Proceedings o f the Annual Conference of the Western A s s o c i a t i o n of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies, J u l y 18- 22 , 1982, Las Vegas, Nevada. 622 p.
BIOTA OF URANIUM MILL TAILINGS
NEAR THE BLACK HILLS
MARK A. RUMBLE
Research Biologist
Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Rapid City, SD 57701
A b s t r a c t - "Reclamation" o f t e n i m p l i e s t h e enhancement of t h e l a n d a s
w i l d l i f e h a b i t a t or for other p r o d u c t i v e u s e s . However, t h e r e are
s i t u a t i o n s where r e v e g e t a t i o n t o s t a b i l i z e e r o s i o n i s t h e o n l y d e s i r e d
goal. U r a n i u m mining and m i l l sites may f a l l i n t o t h i s l a t e r c a t e g o r y .
D a t a p e r t a i n i n g t o p l a n t and animal components on r e v e g e t a t e d uranium
m i l l t a i l i n g s was c o l l e c t e d . Four s i t e s were s e l e c t e d f o r t h i s study:
t h r e e uranium m i l l t a i l i n g a r e a s reclaimed between 1973 and 1978 and a
c o n t r o l s i t e i n a c r e s t e d wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) p a s t u r e 6 . 4
km west of t h e m i l l . Estimated biomass production was n o t d i f f e r e n t
between t h e f o u r s i t e s i n June. During August, g r a s s production was
higher (a ≤ 0.05) on one of t h e m i l l t a i l i n g s i t e s than on t h e o t h e r s .
Rank orders of p l a n t s p e c i e s canopy cover w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y c o r r e l a t e d
( r > 0.71) between a l l s i t e s . S i m i l a r i t y i n d i c e s were low between t h e
r e v e g e t a t e d t a i l i n g sites and t h e c o n t r o l s i t e , b u t w e r e h i g h e r f o r
comparisons between sites on t h e t a i l i n g s . Radionuclide c o n c e n t r a t i o n
i n v e g e t a t i o n c o l l e c t e d from m i l l t a i l i n g s i t e s was n o t e x c e s s i v e l y
high. Birds w e r e n o t common on any of t h e s i t e s , and o n l y o n e n e s t was
l o c a t e d . Small mammals i n h a b i t i n g t h e m i l l t a i l i n g s included meadow
v o l e s (Microtus pennsylvanicus), house mice (Mus m usculatus), western
h a r v e s t mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) ,
t h i r t e e n - l i n e d ground s q u i r r e l s (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) . Few
s m a l l mammals were captured on the control s i t e . Western h a r v e s t mice
were t h e most common mammal s p e c i e s , followed by d e e r mice. Gama exposure
from thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD's) implanted i n s m a l l mammals
averaged from 1.3 t o 3.3 mR/day o n t h e t a i l i n g s i t e s . Exposure o n t h e
c o n t r o l s i t e was less t h a n 0.5 mR p e r day. Numbers o f harvester ant
(Pogonomyrex spp.) c o l o n i e s , which r e p r e s e n t p o t e n t i a l t o move contaminated
t a i l i n g s m a t e r i a l t o t h e s u r f a c e , were higher on t h e revegetated t a i l i n g
s i t e s versus t h e c o n t r o l s i t e . The p o t e n t i a l f o r w i l d l i f e t r a n s m i t t a l
of r a d i o n u c l i d e s away from t h e t a i l i n g a r e a was n o t e x c e s s i v e because
there were few s p e c i e s of w i l d l i f e i n h a b i t i n g t h e t a i l i n g a r e a .
Introduction
Waste material from uranium m i l l i n g p r o c e s s e s ( t a i l i n g s ) c o n t a i n
low amounts of r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l and should be t r e a t e d as p o t e n t i a l l y
hazardous m a t e r i a l (Yamamoto, in p r e s s ) . Law r e q u i r e s t h a t some reclamation
a c t i v i t y be taken of t a i l i n g s on a site- s p e c i f i c b a s i s . Reclamation,
which encourages t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of p l a n t s and use by animals o f
uranium m i l l t a i l i n g s , has t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r t r a n s f e r of r a d i o n u c l i d e s
off t h e t a i l i n g s a r e a by t h e p l a n t s and animals t h a t i n h a b i t t h e a r e a s .
Such t r a n s f e r i s well documented. O ' F a r r e l l e t a l . (1973) noted mammals
burrowing i n t o waste burial s i t e s on t h e Hanford S i t e i n south central
Washington and exposing p l a n t s and animals t o t h e r a d i o n u c l i d e s . Harvester
ants ( P o g o n o m y r e x o c c i d e n t a l i s ) p r e f e r d i s t u r b e d s i t e s (Wheeler and
Wheeler, 1963) and r e p r e s e n t c o n s i d e r a b l e potential to t r a n s p o r t
radionuclides to the surface of burial s i t e s ( R o g e r s , 1972; Fitzner e t
a l . , 1 9 7 3 ) . D e e r m i c e ( P e r o m y s c u s m a n i c u l a t u s ) , and house mice ( M u s
m u s c u l u s ) w e r e a greater t h r e a t t o t r a n s p o r t radioisotopes of strontium
and cesium away from waste management area on the Hanford Site in Washington
t h a n pocket mice ( P e r o g n a t h u s parvus) because of h a b i t a t and d i e t a r y
preferences (Gano, 1979). Halford and Markham (1978) found r a d i a t i o n
exposures to small mammals decreased as the distance away from the
radioactive waste b u r i a l grounds i n c r e a s e d .
Plants growing o n s i t e s c o n t a i n i n g t r a n s u r a n i c elements have been
documented a s taking up some amounts of t h e r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l ( Price,
1973). Osburn (1965) suggested t h e r e was a p a u c i t y of information
concerning t h e t e r r e s t r i a l t r a n s p o r t of n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g n u c l i d e s
(uranium and thorium) from s o i l t o p l a n t s , a n i m a l s , and e v e n t u a l l y ,
humans. Recent i n v e s t i g a t i o n s have found t h a t p l a n t uptake of uranium
radioisotopes i s dependent on the plant species (Dreesen e t a l . , 1978;
Schreckhise and Cline, 1980). Rickard e t al. (1977) and Schreckhise and
Cline (1980) found higher concentrations o f uranium in s t e m s and leaves
than in seeds of plants. Concentations of uranium and radium-226 were
r e p o r t e d i n s p e c i e s of g r a s s e s growing on uranium m i l l t a i l i n g s i n
Canada (Moffett and Tellier, 1977) and i n New Mexico (Rayno e t al.,
1980). These a s well a s o t h e r s t u d i e s i n d i c a t e t h a t p l a n t s t r a n s l o c a t e
uranium and uranium daughter p r o d u c t s from contaminated s o i l t o above
ground p a r t s . However, p l a n t s a p p a r e n t l y do n o t a c t i v e l y c o n c e n t r a t e
t h e uranium decay series r a d i o i s o t o p e s (Rickard e t al. , 1977).
"Reclamation" a s o f t e n implied (i.e., t o enhance land f o r w i l d l i f e
h a b i t a t o r o t h e r p r o d u c t i v e u s e s ) may n o t be d e s i r a b l e on uranium m i l l
t a i l i n g d i s p o s a l s i t e s due t o t h e presence of r a d i o n u c l i d e s . There i s
a need t o determine t h e b i o t i c t r a n s p o r t elements on o r n e a r uranium
m i l l t a i l i n g s i t e s so t h a t t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r contamination of surrounding
a r e a s w i t h r a d i o n u c l i d e s can be determined. T h i s information can then
be used i n d e t e r m i n a t i o n of food c h a i n contamination.
The o b j e c t i v e s of t h i s s t u d y were a s follows:
1.
2.
Compare t h e b i o t i c components of r e v e g e t a t e d uranium m i l l
t a i l i n g s t o t h o s e of s i m i l a r h a b i t a t s i n a g r a s s l a n d ecosystem.
Determine t h e l e v e l s of radiation exposure t o s m a l l mammals
i n h a b i t a t i n g t h e m i l l t a i l i n g s i t e s and compare them to normal
background l e v e l s .
279
Study Area
This study was conducted in southwestern South Dakota at the
uranium mill site scheduled for decommissioning near Edgemont. Silver
King Mines, Inc. operates the mill site for the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA). An acid leach was used by the operations to remove the uranium
oxide (U3O8) from the ore.
Predominant vegetation types of the surrounding area are mixed-grass
prairie and coniferous forest. The mixed-grass prairie is dominated by
western wheatgrass (Apropyron smithii), little bluestem (Andropogon
scoparius ), buf falograss (Buchloe dactyloides ), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa
sandbergii), and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis ) , (Johnson and Nichols,
1970). The coniferous forest areas are dominated by ponderosa pine
(Pinus ponderosa), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), and
sedges (Carex spp.) (TVA 1979).
Four sites were selected for this study: three sites on the uranium
mill tailings and one control site. The site descriptions were as
follows: site l--uranium mill sand tailings covered with 30 cm of top
soil; site 2--uranium mill sand tailings covered with 30 cm of top soil,
but with a higher gama radiation count than site one; site 3--uranium
mill sand tailings covered with 30 cm shale and 60 cm top soil; and
control--crested wheatgrass pasture on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands
grazed lightly during the winter months by cattle. Site 1 was broadcast
seeded in 1974 with a mixture of 30 pounds crested wheatgrass/acre, 15
pounds yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis)/acre, and 15 pounds
rye/acre (used for a cover crop). Fifty pounds/acre of amonium nitrate
and 12 tons/acre of livestock manure were applied for fertilizer. Site
2 was broadcast seeded in 1973 to the same seed mix and fertilizer as
site one. Site 3 was drilled in 1978 with 4 pounds pure live seed (PLS)
crested wheatgrass/acre, 8 pounds PLS western wheatgrass/acre, and 3
pounds PLS yellow sweetclover/acre. Forty pounds/acre of amonium
nitrate were added for fertilizer. Seed mixes for the control site were
not available but the best information available suggests a crestedwheatgrass-dominated mix seeded in the 1930-1940's.
Methods
Six, 50-m line transects were established, spaced about 17 m apart
on each of the four sites. Canopy cover and frequency of occurrence
(Daubenmire, 1959) by species of vegetation were estimated in 50,
0.1-m2 (.2 m x .5 m) quadrats spaced at 1-m intervals along each transect.
Plant production was determined by clipping at ground level all plant
species in 5 , 0.125-m2 circular hoops spaced at 10-m intervals along each
Clipped vegetation was put in paper bags, oven dried at
transect.
e e achach
60°C and weighed. Vegetation data were collected during June and again
in August.
B i r d s u r v e y s were conducted monthly (June-September) f o r t h r e e
c o n s e c u t i v e days s t a r t i n g at s u n r i s e each day. Bird survey p l o t s were
42 x 66 m , and were walked in a zig-zag manner. Birds t h a t were flushed
were identified and l o c a t e d on an area map a s d e s c r i b e d by Svenson and
Williamson (1960).
Small mammals were trapped at monthly i n t e r v a l s (June-September)
w i t h Sherman l i v e t r a p s on a 7 x 11 t r a p - g r i d spaced 7 m apart on each
site. Traps were b a i t e d w i t h peanut b u t t e r and r o l l e d o a t s and were
opened for 4 c o n s e c u t i v e n i g h t s . Animals captured were t o e c l i p p e d f o r
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , and age, weight, s e x , and s p e c i e s were recorded. The
c a p t u r e d animals were a n e s t h e t i z e d and s u r g i c a l l y implanted w i t h a
p a c k e t of 2 d o s i m e t e r s (Gano, 1979; Halford and Markham, 1 978). Dosimeters
used were thermoluminescent lithium floride (LiF 2 ) (TLD-700, Harshaw
Chemical Company) 1 , 0 . 3 2 x 0 . 3 2 cm chips enclosed in a waterproof and
b i o l o g i c a l l y i n a c t i v e s e a l e d p l a s t i c wrapper. I n r e c a p t u r e s 30 o r more
days l a t e r , t h e o l d p a c k e t was removed and a new packet p u t i n . Packets
were l a b e l e d and s t o r e d i n a l e a d c o n t a i n t e r u n t i l r a d i a t i o n exposures
were determined at a q u a l i f i e d l a b o r a t o r y . R a d i a t i o n exposure l e v e l s
were determined f o r a s e p a r a t e s e t of d o s i m e t e r c h i p s s t o r e d i n a l e a d
c o n t a i n e r u n t i l s h i p p i n g , and t h e amount was s u b t r a c t e d from t h e exposures
determined from dosimeters implanted in t h e animals t o account f o r
i r r a d i a t i o n o f d o s i m e t e r s d u r i n g h a n d l i n g and shipping. I n June, 30
additional s m a l l mammal t r a p s were s e t i n a sagebrush- grassland h a b i t a t
t o a s s u r e more r e t u r n s o n dosimeters from a c o n t r o l a r e a .
The number o f h a r v e s t e r a n t c o l o n i e s were determined by surveying
the 4 2 - x 66- m p l o t s , marking and counting all a c t i v e a n t c o l o n i e s .
R e s u l t s and D i s c u s s i o n
P r o d u c t i o n of grasses on t h e t a i l i n g s and c o n t r o l s i t e was e q u a l
for June (Table 1). G r a s s p r o d u c t i o n by August on s i t e 3 was significantly
h i g h e r t h a n on t h e o t h e r s i t e s . T h i s was due to a break i n a p i p e t h a t
was used t o pump r a i n water from pond a r e a s which i n affect accidentally
i r r i g a t e d a l a r g e p o r t i o n of t h a t s i t e . Forb production on the m i l l
t a i l i n g s i t e s was n o t d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e control s i t e . L i t t e r , d u r i n g
J u n e , was s i g n i f i c a n t l y h i g h e r ( α ≤ . 0 5 ) on s i t e 3 than s i t e 1 on t h e
t a i l i n g s , b u t n e i t h e r s i t e 1 nor s i t e 3 was d i f f e r e n t f r o m s i t e 2 or the
c o n t r o l s i t e . In August, t h e m i l l t a i l i n g s a t s i t e 2 had t h e h i g h e s t
amount of l i t t e r , which was s t a t i s t i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t only from s i t e 1 .
Overall production o n t h e s e c r e s t e d wheatgrass a r e a s was h i g h e r than had
been r e p o r t e d f o r c r e s t e d wheatgrass p a s t u r e s on the northern Great
P l a i n s (Looman and Heinrichs, 1973; Rauzi, 1975) .
Rank o r d e r correlations of canopy cover by s p e c i e s (Figure 1) show
consistent high correlation of vegetation composition between all s i t e s .
These results indicate a high degree of parallelism i n the o r d e r of
s p e c i e s composition between t h e s i t e s . However, similarity indices
based on t h e amounts of v e g e t a t i o n by s p e c i e s (canopy cover) were much
lower. Similarity indices were h i g h e s t between t h e s i t e s on the mill mill
tailings, but lower when tailing sites were compared to the control site.
Sites 1 and 2 on the mill tailings showed the greatest degree of homogeniety
of vegetation composition. This would be expected, a s the two sites
were seeded to the same mix originally and had the same top soil treatment.
The highest plant diversity index of 2.18 (based on frequency of
occurrence data) was found on site 3, whereas the lowest plant diversity
index was on the control site (1.53). Overall, more species of plants
(15) were found on the control site. However, the distribution of the
data were concentrated among four species, crested wheatgrass, red
threeawn (Aristida longiseta), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) ,
and scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea). On the mill tailings
there were 12, 10, and 12 plant species for sites 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
Whereas, on these latter sites the plant species were more evenly
distributed resulting in higher diversity indices.
Translocation of radionuclides by plants on areas near site 2
averaged 1.31 µg 238 U /g (dry matter plant material), 0.18 pCi 230Th/g ,
and 11.3 pCi 210Pb/g. Radionuclide content in plants near site 3 averaged
0.67 µg 238 U /g, 0.74 pCi 230Th/g , and 5.35 pCi 210 Pb/g (Unpublished
data, TVA, Environmental Radiological Monitoring, Edgemont Mill, Edgemont,
SD). These values were higher than those published by Moffett and
Tellier (1977) for grasses growing on uranium mill tailings in Canada
but lower than found in vegetation near a tailing pond in New Mexico
(Rayno et al., 1980). However, radionuclide uptake data may not just
express the translocation of radionuclides by plants from soil through
their root systems; instead it may also reflect the attachment of wind
blown particles to the plants (Cataldo et al., 1981).
Birds were scarce on the study areas (Table 2), perhaps because
structural and horizontal patchiness were nonexistent in this grassland
habitat. Rotenberry and Weins (1980) reported that avian communities in
grassland environments respond to variation in vertical and horizontal
patchiness. Therefore, it is not surprising to have so few birds
inhabiting the tailing sites.
Six species of small mammals were caught during the study (Table 3).
One species, the sagebrush vole, (Microtus ochrogaster) was found only
on the control site. Western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis)
made up 57% of all individual animals caught, followed by deer mice
(Peromyscus maniculatus) at 27%. Three to six times more small mammals,
particularly harvest mice, were caught on the mill tailings sites.
Reynolds (1980) noted higher numbers o f harvest mice on seeded crested
wheatgrass areas that were ungrazed and Birkenholz (1967) suggested that
harvest mice were associated with pioneer grass species on recently
disturbed sites. Phillips (1936) reported fewer numbers of the thirteenlined ground squirrels ( Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) and deer mice in
undisturbed grassland habitats than in moderately disturbed pastures,
and Verts (1957) showed that deer mice populations drop as the time
since mining on coal mine spoils increases. Black (1968) suggested that
non- native g r a s s e s provide more s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t f o r h a r v e s t mice than
d i d n a t i v e s p e c i e s and t h a t both h a r v e s t mice and d e e r mice would be
favorably affected by reseeding programs if heavy l i v e s t o c k u s e were
permitted. As t i m e p r o g r e s s e s , and v e g e t a t i o n composition on the t a i l i n g
s i t e s approaches t h a t of t h e c o n t r o l s i t e through i n v a s i o n o f native
g r a s s e s and forbs, a decrease in t h e small mammal p o p u l a t i o n would be
expected . Captures f r o m t h e e x t r a t r a p s s e t n e a r t h e c o n t r o l s i t e are
noted i n parentheses on Table 3.
Radiation exposure levels (Figure 2) for small mammals w e r e
significantly higher (α ≤ 0.05) on two m i l l tailing s i t e s than o n the
control s i t e . Also, s m a l l mammals i n h a b i t i n g s i t e 1 r e c e i v e d less
radiation ( α ≤ 0.05) t h a n s m a l l mammals i n h a b i t i n g s i t e 2. There were
n o r e t u r n s of d o s i m e t e r s from t h e m i l l t a i l i n g s s i t e 3 . The highest
exposure of s m a l l mammals from control s i t e and surrounding area was 0.5
mR/day. Average exposure on the m i l l t a i l i n g s i t e s was s l i g h t l y above
the 1.4 mR per day recommended maximum to t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c (U.S.
Department H e a l t h , Education, and Welfare 1970) . However, t h e U . S .
Department o f Energy (1977) recommends t h a t the c u r r e n t r a d i a t i o n p r o t e c t i o n
standard f o r individuals and p o p u l a t i o n groups i n uncontrolled a r e a s i s
170 millirem/year. T h i s would be equivalent to 0.5 mR/day if one assumes
that an exposure o f 0 . 5 mR/day will result in an absorbed dose o f 0.5
millirem/day. Levels of r a d i a t i o n exposure v a r y among s p e c i e s o f small
mammals (Halford and Markham, 1978 ; Gano, 1979) and depend on foraging
and h a b i t a t p r e f e r e n c e s (Gano, 1979) . Rates of exposure of 160 mR/day
w e r e reported for deer mice i n h a b i t i n g a r e a s a d j a c e n t to a r a d i o a c t i v e
waste pond at a nuclear f a c i l i t y on the N a t i o n a l Engineering Laboratory
in Idaho (Halford and Harkham, 1978). Gano (1979) reported exposures of
120 mR/day to deer m i c e n e a r r a d i o a c t i v e waste pond on the Hanford S i t e
i n Washington. Exposures of s m a l l mammals inhabiting uranium m i l l
tailings i
r regions w e r e not available.
Harvester ants (Pogonomyrex spp.) p r e f e r s i t e s that have been
recently disturbed ( Wheeler and Whe er, 19 6 3 ) . Over t h e l i f e span o f a
c o l o n y , harvester ants can dig to d ths of 2.7 m ( F i t z n e r , e t al. ,
1979), and t r a n s p o r t up to 3 . 2 kg of s o i l t o t h e s u r f a c e (Rogers, 1972).
They r e p r e s e n t c o n s i d e r a b l e p o t e n t i a l t o i n i t i a t e t h e p r o c e s s o f
transporting radionuclides away from tailing d i s p o s a l a r e a s . Considerably
more h a r v e s t e r a n t c o l o n i e s were e s t a b l i s h e d on t h e t a i l i n g s i t e s than
on t h e c o n t r o l s i t e in t h i s s t u d y ( F i g u r e 3 ) . Shade from p l a n t s as a
s i t e becomes more evenly covered with v e g e t a t i o n may b e t h e cause for
fewer a n t colonies on a r e a s t h a t have been undisturbed for longer
p e r i o d s o f time. Bare ground on t h e m i l l t a i l i n g s averaged 4 6 % v e r s u s versus
3 3 % on t h e c o n t r o l s i t e . Harrison and Gentry (1981) reported that
c o l o n i e s of t h e F l o r i d a H a r v e s t e r Ant ( P .badius) would move t h e colony
if it became shaded.
Conclusion
The potential for transfer of radionuclides off site appears to be
minimal, even though t h e r e was more biotic activity (in terms of number
of animals) on t h e uranium m i l l tailings. The levels of radionuclides
in plant materials were low, as were levels of exposure to gama radiation
of the small mammals inhabiting the tailing sites . Larger numbers of
harvester ant colonies on the mill tailings represent the greatest
potential for direct movement of tailings material to the surface and
making them available for further transport away from the site. The
animal biological activity may decrease through time as the vegetation
and animal communities become more similar to the grassland habitat used
for the control (provided soil characteristics are similar). The
maintenance of a homogenous grassland habitat (free from structural
diversity) will reduce soil and wind erosion and yet discourage abundant
animal activity.
I
1
The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication
i s for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not
constitute an official endorsement or approval by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture of any product or service to the exclusion of others which
may be suitable.
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Table 1. Mean vegetation biomass (g/m2) on three seeded uranium mill
tailing sites and a control site at Edgemont, SD.1
Category
Site 1
June 1980
Grasses
Forbs
97.04
a
7.52a
a
Total
Litter
104.56
a
124.64
August 1980
Grasses
Forbs
Total
Litter
59.52a
5.28
a
64.80a
107.84
a
Site 2
Site 3
a
Control
a
88.88
9 1.76
a
1.04
a
92.80
a,
133.04
a
1.68a
90.56 b
195.28
a
72.32
a
1.68
a ,b
74.00
187.52b
117.04
a
9.44
126.48b
a ,b
155.84
a
9 1.68
a
6.72
a
98.40
a,b
155.28
a
74.88
a
0.32
a ,b
75.20
a,b
126.40
1
Means with same letter for superscript in the same row are not different
from each other (a <0.05).
Table 2. Numbers of birds on sample plots (42 x 66 m) on three uranium mill
tailing sites and a control site near Edgemont, SD.
Month
June
July
August
September
Species
Western meadowlark
Mourning dove
Western kingbird
Western meadowlark
Mourning dove
Western meadowlark
Unidentified sparrow
Western meadowlark
Total
a aOne nest was located on the site.
Number of Birds
Mill Tailing Sites
1
2
3
2
1
0
0
a
2
0
1
0
6
_
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
1
5
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
_
0
1
Control
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
_0
3
Table 3.
Numbers of small mammals caught on three uranium mill tailing
sites and a control site near Edgemont, SD.
..
M i l l tailing site
1
2
Species
Sagebrush vole
Meadow vole
House mice
Deer mice
Western harvest mice
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Total
a
3
1
5
11
20
-.
3
-
-
6
4
30
1
17
16
-- 2
40
35
-
Control
--
(2)
1 (2)
4 (1)
2
7 (5)
Numbers in parentheses represent individuals from 30 traps off the
trap grid .
the
(
)a
Figure 3. Numbers of active harvester ant colonies
on uranium mill tailings and control site near
Edgemont, SD.
30
28
-
18
15
12
-
2
A
Site 1
Site 2
'
Site3
Control