Prey Assemblage in Response to Stamp Sands Intrusion
Between 1902 and 1932, it is estimated that 22.7 million metric tons of copper-rich rock were processed in mills near Gay, MI, near Lake Superior. Waste rock from this process (so-called stamp sands) was deposited into a pile adjacent to the Lake Superior beach. Since 1932, these stamp sands have eroded from the original pile and along the shoreline to the south and west (Kerfoot et al. 2021). Stamp sands have relatively high concentrations of heavy metals (zinc, copper, etc.) and their movement into the nearshore and the coastline has smothered fish spawning grounds and killed aquatic macroinvertebrates (Kerfoot et al, 2019). A major remediation project is beginning, but it is important to understand how the stamp sands influence the macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities because they are an important food source for different sport game fish species (e.g., Lake Trout and Lake Whitefish). Scientists aim to better identify the relationship between macroinvertebrates and stamp sands, as well as the relationship between zooplankton community composition and stamp sands.
Previous research has determined that low macroinvertebrate densities are associated with high stamp sand concentrations (Kerfoot et al, 2019). However, missing environmental data, such as water depth, made it difficult to fully quantify the influence the stamp sands have on aquatic organisms. This study aims to better identify the relationship between macroinvertebrates and stamp sands, as well as zooplankton composition and stamp sands. This information can help determine how the stamp sands influence the prey availability for many fish species.
To accomplish this, larval and juvenile fish data, such as age and length, and macroinvertebrate and zooplankton samples were collected and identified at different sites with varying stamp sand contaminations. After identification, the use of simple and complex models and analyses will determine the influence the stamp sands have on macroinvertebrate and zooplankton populations.
This project is ongoing and collaborates with the Hammond Bay Biological Center, USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, and LimnoTech.
Referenced Literature
Kerfoot C. W., Hobmeier, M. M., Regis, R., Raman, V. K., Brooks, C. N., Shuchman, R., Sayers, M., Yousef, F., & Reif, M. (2019). Lidar (light detection and ranging) and benthic invertebrate investigations: Migrating tailings threaten Buffalo Reef in Lake Superior. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 45(5), 872-887, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2019.07.009
Kerfoot C. W., Hobmeier, M. M., Swain, G., Regis, R., Raman, V. K., Brooks, C. N., Grimm, A., Cook C., Shuchman, R., Reif, M. (2021). Coastal remote sensing: merging physical, chemical, and biological data astailings drift onto Buffalo Reef, Lake Superior. Remote Sensing, 13(13), 2434. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13132434
Between 1902 and 1932, it is estimated that 22.7 million metric tons of copper-rich rock were processed in mills near Gay, MI, near Lake Superior. Waste rock from this process (so-called stamp sands) was deposited into a pile adjacent to the Lake Superior beach. Since 1932, these stamp sands have eroded from the original pile and along the shoreline to the south and west (Kerfoot et al. 2021). Stamp sands have relatively high concentrations of heavy metals (zinc, copper, etc.) and their movement into the nearshore and the coastline has smothered fish spawning grounds and killed aquatic macroinvertebrates (Kerfoot et al, 2019). A major remediation project is beginning, but it is important to understand how the stamp sands influence the macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities because they are an important food source for different sport game fish species (e.g., Lake Trout and Lake Whitefish). Scientists aim to better identify the relationship between macroinvertebrates and stamp sands, as well as the relationship between zooplankton community composition and stamp sands.
Previous research has determined that low macroinvertebrate densities are associated with high stamp sand concentrations (Kerfoot et al, 2019). However, missing environmental data, such as water depth, made it difficult to fully quantify the influence the stamp sands have on aquatic organisms. This study aims to better identify the relationship between macroinvertebrates and stamp sands, as well as zooplankton composition and stamp sands. This information can help determine how the stamp sands influence the prey availability for many fish species.
To accomplish this, larval and juvenile fish data, such as age and length, and macroinvertebrate and zooplankton samples were collected and identified at different sites with varying stamp sand contaminations. After identification, the use of simple and complex models and analyses will determine the influence the stamp sands have on macroinvertebrate and zooplankton populations.
This project is ongoing and collaborates with the Hammond Bay Biological Center, USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, and LimnoTech.
Referenced Literature
Kerfoot C. W., Hobmeier, M. M., Regis, R., Raman, V. K., Brooks, C. N., Shuchman, R., Sayers, M., Yousef, F., & Reif, M. (2019). Lidar (light detection and ranging) and benthic invertebrate investigations: Migrating tailings threaten Buffalo Reef in Lake Superior. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 45(5), 872-887, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2019.07.009
Kerfoot C. W., Hobmeier, M. M., Swain, G., Regis, R., Raman, V. K., Brooks, C. N., Grimm, A., Cook C., Shuchman, R., Reif, M. (2021). Coastal remote sensing: merging physical, chemical, and biological data astailings drift onto Buffalo Reef, Lake Superior. Remote Sensing, 13(13), 2434. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13132434