81
32
Technical Report Series
32
Number 72-8
I
1
MONITORING TOXAPHENE
CONTAMINATION IN A GEORGIA
ESTUARY
J
by
Robert J. Reimold
and
Charles J. Durant
31
31
Georgia Marine Science Center
University System of Georgia
Skidaway Island, Georgia
81
MONITORING TOXAPHENE CONTAMINATION
IN A GEORGIA ESTUARY
by
Robert J. Reimold
and
Charles J . Durant
The University of Georgia
Marine Institute
Sapelo Island, Georgia 31327
November 1972
The Technical Report Series of the Georgia Marine Science Center
is issued by the Georgia Sea Grant Program and the Marine Extension
Service of the University of Georgia on Skidaway Island (P. 0. Box 13687,
Savannah, Georgia 31406) . It was established to provide dissemination
of technical information and progress reports resulting from marine
studies and investigations mainly by staff and faculty of the University
System of Georgia. In addition, it is intended for the presentation of
techniques and methods, reduced data and general information of inte rest
to industry, local, regional, and state governments and the public.
Information contained in these reports is in the public domain . If this
prepublication copy is cited, it should be cited as an unpublished
manuscript .
INTRODUCTION
This report summarizes research progress during the second year of a
three year grant between the University of Georgia Marine Institute and
Hercules, Inc .
The report does not attempt to recapitulate the data from the first year
of study.
For details of the first year ' s work, reference is made to Tech-
nical Report Series No. 72-2: Survey of Toxaphene Levels in Georgia Estuaries,
Georgia Marine Science Center, Skidaway Island, Georgia.
Copies of the first
report may be obtained by writing the address given on the frontispiece of
this report.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish t o recognize the valuable interactions we have shared with
Hercules, Inc., and especially Mr. Charles Dunn, Synthetics Department,
Wilmington; Mr . Clell Tyler, Mr . Millard Dusenbury and Mr. Fred Huebner,
Brunswick operations, Hercule s, Inc.
Appreciation is also extended to the
National Science Foundation, Office for Oceanographic Facilities and Support, for the ship time provided in support of this project.
We also wish
to express sincere thanks to the University of Georgia Marine Institute
staff for their assistance in collecting and processing the environmental
data.
Acknowledgments are also due the Sapelo Island Research Foundation,
Inc ., for providing support facilities necessary to the conduct of the
project.
2
METHODS
Field sampling has been continued in the ten quadrats established by
use of random coordinates .
These collection sites (Figure 1) are the same
areas studied during the preceding year .
During the second year, collec-
tions were made at intervals of fou r weeks or less; sampling methodology
has been consistent with those used during the previous year.
Toxaphene concentrations were determined as previously reported using
t he techniques of Wilson (1969) .
The computation of species diversity was
according to the techniques of Sorensen (1948), Margalef (1958), Mehinick
(1964), and Odum (1971) .
RESULTS
The results of this second year of work center on several areas of
concentration.
Efforts have been made to quantify more accurately the
flux of toxaphene through the salt marsh cordgrass Spartina alterniflora,
to consider the species diversity of Terry Creek (quadrat 029), to evaluate
toxaphene concentrations in selected fauna and flora, and to contrast these
concentrations with the previous year's results.
Research results have
been disseminated through presentations at scientific and technical meetings, journal publication , and testimony presented to several state and
federal agencies.
The results of toxaphene analysis of Spartina alterniflora demonstrated that toxaphene accumulates in the leaves of the plant.
Figure 2
depicts the distribution of this compound in sediments and Spartina from
Figure 1.
Study area, showing ten quadrats.
FIGURE
2
CONCENTRATION OF TOXAPHENE (IN PARTS PER MILLION) IN SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA AND SURROUNDING SEDIMENTS COLLECTED FROM TERRY CREEK
MARSH
SEED HEADS
= 4. 9 3
N = 2
x
S
N
I. 9 2
=
NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS
=
MEAN TOXAPHENE CONCENTRATION
STANDARD DEVrATION
-X =
S
=
LEAVES
X =
N =
s =
36.30
10
4.51
SEDIMENT
X = 32.56
N = 4
= 22.15
s
ROOTS
X
=
=
1.91
N
I
RHIZOMES
~ = 1.24
N = I
3
the Terry Creek marsh (near the toxaphene discharge point) .
Although the
sediments have a high concentration (32 ppm), the only part of the plant
accumulating toxaphene was the leaves (36 ppm).
low concentrations
an~
Seed heads have relatively
therefore, may not be a great source of contamina-
tion for marsh birds which feed upon them.
Figure 3 portrays toxaphene concentration in Spartina collected from
all sites other than Terry Creek.
The results again demonstrate that toxa -
phene can be concentrated in the leaves of Spartina when it occurs in the
marsh sediment .
(See Appendix I for detailed description of toxaphene
content of sediments in Terry Creek area.)
This "labeling" of Spartina
with toxaphene suggests that it may serve as a "natural" tag for detecting
transfer through the detritus food chain .
The quantities of toxaphene found in anchovies collected from several
collection sites during the two years of the study show a significant reduction in levels during the second year in this potential detritivore
(Figure 4) .
In contrast, toxaphene levels in a carnivorous fish, Fundulus heteroclitus , are shown in Figure 5.
Not only are there significant decreases
in levels during the second year, but the concentrations are much lower
than in the anchovy .
This was not expected since it has been reported that
killifish consume anchovies and thus trophic magnification would be anticipated.
It appears, however, from this single link in the food web that such
is not the case.
Lotrich (1972) has demonstrated that Fundulus heteroclitus
tends to remain within a small area during its life span .
Some specimens
he observed never moved more than 500 yards away from a given point.
these fish are probably permanent residents of Terry Creek.
Thus
FIGURE
3
SUMMARY OF THE CONCENTRATION OF TOXAPHENE
(IN PARTS PER MILLION) IN SPARTINA ALTERN I FLORA
AND SURROUNDING SEDIMENTS, COLLECTED FROM ALL
LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BRUNSWICK STUDY AREA
SEED HEADS
6.85
3.01
LEAVES
17.14
1. 5 3
4 . 29
1. 40
0 . 47
0.32
0. 26
<0.25
2.57
2.52
2.15
2.10
2 . 10
2.10
< 0 .25
~
0.25
SEDIMENT
63.72
42.42
17.27
6.85
2.07
I . 29
I .02
0.81
ROOTS
1.91
RHIZOMES
I. 24
CONCENTRATION
ANCHOA SP
LECTION SITES
OF
FIGURE 4
TOXAPHENE
FROM
IN
DIFFENT
THE
ANCHOVY
GEOGRAPHIC
COL-
240
D
220
=
1970- 1971
=
1971-1972
200
~
lBO
T
0
X
A
p
H
E
N
E
160
140
120
I
N
p
100
p
M
80
60
40
20
60
QUADRAT
78
99 '
FIGURE
S
CONCENTRATION OF TOXAPHENE I N THE K I LLIF ISH
FUNDULUS HETEROCLITUS FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC
COLLECTION SITES
D
=
1970- 1971
100
~
90
T 80
0
X
A 70
= I 971- 1972
p
H
E
60
E
50
I
N
p
p
40
N
30
M 20
10
29
60
QUADRAT
78
FIGURE
C ONCENTR AT ION
FROM
OF
6
TOXAPHENE
IN
WHITE SHRIMP PENAEUS SETIFERUS
DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC COLLECTION SITES
SHRIMP HEADS
II_.__
=
1970-1971
=
1971- 1972
10
T
0
X
9
A
8
H
E
N
7
p
E
6
I
5
N
p
p
M
~
4
3
2
'60,
'72,
' ,
78
QUADRAT
2.0
p I. 5
p
SHRIMP
MUSCLE
M 1.0
0.5
60
72
QUADRAT
99
4
Another economic and health concern has been that of potential toxaphene contamination of seafood.
Figure 6 displays toxaphene content of
shrimp heads (top portion of the figure) with shrimp abdomen or muscle (the
economically useful portion of the shrimp) shown in the lower portion of
the figure.
Low toxaphene concentrations are found in the muscle contrasted
to the head and thorax portions of the shrimp.
The toxaphene appears to be
concentrated in the white shrimp heads and thorax by a factor of about ten
times that found in the edible abdominal portions .
The toxaphene content of different organisms collected in the same
quadrat during each of the two years of the study is presented in Figure 7.
Again there is a significant decrease in toxaphene levels from 1970-1971 to
1971-1972.
Here, too, the trophic magnification of toxaphene was expected.
The carnivorous fish:
spot, croaker and star drum contained only small
amounts of toxaphene contrasted to representatives lower on the food chain
which were considered (Littorina snails and mullet).
These fish, however,
may not have been indigenous to Terry Creek and may have wandered in (and
out) of the area and may (or may not) have been feeding in the area at the
time of collection.
Other toxaphene concentrations measured included 1 .4 ppm in fiddler
crabs collected from several sites.
The low concentration of toxaphene
relative to that in Spartina leaves (36 ppm) suggests that the fiddler
crabs are not a component of the Spartina detritus food chain and indeed
may not be detritivores.
In summary, a total of nearly 150 organisms were evaluated for toxaphene content during the second cdntract year.
In all results considered,
FIGURE 7
Sl GNI FICANT CONCENTRATIONS OF TOXAPHENE IN ORGANISMS COLLECTED )N
THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION DURING THE FIRST AND SECOND YEARS
OF STUDY
60
0.
1970-1971
50
T
0
X
p
40
30
H
E 20
N
E
6
I
N
5
p
p
M
4
3
2
=
1971-1972
5
the levels of toxaphene were considerably lower in 1971-1972 than in the
preceding yea r .
A prelimina r y study of the changes in species diversity and abundance
of Terry Creek has been initiated.
Table 1 depicts the species diversity
by two different diversity computations and also includes an index of
similarity .
If one compares the monthly values for the two different
years, the 1970-1971 collections appear to have a higher diversity index
than the 1971-1972 collections.
This results because sometimes the number
of individuals were very few, equaling the number of species.
occurs, an artificially high index of diversity results.
When this
If the data for
the entire year are combined , the index for 1971-1972 is higher than
for 1970-1971 .
~hat
This indicates a significant increase in species diversity
in Terry Creek d uring the past two years .
Another way of considering the same problem is to compare the total
cumulative number of different species collected from monthly trawls from
Terry Creek (Figure 8) .
During 1970-1971, the cumulative number of dif-
ferent species was three, while during 1971-1972, the total number was ten.
Finally, a measure of the biomass of Terry Creek provides insight into the
quantity of living material residing in the creek.
Figure 9 displays the
comparison between biomass included in trawl collections of 1970-1971, and
1971-1972.
Noting that this is a semi - log plot of the biomass vs month of
the year, a considerably higher biomass was detected during the second year
of the study.
During the past year some of the results of the research have been
submitted for publication.
Scientific papers dealing with this research
Table 1 .
Species diversity and index of similarity of trawl catch from
Terry Creek for two different contract years . Diversity is
based on two different diversity indices: d = S-1/log N
(Margalef, 1958) and d 2 = S/IN (Mehinick , 19G4; and Odum, 1971)
where d = diversity inoex, S = number of species, and N = number
of individuals . Index of Similarity (s) is based on Sorensen
(1948) where s = 2C/A+B and A = number of species in sample A,
B = number of species in sample B, and C = number of species
common to both samples .
Index
of
Similarity
1970-1971
1971 - 1972
0 . 000
0.0
0.37
0.57
0 . 601
0.0
0.000
0.5
November
0 . 000
0.0
0 . 20
Decembe r
0.813
o.o
0 . 48
Month
August
1970-1971
0.683
September
October
1.139
1971 - 1972
0 . 29
0.39
0 . 44
January
6.643
2.570
0.4
1.41
1.22
Februa r y
0 . 013
2 . 073
0.5
0 . 08
0.37
March
0.000
0.0
0.16
April
0 . 706
0 . 846
0.8
0 . 39
0.19
May
1.285
0 . 000
0.6
0 . 81
0 . 18
June
1.285
1 . 687
0.6
0.81
0.25
Year's
sample
combined
0. 7006
3.3945
0.46
0.112
0 . 472
cu
10
M
~
~
I
v
E
#
9
8
7
FIGURE s
COMPARISON OF 1970-1971 AND 1971-1972 AT
/
/
TERRY CREEK BY COMPARING TOTAL CUMULATIVE
41----/
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIES COLLECTED
FROM TRAWLING OPERATIONS FOR
= 1970-1971
- - -- = 197 1 - 1972
I
5
I
E 4
R
E
N 3
T
c
I
I
F
E
I
I
F
sp
,.
I
0 6
F
~
,-
DIFFERENT MONTHS OF THE TWO
CONTRACT YEARS
,.
,. ,.
,
/
~
,,
2
,
..,"""' ______ ..,.
,/
,I
~
I
E
s
J
u
L
A
u
G
s
E
p
0
c
T
N
0
v
D
E
c
J
A
N
F
E
B
M
A
R
A
p
R
M
A
y
J
u
N
FIGURE 9
TERRY CREEK TRAWL COLLECTIONS
(QUADRAT 029)
BIOMASS (WET WEIGHT)
OF LIVE
COLLECTED
8
I
I
I
0
M
A
FISH
=
1970- 1971
=
1971 - 1972
"'
1000
s
s
0
F
F
I
500 -
"'
s
H
I
w
"'
E
T
w
E
I
G
100 -
I
50 -
N
40 -
G
R
30
-
20
-
H
T
A
M
s
10
1-
.,
h
J
u
L
A
U
G
S
E
p
J F M A M J
E A P A U
T V C N B R R y N
0
N
D
C
0
E
A
6
have also been presented at several national meetings during the past year .
A summary of these presentations includes:
1)
Durant , C. J. and R. J. Reimold.
for Estuarine Ecology Studies .
A Unique Ecological Tracer
Presented and abstract published
for Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting, American Society of Limnology
and Oceanography , Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
March 1972.
2)
Durant , C. J .
Effects of Pesticides on Salt Marsh Plants.
Presented at Symposium on Ecology of Halophytes .
versary Year Meeting .
Silver Anni-
American Institute of Biological Sciences,
Univers ity of Minnesota, Minneapolis , Minnesota .
August 1972 .
Oral testimony related (in part) to this research has also been presented to the Savannah Distri c t , U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; and the
U. S . Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
FUTURE RESEARCH
The present plan for the next contract year will attempt to complete
several facets of research initiated earlier .
A comparison of species
diversity for each of the collection sites and for each of the collection
dates will be run using the IBM 360/65 computer programmed for the computation of seven different species diversity indices.
The collection
sites within the study area will be compared with the Duplin River estuary.
7
Research will continue on the distribution of toxaphene in selected
fauna and flora collected from the study area to provide additional comparisons between each of the three year periods.
A further attempt is
being made to define more precisely the role of Spartina alterniflora (the
salt marsh cordgrass) in the flux of toxaphene from the sediments into the
surrounding biota through the estuarine food chain.
better documented if we a re able to utilize
36
This work will be
c1 labeled toxaphene to
initiate in vitro studies of the uptake of toxaphene from the sediment
into the plant.
These laboratory studies should serve as guidelines for
future in depth studies of the flux of toxaphene through the estuarine food
web.
Using radionuc lide labeling (
36
cl labeled toxaphene) and quantitative
gas chromatography, future research should document the fate of toxaph ene
in the estuary.
8
LITERATURE CITED
Lotrich, V.
1972 .
Margalef, R.
1958.
Mehinick, E. F.
Personal communi c ation.
Information theory in ecology.
1964.
A comparison o f s ome specie s diversity indices
app l ied to samples of field insects .
Odum, E . P .
1971 .
Philadelphia .
Sorensen, T .
1948 .
Gen. Syst. 3:36-71 .
Ec o logy
Fundamentals of Ecology .
45:859-861 .
3rd ed.
W. B. Saunders Co .
574 pp .
A method of establishing groups of equal amplitude
in plant soc iety based on similarity of species content .
K. Danske
Vidensk . Selsk . 5 : 1-34 .
Wilson, A. J.
agencies .
1969.
Pesticide analytical manual for BCF contracting
Gulf Breeze, Florida.
16 pp •
•