Developing monitoring strategies for assessing effects In pristine northern rivers receiving mining discharges
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The overall objective of my thesis research was to develop methodologies for assessing effects of mining effluents on pristine and sensitive northern rivers. I used a multi-trophic level approach in field studies to evaluate current monitoring methods and to determine whether metal mining activities had affected two otherwise pristine rivers that flow into the South Nahanni River, NWT; a World Heritage Site. Upstream reference conditions in the rivers were compared to sites downstream and further downstream of mines. The endpoints evaluated included concentrations of metals in river water, sediments and liver and flesh of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus); benthic algal and macroinvertebrate abundance, richness, diversity, and community composition; and various slimy sculpin measures. Elevated concentrations of copper (p=0.002)and iron (p=0.001) in liver tissue of sculpin from the Flat River were associated with high concentrations of mine-derived iron in river water and copper in sediments that were above national guidelines. In addition, sites downstream of the mine on the Flat River had increased algal abundances (p=0.002) and altered benthic macroinvertebrate communities ((p
Description
Keywords
histopathology, monitoring, gills, ammonia, Prairie Creek, Nahanni, Tungsten, northern rivers, Multi-trophic, Slimy sculpin
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Toxicology
Program
Toxicology