Central West Virginia Research Articles

Tick Biodiversity and Lyme Disease:

Ixodid (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks are widespread, diverse, and known as carriers of several important diseases. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness affecting humans, livestock, and domestic animals and is caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the most common tick-borne illness reported in West Virginia with more than 100 cases per 100,000 WV residents. Ixodes scapularis ticks obtain B. burgdorferi from rodents and transmit Lyme disease to their next host during feeding. We analyzed overall tick biodiversity in north-central West Virginia from the years 2018 to 2023. In total, 1,684 individual ixodid (hard) ticks have been collected from four genera: Ixodes (58.5%), Dermacentor (31.6%), Haemaphysalis (8.7%), and Amblyomma (0.2%). Our results demonstrate an increase in tick biodiversity from 2018 to 2023. One striking change included the presence of Amblyomma americanum (Lonestar) ticks in areas where their presence had not been recorded previously. We examined all collected Ixodes ticks for the presence of Borrelia DNA which was detected through real-time quantitative PCR analysis. We tested 745 Ixodes scapularis and found a 2% infection rate. The potential rise of Lyme disease and changing tick biodiversity could pose threats towards community health, agricultural revenue, and veterinary resources. Future work should focus on additional tick-borne illnesses like Rickettsia sp. and Theileria sp. within central West Virginia tick species.

Prevalence of ANCA-associated vasculitis amid natural gas drilling sites in West Virginia

The epidemiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) varies by ethnicity and region. Environmental exposure has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MPO-AAV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of AAV and explore a potential relationship with environmental factors in north central West Virginia. This is a retrospective cohort study of 212 patients diagnosed with AAV at West Virginia University and its affiliated hospitals from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2019. We assessed prevalence of AAV over time according to patient's zip codes and counties. Silica exposure through natural gas extraction was considered as a possible environmental factor. The proportion of patients with MPO-ANCA increased after 2010 (37.5% before 2010 vs 61% after 2010, p = 0.008). At the same time, the prevalence of AAV in Monongalia and surrounding counties has increased significantly after 2010 from 64.8 to 141.9 cases per million (p = 0.001). The increase in prevalence of AAV was primarily due to an increase in MPO-AAV (43 vs 101.7 cases per million before and after 2010, respectively, p = 0.028). During this time, the production of natural gas through fracking increased, rising more than tenfold after 2010 (p-value < 0.001). Heat mapping reveals that the increase in cases of AAV occurred in areas of increased fracking activity. There was an increase in the prevalence of patients who were newly diagnosed with AAV over time in north central West Virginia. Further studies are required to ascertain the potential role of environmental exposure in the pathophysiology of AAV.

Memorials and the Mine Disaster in Monongah, West Virginia: From Trauma to an Italian Global Memoryscape

Memorials and the Mine Disaster in Monongah, West Virginia: From Trauma to an Italian Global Memoryscape

Long-Term Projection of Species-Specific Responses to Chronic Additions of Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Lime

Elevated acid deposition has been a concern in the central Appalachian region for decades. A long-term acidification experiment on the Fernow Experimental Forest in central West Virginia was initiated in 1996 and continues to this day. Ammonium sulfate was used to simulate elevated acid deposition. A concurrent lime treatment with an ammonium sulfate treatment was also implemented to assess the ameliorative effects of base cations to offset acidification. We show that the forest vegetation simulator growth model can be locally calibrated and used to project stand growth and development over 40 years to assess the impacts of acid deposition and liming. Modeled projections showed that pin cherry (initially) and sweet birch responded positively to nitrogen and sulfur additions, while black cherry, red maple, and cucumbertree responded positively to nitrogen, sulfur, and lime. Yellow-poplar negatively responded to both treatments. Despite these differences, our projections show a maximum of 5% difference in total stand volume among treatments after 40 years.

CATHERINE MORRIS, Dept. of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV 25304, and MARK B. WATSON, Dept. of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV 25304. Impacts of Microstegium vimineum invasion on central West Virginia native plants.

Around the world natural ecosystems are being challenged and altered by invasive species. In particular, invasions of non-native grasses have a substantial impact on the population of native plant species. This study investigated the detrimental effects of an invasive grass, Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) on native plant species in central WV. M. vimineum is an emerging invasive species in the eastern United States. This stiltgrass is most abundant in highly disturbed areas such as trails and roadsides. Certain environmental conditions, forest feature, and soil conditions promote the growth and spread of the invasive grass. M. vimineum effects the soil and tree growth where it invades. While there is substantial information regarding the ecology and spread of M. vimineum, limited research has been done to determine the effects of the invasion on native plant communities. Study plots (30 plots (0.5m2)) were randomly selected in disturbed, moderately disturbed, and undisturbed locations. Canopy cover was measured at each location. The stems of M. vimineum counted and the native plant species were identified and quantified. The relationship between land disturbance and stem count was determined. Stem count of M. vimineum was highest in the moderately disturbed area with the lowest average native plant species richness. The second highest stem count was in the disturbed location which had the highest species richness but the lowest diversity. A negative correlation was found between stem count and species richness throughout all plots.

The 23 June 2016 West Virginia Flash Flood Event as Observed through Two Hydrometeorology Testbed Experiments

AbstractThe flash flood event of 23 June 2016 devastated portions of West Virginia and west-central Virginia, resulting in 23 fatalities and 5 new record river crests. The flash flooding was part of a multiday event that was classified as a billion-dollar disaster. The 23 June 2016 event occurred during real-time operations by two Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) experiments. The Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment focused on the 6–24-h forecast through the utilization of experimental high-resolution deterministic and ensemble numerical weather prediction and hydrologic model guidance. The HMT Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor Hydro (HMT-Hydro) experiment concentrated on the 0–6-h time frame for the prediction and warning of flash floods primarily through the experimental Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs product suite. This study describes the various model guidance, applications, and evaluations from both testbed experiments during the 23 June 2016 flash flood event. Various model outputs provided a significant precipitation signal that increased the confidence of FFaIR experiment participants to issue a high risk for flash flooding for the region between 1800 UTC 23 June and 0000 UTC 24 June. Experimental flash flood warnings issued during the HMT-Hydro experiment for this event improved the probability of detection and resulted in a 63.8% increase in lead time to 84.2 min. Isolated flash floods in Kentucky demonstrated the potential to reduce the warned area. Participants characterized how different model guidance and analysis products influenced the decision-making process and how the experimental products can help shape future national and local flash flood operations.

Peripheral gully and landslide erosion on an extreme anthropogenic landscape produced by mountaintop removal coal mining

AbstractMountaintop removal/valley fill coal mining (MTR/VF) in central Appalachia has buried an estimated 4000 km of headwater streams, but the long‐term geomorphic consequences of the anthropogenic valley fills and associated mined landscapes are poorly understood. These anthropogenic landscapes are not intended to be maintained in perpetuity once reclamation is complete. Here we present the first ever field‐based study of erosional landforms on this type of mined landscape paired with the subsequent examination of 10 regional LiDAR (light detection and ranging) datasets for gullies and landslides in a transect from eastern Kentucky to central West Virginia. Field observations indicate that overtopping of or intentional discharge from drainage systems and overtopping of valley fill terraces can initiate gullying. We manually extracted 1328 gullies from 512 km2 of mined landscape within the LiDAR datasets. Gullies are predominantly located along the perimeter of the mined landscape with the majority of gullies associated with drainage systems. The number of gullies linearly scales with mined area (R2 = 0.66). We observed 387 landslides along the perimeter of MTR/VF. Within the datasets, landslides per km2 ranged from 0.1 to 3.9. We observed 34 landslides within fully reclaimed valley fills, a heretofore undocumented phenomenon. Over 90% of these landslides were in Kentucky datasets, which covered only 47% of total mined area analyzed. Previously measured regional differences in the angle of friction of mine spoils or construction practices may explain the abundance of gullies and elevated level of landslide occurrence in eastern Kentucky valley fills relative to West Virginia. Observations of erosion on regionally extensive MTR/VF landscapes warrant further study to better ascertain ecological impacts. Large‐scale alteration by surface mining in steep landscapes may generally lead to peripheral gully erosion. © 2020 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

A conceptual model for integrating community health in managing remediation of West Virginia and central Appalachia’s abandoned coal mines

The decline of the coal industry and the associated ongoing bankruptcies of large coal companies create a serious concern that surface coal mining states may inherit large-scale liabilities for unremediated coal mines. These states may also have limited funding to remediate all abandoned mines at once, requiring prioritization of the cleanup of coal mines. In West Virginia and central Appalachia, these coal mines are often located in areas ranked as having poor public health outcomes, poor health factors, and extremely low-socioeconomic status. Epidemiological research has associated poor health outcomes for residents located near coal mining. Coal mine remediation presents an opportunity to improve the environment of the coalfields and perhaps improve health in communities surrounded by coal mines, as well as those downstream of polluted mining water discharges. By examining factors uniquely associated with the central Appalachia and West Virginia coalfields, a conceptual model that demonstrates how community health can be considered as a factor for prioritization of resources in remediation of abandoned coal mines was developed. The model utilizes health concerns specific to West Virginia and central Appalachia, relies on data already collected by the state, and identifies areas of the state with vulnerable health populations. Because this conceptual model is tailored to specific state concerns and existing state data, this model would be cost-effective as an off-the-shelf model for state agencies, and it could also be prospectively used when permitting new pollutant sources, such as new coal mines or natural gas drill sites and pipelines.

Cambarus fetzneri sp. nov., a new species of burrowing crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, USA.

The disjunct distribution of Cambarus monongalensis has led to speculation about its taxonomic status. An Appalachian Plateau population occurs in northern and central West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania, and a mountain population occurs in the Allegheny Mountains and Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces of the Virginias. Herein we describe the mountain population as Cambarus fetzneri sp. nov. The two species differ genetically and morphologically, and have different color patterns. Specifically, C. fetzneri sp. nov. chelae lack extensive red coloration on the distal end of the propodus and dactyl, possess rostral margins that lack any red coloration, compared to C. monongalensis, which has extensive red coloration on the dactyl and propodus, as well as red rostral margins. Morphologically, the rostrum of C. fetzneri sp. nov. is shorter and wider than that of C. monongalensis. Also, adult C. fetzneri sp. nov. are considerably smaller in body size than those of C. monongalensis.

PC082. High-Granularity Geographic Information System Analysis of Amputation Trends in West Virginia Identifies Specific Geographic Areas to Target for Improved Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease Care

Amputation is a devastating but preventable complication of diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD). Multiple studies have focused on disparities in amputation rates based on race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, but few focus on amputation trends in rural populations. This study’s objective was to identify the prevalence of major and minor amputation among those with documented disease in a rural Appalachian state and to use advanced spatial epidemiology methods to identify high-risk areas for amputation. This study used 2011 to 2016 hospital discharge data from the West Virginia State Inpatient Database to identify all adults (>18 years) with recorded diagnoses of diabetes or PAD. Major and minor amputations in this population were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision codes. Amputation rate was defined as the number of amputations among admissions with diabetes or PAD. To identify high-risk areas for amputation, Bayesian spatial hierarchical modeling was conducted to obtain model-fitted relative risk estimates at both the county and ZIP code level (of patient residence), and the deviance information criterion was used to investigate model performance. In 2011 to 2016, there were 519,990 admissions that met the criteria of diabetes or PAD. Among them, 2584 major and 3829 minor amputations were performed, with 6279 amputations performed overall, corresponding to a rate of 12.1/1000. This number is significantly higher than the national average of 2.4/1000 reported in other studies. On geographic analysis, we found significant variation in risk for both major and minor amputation across the state, even after adjusting for the prevalence of risk factors. Specifically, we found that ZIP codes in central and northeastern West Virginia had relative risks of amputation >1.5 times higher than the rest of the state (Figs 1 and 2). In addition, we found significant differences in estimates between standard crude risk estimation for this disease and our method, which was able to illustrate amputation risk at a much higher level of granularity by producing ZIP code-level data on amputation risk while controlling for associated comorbidities. We found a significantly higher prevalence of amputation in West Virginia compared with the national prevalence reported in other studies. In addition, we found significant geographic variation in amputation risk across the state and identified highly specific areas where, even after adjusting for covariates, the risk of amputation among those with diabetes or PAD was higher than expected. These findings allow the targeted allocation of resources for amputation prevention efforts and also direct further research to gain a greater understanding of the cause of this issue.Fig 2Geographic variation in model-fitted estimates of ZIP code-level relative risk of minor amputation in West Virginia, 2011 to 2016.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

West Virginia facilities addressing patient stigmas

Mental health facilities throughout the state are continuously updating patient treatment options, and North Central West Virginia's two largest mental health facilities — Highland‐Clarksburg Hospital in Clarksburg and William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital in Weston — are no different, WVNews.com reported April 6. Highland‐Clarksburg Chief Executive Officer Victoria Jones said the hospital works with local education institutions to offer training and career opportunities and has provided training to various groups: counselors and aides in Harrison County schools on behavior management in the classroom, Ritchie County High School students and other schools on mental health anxiety management, a White Oaks nursing home on mental health disorders, the state National Youth Advocate Program on mental health and a number of youth summer camps on issues such as anxiety and stress. Pat Ryan, CEO of William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, said the hospital redesigned its model for the delivery of psychiatric treatment in 2017–18. “The new structure for the delivery of patient care utilizes a combination of unit‐based services and a Therapy Mall concept,” Ryan said. Additionally, the hospital has created a mental health therapist position, where staff act as primary therapists delivering group and individual therapy within the scope of the patient's treatment plan.

Seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing and wastewater disposal in the Appalachian Basin, USA: a review

Eastern Ohio is an area of North America where a significant increase in seismicity rate was noted in the early 2010s. This increase has been associated with intensification of unconventional gas extraction performed in the Appalachian Basin and has been directly linked to two processes: hydraulic fracturing and disposal of the associated wastewater. In this paper, we review the recent seismicity in the Appalachian Basin including various episodes of induced seismicity that were temporally and spatially linked to operational activity, and we have performed some comparable analyses on the most recent sequences. The activities have not been as pervasive as other areas of North America, such that the cases are typically isolated and provide opportunities to study the seismogenic process in detail. The observed seismicity is concentrated in a narrow corridor that extends north–south in eastern Ohio and into central West Virginia, perhaps due to differences in operational targets and geologic variations. Ohio appears to have a higher prevalence of seismicity induced by wastewater disposal than surrounding states, but this is based on limited number of cases. Ohio also has an order of magnitude higher prevalence of seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing than surrounding states, and prior work has suggested this is due to the targeting of the deeper Utica–Point Pleasant formation in Ohio that is closer to basement rocks than the Marcellus formation in West Virginia or Pennsylvania. In areas where hydraulic fracturing has induced seismicity, the percentage of stimulated wells that produce detectable seismicity is approximately 10–33%. Detailed studies of induced seismicity via double-difference relocation and focal mechanism analysis have revealed a series of linear fault segments, none of which correspond to previously mapped faults. Yet, the remarkable coherence in their orientation suggests these were preexisting, optimally oriented, and critically stressed. These fault orientations reveal a consistent regional stress field that only varies over a narrow azimuthal range from ~ 50° to 74°. The strongest observed seismic events in Ohio appear to occur in the Precambrian basement and indicate that these rocks have the maturity needed to produce M > 2 earthquakes and hence the greater potential hazard.

Water quality perceptions and natural resources Extraction: A matter of geography?

Recent events in the United States have shown the vulnerability of water quality in certain communities. Accordingly, we conducted a survey in a large community in north central West Virginia (US) to explore the factors that influence the perceptions of water quality. We sought to assess whether respondent's proximity to a mine, gas/oil well, or bodies of water would affect their perceived health risks and environmental concern. Additionally, we aimed at understanding how these perceptions were affected by the density of these sites and the presence of these sites within defined distances. As West Virginia is rapidly expanding its natural gas production, there is no research that has objectively associated water quality perceptions with geographic location in regard to oil and gas extraction sites. With small effect sizes, our results add some evidence to the link between unconventional oil and gas extraction, geographic location, and water quality perceptions. This study suggests the need for further water quality monitoring and increased public communication about water management practices in West Virginia.

Cambarus loughmani, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) endemic to the pre-glacial Teays River Valley in West Virginia, USA

ABSTRACTA new species of crayfish, Cambarus loughmani sp. nov., is described from the preglacial Teays River Valley of Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, and Putnam counties, West Virginia. The species was previously considered to be part of the Cambarus dubius complex. Loughman et al. restricted C. dubius to an orange colour morph found in central and northern portions of the Allegheny Mountains and Appalachian Plateau in central West Virginia, western Maryland, and south-central Pennsylvania. The new species described herein can be distinguished from all other members of Cambarus Erichson, 1846 by a double row of cristiform tubercles on the palm, an open areola with two rows of punctations, and a consistent blue colouration.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5BC7C861-038E-457C-80F3-ED7A66E10D73

2422 - "Rur-Ban" Rail-Trail Business Impact: Case Study of the Mon River Trails System in West Virginia, USA

Background The Mon River Trails System (MRTS) is a network of 48 miles of trails in north central West Virginia that has been in operation in-whole or in-part since 1998. It runs through the rural core city of Morgantown - a densely populated town with a large university and strong economy that is surrounded by an historically rural landscape and culture (a rur-ban area). Rail-trails have a multitude of potential community benefits, including economic - expanded tourism, redevelopment of blighted industrial areas, and the creation of a sense of place. As rural trails such as the MRTS mature, localities are working creatively to spur investment along and near these trails. Much can be learned for future long-distance trail projects from mature trails such as the MRTS that traverse isolated rural to large rural core town areas. Thus, the purpose of this project was to conduct a case study assessment of the business impact of the MRTS and identify the lessons learned that may be applicable in other rural core settings. Methods Our study was guided by six research questions which will be described during the presentation. We collected the following data: Surveys (n=61) from businesses within four blocks of the trail; Interviews of 17 business owners that opened since trail construction; Interviews of 2 business owners that located their business on the trail after it was built but did not stay; Assessed values of properties within one block of the trail, dating back to pre-construction (1994–2016); Focus group with local government, trail advocacy, and visitors’ bureau representatives; and Focus group with directors & county officials in charge of three local Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts. Results In combination, the multiple sources of data highlight three key points: Unlike many other trails studied to date, the MRTS is a local transportation and recreation hub, not a tourism-driven trail; The trail has a multitude of secondary community benefits, including social space, an event location for non-profits, resident and workforce recruitment and retention; and Median property values (including land and building) along the trail have increased 172.6% since 2004; relative to a 68.3% in countywide median home values. Conclusions Practice Implications: Proper trail development requires collaborative public-private planning, creative funding, and incentives for economic development from the outset. More details about the benefits of the MRTS and implications, including policy and economic development suggestions, will be presented.

Small-for-gestational age prevalence risk factors in central Appalachian states with mountain-top mining.

To identify risk factors for small-for-gestational age (SGA) for counties in central Appalachian states (Kentucky (KY), Tennessee (TN), Virginia (VA), and West Virginia (WV)) with varied coal mining activities. Live birth certificate files (1990-2002) were used for obtaining SGA prevalence rates for mothers based on the coal mining activities of their counties of residence, mountain-top mining (MTM) activities, underground mining activities but no mountain-top mining activity (non-MTM), or having no mining activities (non-mining). Co-variable information, including maternal tobacco use, was also obtained from the live birth certificate. Adjusted odds ratios were obtained using multivariable logistic regression comparing SGA prevalence rates for counties with coal mining activities to those without coal mining activities and comparing SGA prevalence rates for counties with coal mining activities for those with and without mountain-top mining activities. Comparisons were also made among those who had reported tobacco use and those who had not. Both tobacco use prevalence and SGA prevalence were significantly greater for mining counties than for non-mining counties and for MTM counties than for non-MTM counties. Adjustment for tobacco use alone explained 50% of the increased SGA risk for mining counties and 75% of the risk for MTM counties, including demographic pre-natal care co-variables that explained 75% of the increased SGA risk for mining counties and 100% of the risk for MTM. The increased risk of SGA was limited to the third trimester births among tobacco users and independent of the mining activities of their counties of residence. This study demonstrates that the increased prevalence of SGA among residents of counties with mining activity was primarily explained by the differences in maternal tobacco use prevalence, an effect that itself was gestational-age dependent. Self-reported tobacco use marked the population at the increased risk for SGA in central Appalachian states. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(1):11-23.

The Wolbachia infection frequency of insects in central West Virginia

Wolbachia is a bacterial endosymbiont that infects the reproductive tissue of Arthropods, particularly insects. Itis transmitted primarily through the ova cytoplasm, alters the reproductive success of its host and thus a suspected driver of evolution and speciation. The frequency of infection in insects around the world suggest an equilibrium has been reached with rates ranging from 20% to 65%. We are investigating the infection frequency with Wolbachia in arthropods in central West Virginia to compare to infection in other locations. Insects were from wooded and meadow areas of the Glenville State College Campus, and Lewis County in the Stonewall Jackson Lake area, fixed in 95% ethanol and identified to species. To determine if an insect was infected with Wolbachia, DNA was extracted and PCR performed using Wolbachia-specific primers. Species sampled to date represent 9 of 16 target orders of Class Insecta, as well as 4 orders from Phylum Arthropoda. To date, 58 of 102 insects tested have demonstrated Wolbachia infection. This puts the infection rate of tested samples at approximately 56%. To get a clearer understanding of the infection rate in this area, we intend to sample additional insects and add additional orders. Determining the infection frequency in this area is an important step in understanding the impact of Wolbachia on the insects of West Virginia.

Suspected Usurpation of Tree Swallow Nests by Eastern Bluebirds in West-Central Virginia

Abstract Researchers have reported that both Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow) and Tachycineta thalassina (Violet-green Swallow) are more aggressive than Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird) and often outcompete bluebirds for nest sites. Therefore, we would not have expected that Tree Swallows would be victims of usurpation by Eastern Bluebirds. However, as part of a study on Tree Swallows, we found that although Tree Swallows occupied 68% of the nest boxes during May, there was also evidence of nest loss in Tree Swallows due to usurpation by Eastern Bluebirds. Suspected usurpation by Eastern Bluebirds resulted in the loss of 18% of Tree Swallow nests over 2 years. Almost all usurpation events coincided with the conclusion of the first nesting cycle in Eastern Bluebirds. Our data suggest that usurpation by Eastern Bluebirds is more common than reported in the literature.

Investigating the frequency of Wolbachia infection in West Virginia arthropods.

Wolbachia is an intracellular bacterial symbiont that infects the reproductive tissue of Arthropods, particularly insects. Wolbachia is transmitted primarily through the ova cytoplasm, and alters reproduction of their host. Wolbachia have been linked with male killing, feminization of genetic males, parthenogenesis, and most often with cytoplasmic incompatibility. Due to these effects on reproductive success, Wolbachia is a suspected driver of evolution and speciation in arthropods. Investigations of the frequency of infection in insects around the world suggest that an equilibrium has been reached with infection rates ranging from 20% to 65%. We are investigating the infection rate with Wolbachia in arthropods in central West Virginia to determine the frequency of infection in this area. Insects were collected in the summer and fall of 2015 from wooded and meadow areas of the Campus of Glenville State College, as well as in Lewis County in the area surrounding Stonewall Jackson Lake, and fixed in 95% ethanol. To date, 193 of the 284+ collected insects, have been identified to species. DNA is being extracted from the identified species, and infection determined by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Wolbachia specific primers. To date, 36 of 73 insects tested have been demonstrated to have Wolbachia infection. To get a clear understanding of the percent of infection in this area, more insects must be collected and sampled. Determining the infection frequency by Wolbachia is an important first step in understanding the impact of these bacteria on insect evolution and speciation in West Virginia.

Bias in determining aluminum concentrations: Comparison of digestion methods and implications on Al management

Aluminum is an important aquatic contaminant due to its ubiquity, toxicity and low regulatory discharge limits. Aluminum is mobilized in mining related, acidic drainage and is commonly a regulated pollutant. However, while aquatic toxicity studies and toxicity criteria are based on dissolved aluminum(Ald), discharge levels are, for statutory reasons, based on total recoverable aluminum (Alt). The rationale for using total recoverable aluminum recognizes the potential for the release of exchangeable, toxic cations or dissolution of metastable metal flocs in the event the discharge enters an acidic receiving stream. The digestion methods used in determining total recoverable metals are not meant to dissolve aluminosilicate clay particles but we found that they do, resulting in positively biased total recoverable aluminum values. This study explored the interaction between total suspended solids (TSS) and total recoverable aluminum using three digestion methods to evaluate which method introduced the least bias.Using field collected water and sediment samples from two coal mine drainage sites in Central West Virginia, three total recoverable digestion methods (USEPA Method 200.7, M1; USGS In-Bottle method, M2; and a Modified In-Bottle method, M3) were used to determine total recoverable aluminum across a range of total suspended solids concentrations. Baseline simulation experiments were conducted at pH 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 at different total suspended solids concentrations. Results indicated that dissolved aluminum did not respond to increasing total suspended solids concentrations while determined total recoverable aluminum increased with total suspended solids, indicating varying degrees of clay dissolution and, thus bias in the total recoverable aluminum concentration. While all three digestion methods overestimated total recoverable aluminum, at the same total suspended solids concentration, total recoverable aluminum extracted by USEPA Method 200.7 (M1) was much higher than the other two digestion methods (M2 and M3). Total recoverable aluminum from different digestion methods indicated that amount of aluminosilicate clay is digested in decreasing order: USEPA 200.7 (M1) > USGS in-bottle (M2) > modified in-bottle (M3). At pH 2.5, positive bias using methods M1, M2 and M3 was 153–287%, 53% and 40% respectively. Positive bias was greatest at pH greater than 4.5. Methods M1, M2 and M3 yielded positive biases of 660–1060%, 120–360% and 200-320% respectively. The results suggest that USEPA method 200.7 (M1) resulted in the greatest bias. Given its application in determining regulatory compliance, this is an important issue requiring further study.