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Effects of the Kingston Ash Spill on Amphibians and Reptiles

Effects of the Kingston Ash Spill on Amphibians and Reptiles. , Elizabeth Burton 1 , Jesse Morris 1 , Suzy Young 2 , Amber Stojak 2 , Travis Hill Henry 3 1 Restoration Services, Inc., 2 ARCADIS U.S., Inc.; 3 Tennessee Valley Authority.

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Effects of the Kingston Ash Spill on Amphibians and Reptiles

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  1. Effects of the Kingston Ash Spill on Amphibians and Reptiles , Elizabeth Burton1, Jesse Morris1, Suzy Young2, Amber Stojak2, Travis Hill Henry3 1Restoration Services, Inc., 2ARCADIS U.S., Inc.; 3Tennessee Valley Authority

  2. December 22 2008 March 20 2009 August 2009 April 2009 Introduction Affected areas include: 5.4 million cy of ash into Emory R. and surrounding areas 55.1 acres of riparian zone 2.5 acres of wetland www.oal-ash-spill.com media.knoxnews.com www.nationalgeographic.com www.wild-facts.com

  3. Conceptual Exposure Model thegreatsmokeymountains.org mayo.personcounty.net

  4. Amphibians American Toad Anaxyrusamericanus Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer Upland chorus frog Pseudacrisferiarum • Family: BufonidaeFamily: Hylidae (True Toads)(Treefrogs) • Common species • Different Families • Different Life Histories Photo credit: Dr. J.D. Wilson Species selection Photo credit: Dr. J.D. Wilson

  5. Reference Site: Timberlake Amphibians Sites = 5 n = 76 (2009) n = 121 (2010) n = 156 (2011) Kingston Fossil Plant

  6. Amphibians- Analysis • Two-way ANOVA within species across years and locations • Combined reference and non-impacted sites within years (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, p=0.629) • Post hoc tests: Tukey-Kramer • Significant differences found in 11 of 26 trace elements: Barium Calcium Iron Magnesium Sodium Potassium Selenium Strontium Copper Zinc Manganese

  7. Selenium Toxicity • One of the most toxic substances known to developing amphibians (Herfenist et al. 1989) • Maternally transferred from parent to egg – retained in tissue as they undergo metamophosis (Hopkins et al. 2006; Snodgrass 2005) • Teratogenic effects (Hopkins et al. 2000; Rowe et al 1996, 1998) D.J. Fort/The Stover Group Venesky et al. 2010

  8. Selenium - Amphibians 1.02.0 3.0 4.0 Selenium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Spring Peeper Selenium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) 1.01.5 2.0 2.5 Upland Chorus Frog Selenium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Selenium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Selenium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/L) Location/Year Location/Year North Embayment West Embayment Background North Embayment West Embayment Background Hopkins, W.A., Mendonça, M.T., C.L., and Congdon, J.D. 1998. Elevated trace element concentrations in southern toads, Bufoterrestris, exposed to coal combustion wastes. Archives of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology 35:325-329. Location/Year Spring Peeper: 2-way ANOVA, Location (p=0.001), Year*Location (p=0.0317) Location/Year Upland Chorus Frog: 2-way ANOVA, Location (p=0.006) Location/Year

  9. Strontium Toxicity • Maternally transferred from parent to egg (Hopkins et al. 2006) • No previous laboratory studies specifically examining impacts of strontium in amphibians • Replaces calcium resulting in soft and brittle bones (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, 1999, Szostek et al. 2009) www.tnfish.org

  10. Strontium - Amphibians 50100 150 200 250 Strontium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) American Toad 25 50 75 100 125 Strontium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Spring Peeper Strontium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Strontium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Strontium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Location/Year North Embayment West Embayment Background West Embayment North Embayment Background Location/Year Hopkins, W.A., Mendonça, M.T., C.L., and congdon, J.D. 1998. Elevated trace element concentrations in southern toads, Bufoterrestris, exposed to coal combustion wastes. Archives of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology 35:325-329. Location/Year American Toads: 2-way ANOVA, Year*Location (p=0.012) Spring Peeper: 2-way ANOVA, Year (p=0.048),Location (p<0.0001) Location/Year Location/Year

  11. Copper Toxicity • Copper radicals lead to oxidative stress in the body – can damage proteins, lipids, DNA, etc. • Chronic exposure may negatively affect growth of larvae (Lande and Guttman 1973) • Impacts larval behavior, heart rate, and neuromuscular coordination (Kaplan and Yogh 1961) • Loss of equilibrium and death (Rao and Madhayastha 1987) virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com

  12. Copper - Amphibians 10 20 30 40 10 20 30 40 Copper Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Spring Peeper Upland Chorus Frog Copper Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Copper Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Copper Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Copper Concentration in Whole Body (mg/kg) Selenium Concentration in Whole Body (mg/L) Location/Year Location/Year West Embayment North Embayment Background North Embayment West Embayment Hopkins, W.A., Mendonça, M.T., C.L., and Congdon, J.D. 1998. Elevated trace element concentrations in southern toads, Bufoterrestris, exposed to coal combustion wastes. Archives of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology 35:325-329. Hall, R.J., and B.M. Mulhern. 1984. Are anuran amphibians heavy metal accuculators? In: R.A. Seigel et al, (eds), Vertebrate ecology and systematics-A tribute to Henry S. Fitch. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Lawrence, Kansas. pgs 123-133 Background Location/Year Location/Year Upland Chorus Frog: 2-way ANOVA, Year (p=0.003), Interaction (p=0.003) Spring Peeper: 2-way ANOVA, Year (p=0.002),Location (p<0.0001) Location/Year Location/Year

  13. a-z-animals.com Turtles Herpnet Turtlesite.info

  14. Turtles Feed in sediment on river bottom Eat any type of aquatic plant, animal or invertebrate(living or dead) http://www.ctherpconsultant.com/images/ http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/homepage/images/ www.marshall.edu/herp/images/ Musk /Mud Turtles Sternotherus sp./ Kinosternon sp. Eastern Spiny softshell Apalonespiniferaspinifera Common Snapping Turtle Chelydraserpentina • Bury themselves in sandy river bottom • Seldom leave river • Have permeable shell • Eat insects, crayfish, fish • Consumed by humans • Utilize any aquatic environment • Eat wide variety of plants, animals, invertebrates, frogs, salamanders, water snakes, turtles; actively hunt prey and are proficient scavengers • Consumed by humans

  15. Kingston Fossil Plant Turtles Trap locations = 347 Total turtles captured n = 587 (2009) n = 3,806 (2010)

  16. Methods - Turtles • 2010Collections • Target Species • Snapping Turtles (58) • Musk/Mud Turtles (350) • Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles (89) • Non-Target Species • Sliders • Painted • River Cooters • Map

  17. Selenium Concentration in Blood (mg/kg wet weight) Selenium in Turtle Blood Snapping Turtle Blood Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle Blood Selenium Concentration in Blood (mg/kg wet weight) Selenium Concentration in Blood (mg/kg wet weight) Kruskal-Wallis, Site differences • Common Musk / Mud Turtle (p<0.001); • Snapping Turtle (p=0.214); • Softshell Turtle (p=0.102) Common Musk / Mud Turtle Blood Selenium Concentration in Blood (mg/kg wet weight)

  18. Selenium in Turtle Blood Selenium Concentration in Turtle Blood (mg/kg wet weight) Downstream TN River Clinch River Emory River Upstream TN River 2-way ANOVA, Location (p=0.0002); Species (p<0.0001); Interaction (p=0.0192)

  19. Selenium in Turtle Blood • No similar studies for comparison of impacted vs. non-impacted • Snappers have similar Se concentrations to free ranging Alligator snapping turtles in Florida (Chaffin et al. 2008) • Mud/musk and softshells show variation by location but not snappers • Further research • Relationship between concentrations in blood, carapace, toenail samples

  20. Conclusions • Concentrations of trace elements in amphibians and reptiles have not reached levels of concern, although they are increased in certain species at impacted sites • Species specific differences • Feeding ecology • Sensitivity to contaminates • Legacy issues • Looking toward the future www.pc.gc.ca/nature/ virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com

  21. Additional Acknowledgements Dr. William Hopkins U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Adam Johnson Travis Walls Mirtha Martin Neil Carriker Wes James Jacqueline Iannuzzi Tom Bock Jason Brown David Greenberg

  22. Questions? bullmarketfrogs.com

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