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The body ion loss biomarker. 2. Field validation in coal mine‐polluted streams
Author(s) -
Grippo Richard S.,
Dunson William A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620151115
Subject(s) - streams , salvelinus , flux (metallurgy) , chemistry , environmental science , coal mining , coal , environmental chemistry , computer network , organic chemistry , trout , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , computer science , biology
Abstract We performed a field validation of the body ion loss biomarker by developing a predictive model of the level of impact of coal mining on receiving streams. Hatchery brook charr ( Salvelinus fontinalis ; wet mass = 1.25 to 32.2 g) were exposed in four mine‐impacted streams that exhibited differing levels of acid and trace metals and in two unimpacted control streams. Net whole‐body ion (Na, Ca) fluxes over a 4‐h exposure were determined. Stepwise regression was used to develop predictive models of body ion flux over 4 h from measured stream water chemistry variables. The predictive power of the best model was assessed using cross validation. The best model predicting net sodium flux explained 48% of the variability in the model with six chemical variables (Mn, Zn, Mg, Al, Fe, and Na). The model of calcium flux explained 42% of the variation with eight variables (H + , Ca, Na, Mn, Al, Ni, Mg, and Zn). A multiple regression model derived from principal components analysis did not significantly improve the predictive power of these models. We conclude that whole‐body net sodium flux and to a lesser extent whole‐body net calcium flux are acute indicators of the level of impact of acid and trace metals in streams polluted by coal mine discharge and may be useful as biomarkers under field conditions.