Detroit River Research Articles

Review

164 Michigan Historical Review professional life. Lehto covers Houghton‘s life chronologically in twenty chapters, carefully detailing the remarkable amount of travel, lectures, research, and public service that Houghton accomplished in only fifteen years after he arrived in Detroit in 1830. Lehto argues that the Copper Country did not fully define Houghton‘s life, although his attempt to push the focus of his book away from the Keweenaw is hindered by the lack of personal details about his subject. Stronger editing might have remedied the book‘s shortcomings. The endnotes are not numbered; nor do they follow a consistent format. Readers would also have benefited from an index. Lehto repeatedly uses vague unsourced references to ―historians‖ or statements that ―historians have observed,‖ and he employs the term ―revisionist‖ (with a strong negative connotation) when he takes ―some revisionist historians‖ (p. 134) to task, while ignoring his own ―revisionist‖ efforts to reshape our perceptions of Houghton‘s life. Lehto‘s efforts to track down various scattered Houghton sources also lead him to occasional digressions, including a complaint about research fees to view a painting (p. 134). A more important criticism is that Lehto‘s narrow focus on the particulars of Houghton‘s life and his legacy omits the broader context that the best popular biographies provide. The narrative touches on Houghton‘s legacy but does not place him among other explorers of the era, such as Stephen H. Long and John C. Fremont. Douglass Houghton‘s voyages may not have left a lasting impression, but they were very much a part of the spirit of his time. Despite these limitations, however, Lehto‘s work is a wellresearched , highly readable, interesting work on a major figure in Michigan‘s early history, and it should reach a broad readership. Matthew Lawrence Daley Grand Valley State University Patrick Livingston. Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2008. Pp. 192. Illustrations. Index. Note on sources. Notes. Paper, $24.95. Patrick Livingston‘s Summer Dreams is a cradle-to-grave history of Bob-Lo Island, the Detroit-area amusement park that closed in 1993 after nearly a century of operation. Although its amusements always were American-owned, the island itself is a narrow dot of Canadian Book Reviews 165 territory eighteen miles south of the city where the Detroit River opens into Lake Erie. Throughout its history, Bob-Lo was a remote destination accessible only by ferry or steamship. That remoteness was not unusual for an amusement park in 1900, but Bob-Lo survived even as Detroit and the rest of the continent chose the convenience of travel by automobile. Each summer members of the region‘s middle class, by the hundreds of thousands, temporarily abandoned their cars to get away to ―the greatest spot on earth in their own backyard‖ (p. 3). Livingston‘s studiously researched history presents accounts of a fondly remembered local resort and of the ―people who brought the amusement park to life‖ (p. 3). Generously illustrated and thoughtfully conceived, Summer Dreams further explores the history of this region by examining its popular summertime playground. Opened in the late 1890s during the first era of American amusement parks, Bob-Lo Island did not copy its more famous contemporaries at New York‘s Coney Island. Those resorts lured urban hordes with mechanical thrills, exotic illusions, and brilliant electric lighting. For generations, the owners of Bob-Lo sought to attract ―the more desirable element of pleasure seekers‖ (p. 47) with an alternative vision of escape to a quietly illuminated, wooded ―isle of picnic and pleasure‖ (p. 39). Modern dance steps that appeared lewd were banned at Bob-Lo; beer consumption was prohibited until 1937, and then allowed only on ferries. Aside from a carousel, mechanical rides were kept to a minimum until 1957, when the island was converted into a modern amusement park. Even then, Bob-Lo‘s owners still targeted a mass customer base, composed not of thrill seekers and night owls, but of respectable middle-class families. In Livingston‘s interviews, these people describe their deeply felt memories of a place cherished for its tranquility and separation ―from the everyday life‖ (p. 101). However, Livingston also...

Heavy metals in sediments and uptake by burrowing mayflies in western Lake Erie basin

During the past two decades, burrowing Hexagenia mayflies have returned to the western basin of Lake Erie. Because of their importance as a prey resource for higher trophic levels and their extensive residence time in potentially contaminated sediment, Hexagenia may be a source of heavy metal transfer. To better understand the distribution and transfer of heavy metals in sediment and mayflies, sediment and mayfly nymphs were collected from 24 locations across the western basin of Lake Erie in May 2007. Following USEPA protocols, samples were analyzed for 16 elements using ICP-OES or ICP-MS. Metal concentrations in the sediments exceeded the Threshold Effect Level for at least one metal at all sample sites. Sediment heavy metal distribution profiles indicate metal concentrations are correlated with organic matter content, and the highest heavy metal concentrations were found in the central deeper region of the western basin where organic content in the sediments was greatest. Hexagenia were distributed throughout the western basin, with greatest density (1350/m 2) within the Detroit River plume. The Cd and Zn levels in mayflies were on average approximately 4 and 2 times greater, respectively, than sediment levels, and the Cd concentrations in the sediments exceeded the Threshold Effect Level at 27 of 28 sites and exceeded the Probable Effect Level at 9 of 28 sites. Spatial representation of heavy metal concentrations in mayflies exhibited a similar pattern to the spatial distribution of heavy metals and organic matter in the sediments with higher concentrations of metals found in mayflies residing in the central deeper region of the western basin.

Working in Freshwater: The Great Lakes Observing System Contributions to Regional and National Observations, Data Infrastructure, and Decision Support

AbstractThe Laurentian Great Lakes is the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem. A charge of the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) Regional Association is to help coordinate and integrate data and information relative to the needs of multiple user communities—decision makers with responsibility for coastal resources, maritime operations, human health and water security data, and issues associated with adapting to climate change and weather-related hazards. This article outlines the process GLOS has developed for determining regional data and information needs, how GLOS outreach activities inform data management functions and the development of decision support tools, and how the nearshore network of multiple observation platform types was conceived and is being implemented. The article finishes with a case study of this approach as it is being applied to source water protection, spill response, and search and rescue in the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit River, the connecting channels that link Lake Huron to Lake Erie.

Designing a Sustainable Future through Creation of North America’s only International Wildlife Refuge

In 2001, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge was established based on the principles of conservation and sustainability. The refuge has grown from 49.1 ha in 2001 to over 2,300 ha in 2010. Agreement on a compelling vision for a sustainable future was necessary to rally stakeholders and move them forward together. Project examples include: lake sturgeon and common tern restoration; soft shoreline engineering; ecotourism; sustainable redevelopment of a brownfield; and indicator reporting. Key success factors include: a consensus long-term vision; a multi-stakeholder process that achieves cooperative learning; strong coupling of monitoring/research programs with management; implementing actions consistent with adaptive management; measuring and celebrating successes; quantifying benefits; building capacity; and developing the next generation of sustainability practitioners and entrepreneurs.

Otolith microchemistry as a stock identification tool for freshwater fishes: testing its limits in Lake Erie

We evaluated otolith chemistry as a tool for identifying natal origins of potamodromous fishes using historical Lake Erie water chemistry (1983–2001) and yellow perch ( Perca flavescens ) otolith elemental composition (1994–1996) data. Lake Erie’s tributaries had stream-specific chemical signatures that were temporally stable. Correspondingly, the otolith microelemental composition of larvae collected from tributary embayments (Sandusky and Maumee bays) was shown to be geographically distinct and the use of known-origin juveniles showed that larval otolith microelemental signatures could be used to accurately identify natal origins and indicate fish movement. Discrimination between offshore spawning locations was relatively difficult, however, indicating limitations to working in systems that are dominated by flow from a single large river (i.e., Detroit River). Interannual variability in otolith microelemental signatures was high such that larvae from one year could not reliably classify natal location of larvae in another year. Development of an annual library of site-specific signatures and exploration of complementary ways to discriminate natal origins would improve the use of otolith microchemistry as a fishery management tool in freshwater systems.

Brine-induced mortality of non-indigenous invertebrates in residual ballast water

All transoceanic vessels entering the Great Lakes are required to manage ballast water and ballast tank residuals with ballast water exchange and tank flushing, respectively. While these management procedures effectively reduce the density and richness of biota in ballast waters and thereby reduce the risk of transferring non-indigenous species, some ships are unable to uniformly manage all tanks. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate sodium chloride brine as an emergency treatment for ballast tanks with non-compliant residuals. Invertebrate communities collected from i) Detroit River, ii) exchanged ballast tanks arriving in the Great Lakes, and iii) North Sea ports, were exposed to a range of brine concentrations (15–115‰) until complete mortality was reached. Results indicate that a 1-h exposure to 115‰ brine is a broadly effective treatment (>99.9% mortality) regardless of treatment temperature, taxonomic group, or species’ source habitat salinity. A median of 0.00% (range 0.00–5.33) of individuals are expected to survive treatment and the expected number of viable individuals released after treatment is within Canadian and proposed international discharge standards. Before implementation, validation with ship-scale trials is recommended.

Pollution-induced behavioural effects in the brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)

Aquatic ecosystems are major sinks for pollutants which can have adverse effects on biodiversity. Thus, it is important to understand the nature of pollution-induced change in aquatic ecosystems. We show that brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) may have evolved in response to chronic pollution exposure. We collected adults from the Detroit River (polluted site) and Belle River (control site). Both adults and common-garden raised juveniles were tested for aggression, locomotion, and escape response using consecutive unchallenged (clean) and challenged (polluted) trials. Detroit River fish were more aggressive than Belle River fish when challenged. Furthermore, Belle River fish showed increased locomotion when exposed to pollutants, whereas Detroit River fish were unaffected. The consistent difference in adult and juvenile behaviour across trials suggests a genetic response to pollution. Escape response on the other hand, showed inter-population differences, but no consistency between adults and juveniles, indicating that this behaviour is influenced by non-genetic factors. We discuss our data with respect to the potential adaptation of populations to pollution and the implications for prioritizing remediation efforts.

Spawning by walleye ( Sander vitreus) and white sucker ( Catostomus commersoni) in the Detroit River: Implications for spawning habitat enhancement

Few active fish spawning grounds have been found in channels connecting the Great Lakes. Here, we describe one near Belle Isle in the Detroit River, part of the channel connecting lakes Huron and Erie. There, in 2005, we collected 1,573 fish eggs, cultured them, and identified the hatched larvae as walleye ( Sander vitreus) and white sucker ( Catostomus commersoni). Walleye spawning peaked during the week of April 12–19; white sucker spawning peaked on May 10. Average areal rate of egg deposition by walleye and white sucker at this spawning ground in 2005 was 346 and 25 eggs/m 2, respectively. Our environmental measurements showed that bottom substrates on this spawning ground were largely sand, not optimal for fish reproduction. We hypothesize that reproduction of these fish at this spawning ground could be enhanced by adding rock and gravel substrates for protection of deposited fish eggs and suggest that reproduction by walleye in the Detroit River may add resilience to production of walleye in western Lake Erie.

Linear and Branched Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Isomer Patterns in Herring Gull Eggs from Colonial Sites Across the Laurentian Great Lakes

Linear and branched (six mono(trifluoromethyl) and four di(trifluoromethyl)) isomers of the bioaccumulative contaminant perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were analyzed for and the spatial patterns examined in individual herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs (n = 13 per site) collected (in 2007) from 15 colonies across the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. Linear PFOS (n-perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate (L-PFOS)) consistently dominated the isomer pattern in all eggs, comprising between 95.0% and 98.3% of the summation sigmaPFOS concentration. L-PFOS was highly enriched in the gull eggs as the summation sigmabranched-PFOS to L-PFOS isomer concentration ratios were very constant (overall average 0.038 +/- 0.001) and much lower compared to technical PFOS (range 0.27-0.54). The highest proportions of L-PFOS were generally observed in the eggs from the lower lakes (Erie and Ontario) colonies. All six mono(trifluoromethyl) branched isomers, or perfluoro-n-methyl-heptanesulfonates where n describes the carbon of the hydrocarbon chain were there is trifluoromethyl substitution relative to the sulfonate terminal group, were detected in the eggs from all the colonies. For example, P1MHpS is perfluoro-1-methyl-heptanesulfonate. Comparable to technical PFOS (T-PFOS), the percentage of the mono(trifluoromethyl) isomer to summation sigmaPFOS concentration decreased as the branch substitution was located closer to the sulfonate group, that is, P6MHpS (0%-2.5%), P5MHpS (0.43%-1.18%), P4MHpS (0.25%-0.69%), and P3MHpS (0.32%-0.74%). Although at even lower fractional composition than the mono(trifluoromethyl) isomers, of the di(trifluoromethyl) isomers, detected in >60% of the individual eggs per site was P35DMHxS and P45DMHxS for Toronto Harbour (Lake Ontario), P35DMHxS for Chantry (Lake Huron) and Fighting Island (Detroit River), and P45DMHxS for Gull Island (Lake Michigan). Relative to T-PFOS, and independent of colonial location, the high and consistent enrichment of L-PFOS in gull eggs is likely a function of several processes including PFOS or precursor sources, and isomer-specific PFOS or precursor exposure, accumulation, biotransformation, retention and/or elimination. The results of this study suggests that the apparent dilution of the mono(fluoromethyl) isomers from environmental processes that occur prior to final accumulation in herring gull eggs, is independent of the mono(fluoromethyl) isomer structure.

Novel and optimized polymorphic microsatellite loci for brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)

Eight novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus). Allelic diversity varied between three and eleven alleles per locus with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.286 to 0.776 among 49 Detroit River fish, with no evidence of linkage disequilibrium. One locus showed deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium likely due to null alleles. The new markers amplified in four related catfish species. Five additional primers from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and yellow bullhead (A. natalis) were optimised for use with brown bullhead.

A bioarchaeological study of a Western Basin tradition cemetery on the Detroit River

Archaeological monitoring of construction in a Windsor city park on the Detroit River led to the discovery of an isolated cemetery containing the remains of eight individuals assigned to the Late Woodland Western Basin Tradition. At the request and consent of the contemporary First Nation community, tissue samples from five individuals were subjected to radiocarbon dating, mtDNA, and stable isotope analysis to confirm cultural affiliation and further understand the subsistence practices of these people. Radiocarbon dating placed the cemetery at the transition from the Younge phase (AD 900–1200) to the Springwells phase (AD 1200–1400). The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope results provide an unexpected but fuller understanding of Late Woodland Western Basin Tradition subsistence. All individuals were as enriched in carbon as those found on Iroquoian horticulturalist sites to the east, suggesting a very high reliance on maize. Nitrogen isotope values indicate that the protein component of the diet was comprised largely of high trophic level food sources, likely fish. An in situ osteological analysis identified a high number of carious lesions in the visible teeth, also suggesting a diet high in carbohydrates. The mtDNA findings support the antiquity of the Western Basin presence in Northeast North America through genetic links with the Hind Site, an Archaic site in southern Ontario. These results underscore the importance of such studies for providing novel insight into the archaeological histories and lifeways of this distinct Late Woodland tradition. This study also emphazises the need to work with descendant communities to provide them with information on the past that reflects their distinct heritage in the lower Great Lakes region.

Occurrence and Removal of PPCPs and EDCs in the Detroit River Watershed

The occurrence of 51 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the Detroit River Watershed (DRW) was investigated. Also, the efficiency of local water treatment plants (WTPs) in removing these pollutants was evaluated. Samples were collected from various locations in the DRW, including the discharge of a sewage treatment plant (STP), downstream of the STP on the Detroit River, the intakes of the WTPs, and treated drinking water. Of the 51 target substances analyzed, 12 were not detected in any of the samples, while 14 were detected consistently in all samples from the STP effluent. The concentration of target chemicals was two to four orders of magnitude higher in the STP effluents than at the intakes of the WTPs. In total, 10 substances were detected in at least 10% of the drinking water samples. Two compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl solfonate (PFOS), were found in 90+% of the drinking water samples.

Macrohabitat associations of fishes in shallow waters of the Detroit River

Seasonal variation in large-scale habitat selection by fishes in shallow, Canadian waters of the Detroit River was examined. Fish communities were compared among three river segments (upstream, middle and downstream) consisting of areas of shallow water habitat separated by wide hydrologic barriers of deep, flowing water and between inshore and offshore areas. In spring, the most unique, diverse and abundant fish assemblages were found at inshore sites in the middle segment where the largest remaining wetland habitats are located. Fishes used inshore habitat to spawn and probably avoided offshore areas because macrophyte cover was not available in spring. In summer, juvenile gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum and white bass Morone chrysops were observed in high densities in the upstream segment, probably migrating downstream from Lake St Clair. There was little difference in the fish assemblage among macrohabitats in autumn. The upstream segment appeared to be the most degraded, because it contained no species that were not found in the other segments, had a paucity of uncommon species and had significantly more non-native species. This state was attributed to the infilling of coastal wetlands by urban land use and a resulting loss of habitat heterogeneity. The middle segment, with the only remaining wetland habitats, had the greatest occurrence of uncommon species and the only species at risk found in this study. Conservation and restoration efforts should be greatest for wetlands; however, shallow offshore areas provide important fish habitat in summer and autumn.

Contaminant Trends in Suspended Sediments in the Detroit River-Lake St. Clair-St. Clair River Corridor, 2000 to 2004

Abstract Suspended sediments from the Detroit River-Lake St. Clair-St. Clair River corridor over the period of 2000 to 2004 were analyzed to examine the spatial distributions of contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and mercury. Contaminant spatial distributions were similar over the five-year study period, but concentrations varied considerably among sampling locations. Concentrations of PCBs ranged from 22 to 1,200 ng/g (dry weight) in 2004, and from 10 to 2,700 ng/g (dry weight) in 2000; concentrations of PAHs ranged from 640 to 52,000 ng/g (dry weight) in 2004, and from 240 to 82,000 ng/g (dry weight) in 2000; and concentrations of mercury ranged from 0.063 to 0.478 mg/kg (dry weight) in 2004, and from 0.060 to 0.514 mg/kg (dry weight) in 2002. The highest PCB and PAH concentrations were associated with suspended sediments in the lower and middle reaches of the Detroit River in the area of the Trenton Channel, and the outflow of the Rouge River. The spatial distributions of mercury were more consistent throughout the entire corridor, indicating the presence of sources in both the lower reaches of the Detroit River and the upper reaches of the St. Clair River. Both the Trenton Channel area of the Detroit River and the upper reaches of the St. Clair River are characterized by heavy historical industrial activity, including steel manufacturing and chlor-alkali production.

Real-Time Hydraulic and Hydrodynamic Model of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River System

The Huron-Erie Corridor serves as a major waterway in the Great Lakes and is the connecting channel between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. The system consists of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River, and serves as a recreational waterway, source of drinking water for Detroit and surrounding cities, as well as the only shipping channel to Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. This paper describes a three-dimensional unsteady model of the combined system and its application to real-time predictions of physical conditions over the corridor. The hydrodynamic model produces nowcasts eight times per day and 48 h forecasts twice a day. Comparisons between model simulations and observed values show average differences of 3 cm for water levels and 12 cm/s for along-channel currents in the St. Clair River (compared to mean current values of 1.7 m/s) for the period of September 2007 to August 2008. Simulations reveal a spatially and temporally variable circulation in Lake St. Clair as well as significant changes in flow rate and distribution through the St. Clair Delta not accounted for in previous models.

Review

166 Michigan Historical Review one of the stronger essays in part three, Charles Wilson Goode convincingly argues that men like George Meldrum and William Park made choices during the Revolutionary War that reflected “personal preferences” rather than political ideals or national loyalties. Although each man made a different choice (Meldrum remained in the United States while Park moved across the Detroit River), each did so to preserve his local political and social status. By moving, Park remained “a prominent figure in a British settler society” (p. 135). Similarly, by remaining in Detroit, Meldrum preserved his place “in the town’s emerging political and social structure.” Each man, then, privileged the benefits of his local ties over his “affection for either Britain or the United States” (p. 136). With varying degrees of success, the essays in this volume contribute further to the dominance of White’s middle-ground framework. Many of the contributions also remind readers that even amidst great international conflict local concerns often shaped how people confronted change in their communities. Perhaps most importantly, however, this collection of essays successfully demonstrates that there is much to learn from those who lived and struggled in the Detroit region during the revolutionary era. Thankfully, the editors have also included an impressive bibliography at the end of the volume, encouraging curious readers to pursue their own investigations of Detroit’s rich and diverse eighteenth-century past. Suzanne Cooper Guasco Queens University of Charlotte Daniel M. Cobb. Native Activism in Cold War America: The Struggle for Sovereignty. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2008. Pp. 336. Bibliography. Index. Notes. Photographs. Cloth, $34.95. In Native Activism in Cold War America: The Struggle for Sovereignty, Daniel M. Cobb hopes to broaden not only our understanding of Native activism but also how Native activism in the 1960s was inextricably interwoven and intertwined with the larger history of the time. Native activism did not happen in a vacuum, Cobb argues, nor was it inherently or exclusively militaristic in character. Cobb contends that Native American activism extended beyond overt militancy expanding to encompass what he calls “reformative goals and conventional tactics” (p. 2). He believes that history’s fixation with the American Indian Movement limits our understanding of the time, the goals of the people Book Reviews 167 involved, and the people themselves. By approaching Native activism from this angle and through this lens, Cobb broadens the spectrum to include not only overt, and often controversial actions like Wounded Knee II and the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building, but also less obvious but equally important actions like letter-writing campaigns, grant writing, and community meetings. Cobb contends that all of these tactics need to be recognized as legitimate forms of activism in order to both appreciate the changes that were taking place and understand this period fully. Central to the book’s theme of “reformative goals and conventional tactics” are the War on Poverty and Point IV programs, which Cobb believes were crucial to discussions regarding sovereignty and selfdetermination within Native communities, even though they were not always successful. These programs were essential because they linked what was happening in Indian Country not only with what was happening within the larger United States but also with what was happening globally. In fact, according to Cobb, “politics of tribal sovereignty and self-determination cannot be understood apart from the larger global policies of modernization and decolonization or the turbulent contests over race, poverty, and war at home” (p. 3). Cobb’s arguments are informed by many disciplines, including sociology, community-development theory, and anthropology; and he uses new archival sources and extensive interviews to support his hypotheses. His use of interviews is particularly important because he includes the obvious players of the time as well as those who were less well known, thus supporting his overall thesis that it takes all kinds of actions and people to force change. In doing so, however, he admits that neither type of activism—militaristic or conventional—was fully successful. Anyone seeking a broader understanding of Native activism in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s will find this book useful because it does not tell the same old story nor does...

The influence of diet on the assimilation efficiency of 47 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in Japanese koi (Cyprinus carpio)

The influence of diet on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) assimilation was investigated by measuring dietary assimilation efficiencies (AEs) for 47 PCB congeners in juvenile koi (Cyprinus carpio) fed five experimental diets. Two of the diets were naturally contaminated and were obtained by collecting mayflies from Lake Erie (ON, Canada) and emerald shiners from the Detroit River (MI, USA). The remaining diets consisted of commercial fish pellets (lipid contents from 6.7 to 24%) that were contaminated by spiking with a PCB mixture. Experimental fish were held individually to quantify the amount of food consumed per fish and, following a 48-h fasting period to facilitate food digestion and assimilation; AEs were determined by mass balance. Fish fed the benthic invertebrate food exhibited the highest PCB AEs (70-101%) and were significantly elevated compared to the other diet treatments (AEs ranging from 23 to 87%). The PCB AEs for fish fed emerald shiners did not differ from those fed pellet formulations. Variation among PCB AEs was not related to diet lipid content. For all diet treatments, PCB AEs were significantly related to chemical hydrophobicity. The relationship between chemical AE and n-octanol/water partition coefficient (K(OW)) was best explained by a linear model compared to a two-phase resistance model. Overall, PCB AEs were observed to be dependent on both diet type and chemical hydrophobicity, with both factors contributing nearly equally to the variation measured in this toxicokinetic parameter.

Evaluation of pilot-scale oxidation of several PPCPs/EDCs (pharmaceuticals and personal care products/endocrine disrupting compounds) during drinking water ozonation treatment

Several PPCPs/EDCs are being detected in surface drinking water sources, which is a great concern. The efficacy of ozonation in oxidizing 13 PPCPs/EDCs frequently detected in the Detroit River watershed was examined at pilot scale in the current study. Pilot-scale experiments were conducted at ozone dosages varying between 0.3 and 1.5 mg/L with the 13 PPCPs/ EDCs spiked in raw water obtained from the Detroit River. For 10 of the 13 PPCPs/EDCs with a high reaction rate with ozone (Group A), average oxidation efficiencies exceeded 95% for all ozone dosages at a contact time of 8.6 min. For chemicals with low to moderate reaction rate with molecular ozone (Group B), the observed oxidations were variable and ranged between 3 and 62% for ibuprofen and clorfibric acid and between 28 and >99% for bezafibrate under the same conditions. For the Group B chemicals, the oxidation increased with increasing ozone exposure and was significantly influenced by the quality of raw water.

Assessment of the “fish tumors or other deformities” beneficial use impairment in brown bullhead ( Ameiurus nebulosus): I. Orocutaneous tumors

The “fish tumor or other deformities” beneficial use impairment (BUI) occurs at 9 of the 12 areas of concern (AOC) on Lake Erie. As point sources are mitigated and remediation occurs, AOC are faced with determining delisting criteria. The lack of standardized analyses for this BUI has confounded that process. For orocutaneous tumors, different criteria (presumptive tumors and/or abnormal barbels) and methodology (gross versus microscopic observations) have been used. Hence, this project evaluated tumors at numerous AOC and non-AOC sites and compared methodology. In 1998–2000 the prevalence of presumptive orocutaneous tumors and barbel abnormalities was compared in brown bullhead ( Ameiurus nebulosus) collected at eight AOC. The Black (46.7%), Buffalo (29.3%), Cuyahoga (58.9%), and Detroit (26.5%) rivers and Presque Isle Bay (28.6%) had high prevalences of orocutaneous tumors, while the Niagara (10%), Maumee (3.9%) and Ashtabula (4.4%) rivers were lower. From 2002 to 2007 the prevalence of orocutaneous tumors at Presque Isle Bay was consistently near 30%. A variety of non-AOC sites, as potential reference sites, were also monitored during this time. By combining years and sites the prevalence of orocutaneous tumors in bullhead (age 2–12 years) at inland lakes was 6.3%, at Long Point Inner Bay was 8.7%, at other bays and harbors was 14.6% and at tributary sites was 12.5%. Overall, 93% of the raised lesions identified as presumptive tumors grossly were verified as neoplasms microscopically. The prevalence of orocutaneous tumors increased with age at both Presque Isle Bay and Long Point Inner Bay, the sites with the largest sample sizes.

Relative abundance, age structure, and body size in mudpuppy populations in southwestern Ontario

Little is known of mudpuppy ( Necturus maculosus) population structure and ecology; some populations in the Great Lakes are thought to be in decline. Mudpuppies are the obligate hosts for the mudpuppy mussel ( Simpsonaias ambigua), a species that is endangered in Canada and in many Great Lakes states. We surveyed mudpuppies from the Sydenham River, the only known Canadian locality of the mudpuppy mussel, in order to generate information on relative density, deformity rates and population age/size structure and used this information to compare them to known mudpuppy populations from Great Lakes sites in the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Long Point in Lake Erie. Deformity rates were elevated at some sites in the Sydenham River. The relative density of mudpuppies in the Sydenham River was lower than that of other Great Lakes sites and their age was skewed towards younger individuals. Although at lower densities than at other Great Lakes sites, the mudpuppy population in the Sydenham River appears stable and is showing signs of recruitment which bodes well for the future of the mudpuppy mussel population of the river.