James Kunz
Science and Products
An Evaluation the Chronic Toxicity of Metals in Water and Sediment to the Unionid Mussel, Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea), in Exposures Representing Conditions in the Tri-States Mining District
The Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) is a large (about 500 sq. mi.) historical lead and zinc mining area that includes portions of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The TSMD yielded about 460 million tons of ore between 1885 and 1970, resulting in contamination of surface water, groundwater, sediments, and soils in the Spring River and Neosho River basins by lead, zinc, and other heavy metals....
An assessment of Deep Fork River Effluent Toxicity to the Unionid Mussel Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea)
Nearly 70% of the 300 mussel species in North America are endangered, threatened, of special concern, or extinct. Environmental contaminants have been identified as a contributing factor to the decline of mussel populations.
Chemical and biological data from acute and chronic nickel and zinc exposure bioassays to two sensitive freshwater benthic invertebrates
The responses (survival, growth, and/or reproduction) of test organisms in six concentrations of toxicants in acute and chronic tests. Chemical and water quality parameters were measured for quality assurance and quality control purposes.
Survival and growth of juvenile freshwater mussels in a flow-through auto-feeding system
Survival and growth of four species of juvenile mussels in a pulsed flow-through auto-feeding beaker system.
Physical, Chemical, and Bioassay Data from the Study on Effects of Elevated Major Ions in Surface Water Contaminated by a Produced Water from Oil Production
This dataset characterizes sensitivity of fathead minnow and a unionid mussel to elevated major ions in produced water from oil and gas extraction process.
Evaluation of acute and chronic toxicity of nickel and zinc to 2 sensitive freshwater benthic invertebrates using refined testing methods
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is reviewing the protectiveness of the national ambient water quality criteria (WQC) for nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) and compiling toxicity databases to update the WQC. An amphipod (Hyalella azteca) and a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) have shown high sensitivity to Ni and Zn in previous studies...
Wang, Ning; Kunz, James L.; Cleveland, Danielle; Steevens, Jeffery; Hammer, Edward J.; Van Genderen, Eric; Ryan, Adam C.; Schlekat, Christian E. Pulsed flow-through auto-feeding beaker systems for the laboratory culture of juvenile freshwater mussels
Newly metamorphosed freshwater mussels are small and delicate, so that captive laboratory culture presents challenges for handling; for maintenance of suitable microhabitat, water quality, and food; and for avoidance of competitors and predators. To address these challenges, a new pulsed flow-through auto-feeding beaker system was developed for...
Kunz, James L.; Brunson, Eric; Barnhart, M. Christopher; Glidewell, Elizabeth A.; Wang, Ning; Ingersoll, Christopher G. Biological effects of elevated major ions in surface water contaminated by a produced water from oil production
Produced water (PW) from oil and gas extraction processes has been shown to contain elevated concentrations of major ions. The objective of this study was to determine the potential effects of elevated major ions in PW-contaminated surface water on a fish (fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas) and a unionid mussel (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea...
Wang, Ning; Kunz, James L.; Cleveland, Danielle; Steevens, Jeffery; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M. Characterizing toxicity of metal‐contaminated sediments from the Upper Columbia River, Washington, USA, to benthic invertebrates
Sediments from the Upper Columbia River, Washington, USA, are contaminated with metals from smelting operations. We conducted short‐term and long‐term tests with the midge Chironomus dilutus and the amphipod Hyalella azteca and short‐term tests with the freshwater mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea with 54 sediments from...
Besser, John M.; Steevens, Jeffery; Kunz, James L.; Brumbaugh, William G.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Cox, Stephen E.; Mebane, Christopher A.; Balistrieri, Laurie S.; Sinclair, Jesse A.; MacDonald, Donald D. Evaluation of chronic toxicity of sodium chloride or potassium chloride to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) in water exposures using standard and refined toxicity testing methods
Freshwater mussels are generally underrepresented in toxicity databases used to derive water quality criteria, especially for long‐term exposures. Multiple tests were conducted to determine the chronic toxicity of sodium chloride (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl) to a unionid mussel (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea). Initially, a 4‐wk NaCl...
Wang, Ning; Kunz, James L.; Dorman, Rebecca A.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Steevens, Jeffery; Hammer, Edward J.; Bauer, Candice R. Evaluation of chronic toxicity of sodium chloride or potassium chloride to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) in water exposures using standard and refined toxicity testing methods
Freshwater mussels are generally underrepresented in toxicity databases used to derive water quality criteria, especially for long‐term exposures. Multiple tests were conducted to determine the chronic toxicity of sodium chloride (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl) to a unionid mussel (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea). Initially, a 4‐wk NaCl test...
Wang, Ning; Kunz, James L.; Dorman, Rebecca A.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Steevens, Jeffery; Hammer, Edward J.; Bauer, Candice R. Pilot study for the characterization of sediment chemistry, sediment toxicity, and benthic invertebrate community structure for PCB-contaminated sediments from the Upper Hudson River, New York
Ingersoll, Christopher G.; MacDonald, Donald D.; Sinclair, Jesse A.; Prencipe, Heather; Jones, Ann; Curry, Mark; Lewis, Christopher; Kemble, Nile E.; Steevens, Jeff; Nolan, Kelly; Schein, Allison; Kunz, James L. Chronic toxicity of azoxystrobin to freshwater amphipods, midges, cladocerans, and mussels in water-only exposures
Understanding the effects of fungicides on nontarget organisms at realistic concentrations and exposure durations is vital for determining potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Environmental concentrations of the fungicide azoxystrobin have been reported up to 4.6 μg/L in the United States and 30 μg/L in Europe. The objective of the present...
Kunz, James L.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Elskus, Adria; Kuivila, Kathryn Toxicity of chromium (VI) to two mussels and an amphipod in water-only exposures with or without a co-stressor of elevated temperature, zinc, or nitrate
The objectives of the present study were to develop methods for propagating western pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata) for laboratory toxicity testing and evaluate acute and chronic toxicity of chromium VI [Cr(VI)] to the pearlshell and a commonly tested mussel (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea at 20 °C or in association with a co-stressor of...
Wang, Ning; Kunz, James L.; Ivey, Chris D.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Barnhart, M. Christopher; Glidewell, Elizabeth A.
Selected streambed sediment compounds and water toxicity results for Westside Creeks, San Antonio, Texas, 2014
IntroductionThe Alazán, Apache, Martínez, and San Pedro Creeks in San Antonio, Texas, are part of a network of urban tributaries to the San Antonio River, known locally as the Westside Creeks. The Westside Creeks flow through some of the oldest neighborhoods in San Antonio. The disruption of streambed sediment is anticipated during a planned...
Crow, Cassi L.; Wilson, Jennifer T.; Kunz, James L.
Occurrence and concentrations of selected trace elements, halogenated organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in streambed sediments and results of water-toxicity testing in Westside Creeks and the San Antonio River, San Antonio, Texas, 2014
Sediment samples and samples for water-toxicity testing were collected during 2014 from several streams in San Antonio, Texas, known locally as the Westside Creeks (Alazán, Apache, Martínez, and San Pedro Creeks) and from the San Antonio River. Samples were collected during base flow and after periods of stormwater runoff (poststorm conditions) to...
Crow, Cassi L.; Wilson, Jennifer T.; Kunz, James L. Sediment-quality and water-toxicity data from 10 sites on the Westside Creeks and San Antonio River, San Antonio, Texas, 2014
Sediment samples and samples for water-toxicity testing were collected during 2014 from several streams in San Antonio, Texas known locally as the Westside creeks (Alazán, Apache, Martínez, and San Pedro Creeks) and from the San Antonio River. Samples were collected once during base-flow and again after periods of storm-water runoff (post-storm...
Crow, Cassi L.; Wilson, Jennifer T.; Kunz, James L.
CERC’s Research Supporting Conservation of Endangered Mussels Featured in the Columbia Missouri.
CERC scientist James Kunz is featured in the Columbia Missourian on USGS research related to endangered mussels.