Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Monitoring fish-community contaminant body burdens following lowhead dam removal in an urban river system

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
Recent increases in lowhead dam removals have prompted research on ecological and geomorphic river responses, yet contaminant dynamics following dam removals are poorly understood. We investigated changes in sediment concentrations and fish-community body burdens of mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and chlorinated pesticides before and after two lowhead dam removals in the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers (Columbus, Ohio). We related these changes to documented shifts in fish food-web structure. We surveyed seven study reaches that included two controls, upstream and downstream (of previous dams), and restored vs. unrestored upstream reaches. For most contaminants, fish-community body burdens declined following dam removal and converged across study reaches by the last year of the study in both rivers. Aldrin and dieldrin body burdens in the Olentangy River declined more rapidly in the upstream-restored vs. the upstream-unrestored reach, but were indistinguishable by year three. No upstream-downstream differences were observed in body burdens in the Olentangy River, but aldrin and dieldrin body burdens were 138 and 148 % higher, respectively, in downstream reaches than in upstream reaches of the Scioto River following dam removal. The strongest relationships between trophic position and body burdens were observed with PCBs and Se in the Scioto River, and with dieldrin in the Olentangy River. Food-chain length – a key measure of trophic structure – was only weakly related to aldrin body burdens, and unrelated to other contaminants. Overall, we demonstrate that lowhead dam removal may effectively reduce ecosystem contamination. This study presents some of the first findings documenting ecosystem contamination following dam removal and will be useful in informing future dam removals.
Mazeika Sullivan, Dr. (Advisor)
Roman Lanno, Dr. (Committee Member)
Suzanne Gray, Dr. (Committee Member)
183 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Davis, R. P. (2017). Monitoring fish-community contaminant body burdens following lowhead dam removal in an urban river system [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483122904799744

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Davis, Robert. Monitoring fish-community contaminant body burdens following lowhead dam removal in an urban river system. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483122904799744.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Davis, Robert. "Monitoring fish-community contaminant body burdens following lowhead dam removal in an urban river system." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483122904799744

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)