3) Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, 4) Big Cypress National Preserve, 5) multiple Miami Metropolitan area canals and drainages, and 6) restoration related STA’s (STA’s 1-6) adjacent to the Everglades. Specific site selections will be based upon consideration of USACE restoration plans and upon discussions with other place-based and CESI approved projects. The overall objectives are characterize the exposure of wildlife to contaminants within the aquatic ecosystems of South Florida, through a multi-stage process: a) screening of biota to identify hazards/contaminants posing risk, and b) evaluation of the potential effects of those contaminants on appropriate animal/wildlife receptors. This project will focus upon each of these stages/needs, with an emphasis on understanding the effects of contaminants on alligators, fishes, birds, amphibians and macroinvertebrates. Purpose: Historically, little consideration has been given to environmental chemical stressors/contaminants within the ecosystem restoration efforts for the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. The restoration is primarily guided by determining and restoring the historical relationships between ecosystem function and hydrology. The restoration plan was formulated to restore the natural hydrology and therefore, the resultant landscape patterns, bio-diversity and wildlife abundance. However, additional efforts need to consider the role that chemical contaminants such as pesticides and other inorganic/organic contaminants play in the structure and function of the resultant South Florida ecosystems. Indeed, the current level of agriculture and expanding urbanization and development necessitate that more emphasis be placed on chemical contaminants within this sensitive ecosystem and the current restoration efforts. The primary goal of the proposed project, therefore, is to develop an improved understanding of the exposure/fate (i.e. degradation, metabolism, dissipation, accumulation and transport) and potential ecological effects produced as a result of chemical stressors and their interactions in South Florida freshwater and wetland ecosystems. The overall objectives are to evaluate the risk posed by contaminants to biota within the aquatic ecosystems of South Florida, through a multi-stage process: a) screening of biota to identify hazards/contaminants posing risk and b) evaluation of the potential effects of those contaminants on appropriate animal/wildlife receptors. This project will focus upon each of these stages/needs, with an emphasis on understanding the effects of contaminants on alligators, fishes, birds, amphibians and macroinvertebrates. The specific objectives of this project are to: 1. Assess current exposure and potential adverse effects for appropriate receptors/species within the South Florida ecosystems with some emphasis on DOI trust species. These efforts will determine whether natural populations are significantly exposed to a variety of chemical stressors/contaminants, such as mercury, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, historic and/or current use agricultural chemicals, and/or mixtures, as well as document lethal and non-lethal adverse effects in multiple health, physiologic and/or endocrine endpoints. 2. Assess exposure and potential adverse effects for appropriate species within South Florida as a function of restoration implementation. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 20001001 Ending_Date: 20040930 Currentness_Reference: ground condition Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Description_of_Geographic_Extent: South Florida Ecosystem Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.125 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.125 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 26.75 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.125 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none Theme_Keyword: biology Theme_Keyword: contaminants Theme_Keyword: ecological risk assessment Theme_Keyword: toxics Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: biota Theme_Keyword: environment Theme_Keyword: inlandWaters Theme_Keyword: 002 Theme_Keyword: 007 Theme_Keyword: 012 Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Department of Commerce, 1995, Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 10-4, Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology Place_Keyword: United States Place_Keyword: US Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, D. C., NIST Place_Keyword: Florida Place_Keyword: FL Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Department of Commerce, 1990, Counties and Equivalent Entities of the United States, Its Possessions, and Associated Areas, FIPS 6-3, Washington, DC, National Institute of Standards and Technology Place_Keyword: Broward County Place_Keyword: Palm Beach County Place_Keyword: Miami-Dade County Place_Keyword: Monroe County Place_Keyword: Collier County Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none Place_Keyword: Central Everglades Place_Keyword: Florida Keys Place_Keyword: SW Big Cypress Place_Keyword: South East Coast Place_Keyword: Water Conservation Area 1 Place_Keyword: Water Conservation Area 2 Place_Keyword: Water Conservation Area 3 Place_Keyword: WCA1 Place_Keyword: WCA2 Place_Keyword: WCA3 Place_Keyword: STA 5 Place_Keyword: Storm Treatment Areas Place_Keyword: STA 1 Place_Keyword: STA 3 Place_Keyword: STA 4 Place_Keyword: STA 6 Place_Keyword: STA 2 Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Geographic Names Information System Place_Keyword: Everglades National Park Place_Keyword: Big Cypress National Preserve Place_Keyword: Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Taxonomy: Keywords/Taxon: Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: none Taxonomic_Keywords: multiple species Taxonomic_Keywords: animals Taxonomic_Keywords: reptiles Taxonomic_Keywords: vertebrates Taxonomic_System: Classification_System/Authority: Classification_System_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (ARS) U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Department of the Interior - U.S. Geological Survey Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smithsonian Institution - National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Publication_Date: 2000 Title: Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Database Other_Citation_Details: Retrieved from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, http://www.itis.gov. Online_Linkage: http://www.itis.gov Taxonomic_Procedures: Alligators were collected at six sites throughout the south Florida/Everglades ecosystem. Contaminant analyses and preliminary assessments of potential effects included a full survey/assessment of freshwater mussels in historic locations throughout south Florida. Additional assessments of wading birds and other species will be conducted. Taxonomic_Completeness: unknown General_Taxonomic_Coverage: All specimens were identified to the species level Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom Taxon_Rank_Value: Animalia Applicable_Common_Name: animals Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum Taxon_Rank_Value: Chordata Applicable_Common_Name: chordates Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Subphylum Taxon_Rank_Value: Vertebrata Applicable_Common_Name: vertebrates Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Class Taxon_Rank_Value: Reptilia Applicable_Common_Name: reptiles Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Order Taxon_Rank_Value: Crocodilia Applicable_Common_Name: crocodiles Applicable_Common_Name: alligators Applicable_Common_Name: caimans Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Family Taxon_Rank_Value: Alligatoridae Applicable_Common_Name: alligators Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Alligator Applicable_Common_Name: alligators Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Species Taxon_Rank_Value: Alligator mississippiensis Applicable_Common_Name: American alligator Applicable_Common_Name: Florida alligator Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Class Taxon_Rank_Value: Aves Applicable_Common_Name: birds Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Order Taxon_Rank_Value: Ciconiiformes Applicable_Common_Name: ibises Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Family Taxon_Rank_Value: Threskiornithidae Applicable_Common_Name: ibises Applicable_Common_Name: spoonbills Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Eudocimus Applicable_Common_Name: white ibises Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Species Taxon_Rank_Value: Eudocimus albus Applicable_Common_Name: white ibis Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Order Taxon_Rank_Value: Ciconiiformes Applicable_Common_Name: herons Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Family Taxon_Rank_Value: Ardeidae Applicable_Common_Name: bitterns Applicable_Common_Name: egrets Applicable_Common_Name: herons Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Casmerodius Applicable_Common_Name: great egrets Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: species Taxon_Rank_Value: Casmerodius albus Applicable_Common_Name: great egret Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Superclass Taxon_Rank_Value: Osteichthyes Applicable_Common_Name: bony fishes Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Class Taxon_Rank_Value: Actinopterygii Applicable_Common_Name: ray-finned fishes Applicable_Common_Name: spiny rayed fishes Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass Taxon_Rank_Value: Neopterygii Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Infraclass Taxon_Rank_Value: Teleostei Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Superorder Taxon_Rank_Value: Ostariophysi Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Order Taxon_Rank_Value: Siluriformes Applicable_Common_Name: catfishes Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Family Taxon_Rank_Value: Ictaluridae Applicable_Common_Name: bullhead catfishes Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Ameiurus Applicable_Common_Name: bullheads Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Species Taxon_Rank_Value: Ameiurus nebulosus Applicable_Common_Name: brown bullhead Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Superorder Taxon_Rank_Value: Acanthopterygii Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Order Taxon_Rank_Value: Perciformes Applicable_Common_Name: perch-like fishes Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Suborder Taxon_Rank_Value: Percoidei Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Family Taxon_Rank_Value: Centrarchidae Applicable_Common_Name: sunfishes Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Micropterus Applicable_Common_Name: black basses Applicable_Common_Name: largemouth basses Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Species Taxon_Rank_Value: Micropterus salmoides Applicable_Common_Name: largemouth bass Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum Taxon_Rank_Value: Mollusca Applicable_Common_Name: molluscs Applicable_Common_Name: mollusks Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Class Taxon_Rank_Value: Gastropoda Applicable_Common_Name: gastropods Applicable_Common_Name: snails Applicable_Common_Name: slugs Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass Taxon_Rank_Value: Prosobranchia Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Order Taxon_Rank_Value: Architaenioglossa Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Family Taxon_Rank_Value: Ampullariidae Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Pomacea Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Species Taxon_Rank_Value: Pomacea paludosa Applicable_Common_Name: Florida apple snail Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Phylum Taxon_Rank_Value: Mollusca Applicable_Common_Name: molluscs Applicable_Common_Name: mollusks Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Class Taxon_Rank_Value: Bivalvia Applicable_Common_Name: bivalves Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass Taxon_Rank_Value: Palaeoheterodonta Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Order Taxon_Rank_Value: Unionoida Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Family Taxon_Rank_Value: Unionidae Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Elliptio Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Species Taxon_Rank_Value: Elliptio buckleyi Applicable_Common_Name: Florida shiny spike Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus Taxon_Rank_Value: Utterbackia Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Species Taxon_Rank_Value: Utterbackis imbecillis Applicable_Common_Name: paper pondshell Access_Constraints: none Use_Constraints: none Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Lynn Lefebvre Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: 2201 NW 40th Terrace City: Gainesville State_or_Province: FL Postal_Code: 32605 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 352 264-3543 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 352 373-5763 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: llefebvre@usgs.gov Data_Set_Credit: Project personnel included: Marisol Sepulveda, Jon Wiebe, Carla Wieser, Nicola Kernaghan, Shane Ruessler, and Beverly Arnold Data_Quality_Information: Logical_Consistency_Report: not applicable Completeness_Report: not available Lineage: Process_Step: Process_Description: Efforts during FY2000 have involved the collection of alligators at 6 sites throughout the South Florida/Everglades ecosystem. Contaminant analyses and preliminary assessments of potential effects are currently underway. These efforts have also included a full survey/assessment of freshwater mussels in historic locations throughout S. Florida. Complete analyses for invertebrates will be completed during Fall 2000. Additional survey/assessments of fish throughout the South Florida ecosystems is currently underway and will occur throughout Fall 2000. Additional assessments of wading birds are proposed for Spring 2000, as well as additional assessments of other species and the completion of preliminary risk assessments. Process_Date: 2000 Process_Step: Process_Description: We have conducted a survey of freshwater mussels across 32 sites, alligators across 14 sites, and largemouth bass and sunfish for 42 sites. Efforts are now in progress and/or planned for amphibians at 12 sites and wading birds (i.e. great egrets) at 5 sites. Alligator tissues are complete for OC and target contaminant analyses; however, analyses of non-classic/non-target compounds such as pharmaceuticals etc are currently underway. These causes significant exposures for alligators in WCA’s and other restored/reclaimed sites, as well as exposure to historic and current use agricultural and urban-runoff chemical contaminants. Fish samples have been collected from an extensive collection of sites during the non-reproductive season and analyses are in progress. Initial analyses suggest significant exposures and significant distribution differences across S. Florida ecosystems. Fish efforts have been in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District. Amphibian surveys and collections are currently underway and will be ongoing through Spring 2003. These efforts are in collaboration with Ken Rice and with the University of Florida-IFAS and Syngenta, Corp. Initial efforts to identify colonies of wading birds are underway and collections will occur during 2003-2004. Process_Date: 2001 Process_Step: Process_Description: We have conducted a survey of amphibians (frogs and toads at 12 sites) and wading birds (i.e. great egrets) at 5 sites. Fish samples have been collected from an extensive collection of sites during the non-reproductive season, mercury analyses are complete and OCP and other contaminant analyses are in progress. Initial analyses suggest significant exposures and significant distribution differences across S. Florida ecosystems and an altered distribution of mercury with the implementation of STA's. Fish efforts have been in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District. Amphibian surveys and collections are complete and chemical analyses will be conducted during 2004-5 Process_Date: 2002 Process_Step: Process_Description: Work planned for FY 2004 includes: 1. Assess current exposure and potential adverse effects for appropriate receptors/species within the South Florida ecosystems with some emphasis on DOI trust species The initial exposure assessment will begin with an evaluation and expansion of data and the sample base generated by the preliminary phase of this project (2000-2002). These efforts have included the sampling of alligators, fish, amphibians and freshwater mussels across multiple sites in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem as an initiation of efforts to characterize exposure and effects. There are currently greater than 3000 biota samples banked for these analyses. Additional sampling regimes, will also be needed, at selected critical areas to provide an evaluation of soil, water and sediments and/or additional biota. These evaluations will include pH, percent water, grain size, cation exchange capacity, and total volatile solids as well as quantitation of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organophosphate pesticides (OPs), nitrogen based herbicides, phenoxy-acid herbicides, and heavy metals. Soil, sediment and water samples will be collected and analyzed at multiple seasons, 4-6 times annually, to assess temporal patterns in use, especially for the non-persistent, water-soluble, pesticides. Tissue samples will also be collected from the ecological receptors, outlined above, at many of these selected sites. Tissues will also be analyzed for lipid content, as well as quantitation of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organophosphate pesticides (OPs), nitrogen based herbicides, phenoxy-acid herbicides, and heavy metals. These efforts will enable the first complete exposure assessment at multiple trophic levels for the Greater Everglades ecosystem, and serve as a critical basis for all future research efforts and risk assessments. In addition to the emphasis on the persistent contaminants listed above, we also propose the characterization of non-target, current use, non or less persistent contaminants as well. These contaminants have been identified as the emerging contaminants of concern for ecosystems throughout the US by USEPA. Analyses will include chemicals/contaminants of concern from urban run-off or waste water: pharmaceuticals, health care components, xenobiotic endocrine factors and current use pesticides, as well as nutrients and novel compounds. These contaminants have not been characterized for the Greater Everglades Ecosystem previously, nor have they been considered under any of the restoration strategies. The partnership with the WRD-Water Quality Laboratory in Ocala will be critical to these efforts and to the development of appropriate techniques to evaluate this emerging contaminant issue. To assess whether chemical stressors/contaminants in South Florida harm wildlife (effects assessment) it is important to study animals that are potentially exposed and appear sensitive to contaminants. Utilization of several receptors/species at multiple trophic levels will enable the detection of both potential exposures and adverse effects within the South Florida ecosystems. The project will utilize American alligators, largemouth bass, brown-bullhead catfish, white ibises, great egrets, Florida apple snails, and two endemic species of freshwater mussels as model ecological receptors for evaluation of the South Florida ecosystems. Receptors will be monitored for acute and chronic effects, such as general health status, growth, development, reproduction, and endocrine function. These initial assessments will rely primarily upon biomarkers and bioindicators of effects, such as sex steroids, vitellogenin, stress hormones, thyroid hormones, blood chemistry, organ somatic indices, body condition indices, plasma and tissue lysozyme, and tissue glycogen. Process_Date: 20040930 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Lynn Lefebvre Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: 2201 NW 40th Terrace City: Gainesville State_or_Province: FL Postal_Code: 32605 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 352 264-3543 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 352 373-5763 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: llefebvre@usgs.gov Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Lynn Lefebvre Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: 2201 NW 40th Terrace City: Gainesville State_or_Province: FL Postal_Code: 32605 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 352 264-3543 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 352 373-5763 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: llefebvre@usgs.gov Resource_Description: ecological risk assessment papers Distribution_Liability: The USGS assumes no responsibility for the use of these data Standard_Order_Process: Non-digital_Form: unknown Fees: none Ordering_Instructions: Please contact Lynn Lefebvre for data from this project Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20070123 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Heather Henkel Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: 600 Fourth Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: FL Postal_Code: 33701 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727 803-8747 ext 3028 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727 803-2030 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: sofia-metadata@usgs.gov Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Part 1: Biological Data Profile Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999