Finger
Lakes as Model Ecosystems for Understanding Oligotrophication
Processes in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Dr.
Donald Stewart, SUNY-ESF
Dr. Lars Rudstam, Cornell University Biological Field Station
Dr. Edward Mills, Cornell University Biological Field Station
Over the past twenty years, the quality of Lake Ontario has been
slowly moving towards an improved condition. For many years prior
to this, the lake was inundated by algae, overfished, and contaminated
with pollutants. Since the passage of the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement between the United States and Canada in 1972, all of
the Great Lakes have shown some form of improvement. However,
the question has recently been raised as to whether the improvements
are actually leading to "pristine" conditions envisioned
by planners or some as of yet unknown path. The project entitled
"Finger Lakes as Model Ecosystems for Understanding
Oligotrophication Processes in the Laurentian Great Lakes"
attempts to address this concern. The project is an offshoot of
the Great Lakes Research Consortium Task Group that has been working
to develop a program for ecosystem studies on the Finger Lakes
of New York as models for the Great Lakes ecosystems. The idea
is that by viewing the effects of oligotrophication on smaller
lakes, the same effects could be extrapolated to the Great Lakes.
Dr. Donald Stewart of SUNY - ESF and Drs. Lars Rudstam
and Edward Mills, both of Cornell University Biological
Field Station, are in charge of this project. They will study
and model two New York Finger Lakes, Skaneateles and Owasco, to
predict the pathway of the process of oligotrophication in Lake
Ontario.
In
Utero Exposure to Environmental Contaminants via Maternal Lake
Ontario
Sport Fish Consumption and the Risk of Congenital Anomalies in
Children
Dr.
Pauline Mendola, University at Buffalo
Dr. Charlotte Druschel, SUNY - Albany
Dr. Pauline Mendola of the University at Buffalo and Dr.
Charlotte Druschel of SUNY - Albany will be funded for a study
entitled, "In Utero Exposure to Environmental Contaminants
via Maternal Lake Ontario Sport Fish Consumption and the Risk
of Congenital Anomalies in Children." There are many
contaminants found in and around the Great Lakes. Included among
these are PCBs, the pesticide mirex, and mercury. These toxins
have been shown to accumulate in the fatty tissues of many fish
and other wildlife. Evidence in wild animals has indicated that
consumption of contaminated foods causes malformation of DNA in
adults, and birth defects in offspring that are produced when
the mother consumes the contaminant. Preliminary reports show
that this is possibly true for humans as well, with a significant
percentage of babies exhibiting structural abnormalities. Drs.
Mendola and Druschel will use data from the New York State Angler
questionnaire and the New York Sate Congenital Malformations Registry
in an attempt to correlate the birth defects with contaminated
fish consumption. They hope that their research will give a clearer
picture of how every day contaminants effect us and our children.
Behavioral
and Neurochemical Effects in the Offspring Following Lake Ontario
Salmon Consumption
Dr.
Paul Stewart, SUNY Oswego
Dr. Rich Seegel, SUNY Albany School of Public Health
James Pagano, SUNY Oswego
Dr. David Sargent, SUNY Oswego
Many Great Lakes have concentrations of contaminants that tend
to bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of sportfish such as salmon.
PCB's, DDE, mirex, chlordane, and mercury are commonly found in
the tissues of such fish and are known or suspected of being neurotoxic.
Despite numerous warnings by New York State not to eat these fish,
a recent survey in Oswego County indicated that 46% of the pregnant
women surveyed had consumed fish from Lake Ontario. What are these
chemicals doing to their offspring? "Behavioral and Neurochemical
Effects in the Offspring Following Lake Ontraio Salmon Consumption"
attempts to answer this question. This project, organized by Dr.
Paul Stewart, Dr. David Sargent, and James Pagano of
SUNY - Oswego and Dr. Richard Seegel of SUNY - Albany,
builds upon pioneering work done by Dr. Helen Daly and her colleagues.
The current work uses rats to observe the behavior of newborn
rats whose mothers were fed salmon taken from Lake Ontario while
carrying those offspring. Specific chemicals causing the changes
in behavior will also be determined. The results should define
the extent and pattern of neurochemical changes in the brains
of individuals exposed to such contaminants and determine how
prenatal exposure to these chemicals effect learning and behavior
later in life.
The
Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Exposure to Inhaled and
Ingested PCBs Found in the St. Lawrence River on the Sprague Dawley
Rat
Dr.
John Lombardo, SUNY - Cortland
Dr. David Berger, SUNY - Cortland
Dr. Brian Bush, SUNY - Albany, NYSDOH
Ann Casey, SUNY - Albany, NYSDOH
Dr. Fred Quimby, Cornell University
Anne Hunt, SUNY - Albany
It has been shown that most of Great Lakes toxins bioaccumulate
in the fatty tissues of organisms that consume contaminated organisms
or substrates orally. However, it has also been shown that PCBs
are released from the sediments in which they are contained into
the air. This is serious cause for concern as some research has
indicated that PCBs accumulate in the olfactory systems of mammals.
As we attempt to do clean-up of contaminated areas, one of the
most popular methods of doing so is dredging the sediments from
the body of water and leaving them out to dry before being dumped.
By doing so, we are releasing high concentrations of PCBs into
the air and exposing ourselves and wildlife to potentially neurotoxic
chemicals. In a study entitled "The Physiological and
Behavioral Effects of Exposure to Inhaled and Ingested PCBs
Found in the St. Lawrence River on the Sprague Dawley Rat",
researchers from SUNY - Cortland, SUNY - Albany, and Cornell University
lead by Dr. John Lombardo, will attempt to discern the
extent of the effects of aerosol PCBs on test rats. By understanding
these effects, appropriate changes could be made to the policies
for dredging of contaminated sediments.
Remote
Sensing and Ice Dynamics in the Great Lakes
Dr.
Hayley Shen, Clarkson University
Dr. Paul Hopkins, SUNY - ESF
Dr. Ray Lougeay, SUNY - Geneseo
A workshop, "Remote Sensing and Ice Dynamics in the Great
Lakes," is proposed by Dr. Hayley Shen of Clarkson
University. Dr. Shen and her colleagues at SUNY - ESF and SUNY
- Geneseo intend to gather those professors and students proficient
in remote sensing to discuss the potential of using this new technology
to study ice dynamics in the Great Lakes. Ice can affect the waters
of the lakes in a variety of ways. During the winter, ice acts
not only as a blocker of incoming solar energy, but as an insulator,
preventing wind mixing and heat transfer through lake water. Data
collected through remote sensing should lead to the creation of
mathematical models that should be able to predict these effects.
The workshop will determine if this is possible. If it is, a long
term remote sensing task group may be developed to monitor ice
dynamics.
Visualization Sabbatical
Dr.
John Felleman was provided with support for his sabbatical
leave from SUNY - ESF. His project while on leave involves visiting
several Consortium member campuses in the United States and Canada
to study data visualization techniques and how they can be incorporated
into environmental decision making processes. Environmental decisions
are often based on complex mathematical models. Many researchers
use only the numbers generated by models. Over the past decade
rapid advances in digital graphics coupled with Geographical Information
Systems (GIS) have allowed researchers to "see" what
they are working on. Despite their promise, these visualization
techniques are not commonly used by decision makers. Dr. Felleman
hopes that by visiting these member campuses he will be able to
produce a problem analysis / state of the art review, that will
prioritize the areas for further research. He also hopes to establish
a GLRC Task Group next year that will further explore means to
bridge the gap between science and decision making.
Devising
a Strategy for Conservation of Culturally Significant Plants in
Iroquois Communities
Dr.
Robin Kimmerer of SUNY - ESF and H. David Greene of the New York
Sea Grant at the University of Buffalo are working towards increasing
the awareness of scientists and land managers to plants traditionally
used by indigenous peoples. Their project, entitled "Devising
a Strategy for Conservation of Culturally Significant Plants in
Iroquois Communities", will convene two workshops to bring
together scientists, Native American leaders, and traditional
practitioners. It is hoped that these workshops will identify
areas of concern for Iroquois people and successfully inform scientists
and land managers of that concern. They hope that by undergoing
this process, researchers will begin to understand how important
these plants are, not only to the biodiversity of the Great Lakes
region, but to the health and well-being of native peoples. A
task group will also be formed to mediate conversations and evaluate
the information from each workshop. This project was funded for
$3000.
Environmentally
Acceptable Endpoints (EAE) for Hydrophobic Organics in Soils and
Sediments Workshop
Management
of contaminated soils in the Great Lakes region is of great importance
not only to protecting the quality of the Lakes but to human health
as well. Many chemicals remain in the soils for many years unless
they are deliberately cleaned up. When remediation is undertaken,
much of the problem is removed, but then the question becomes,
how much of the contaminants need to be removed before the area
is considered to be clean? For this reason, Dr. A. Scott Weber
and Dr. Joseph DePinto of the University at Buffalo will
convene the "Environmentally Acceptable Endpoints for
Hydrophobic Organics in Soils and Sediments Workshop".
The organizers hope to send members of the Consortium to the New
York State EAE Working Group.
Great
Lakes Acoustic Workshop
Dr.
John Horne, Great Lakes Center, Buffalo State College
Dr. J. Michael Jech, Great Lakes Center, Buffalo State College
Dr. Stephen B. Brandt, Great Lakes Center, Buffalo State College
Dave MacNeill, NY Sea Grant, SUNY - Brockport
Dr. Donald Stewart, SUNY - ESF
The use of acoustics to sample aquatic environments is a relatively
new technique. By sending sound waves into the water in rapid,
relatively short bursts researchers have been able to effectively
determine spatial distributions, abundances and sizes of aquatic
organisms. Unfortunately the development of new technology and
techniques in this field are beginning to outstrip the knowledge
of the practitioners. Therefore, Dr. John Horne of the
Great Lakes Center at Buffalo State College and his colleagues
will convene the "Great Lakes Acoustic Workshop".
This workshop will bring in international experts in the field
of acoustic sampling to give plenary lectures and a number of
regional experts to lead discussion groups. Also included in the
workshop will be the formulation of a case study to design an
acoustic survey of Lake Erie offshore biomass. The workshop will
be held during the International Association of Great Lakes Research
(IAGLR) meeting in June, 1997. All academic and government institutions
that are interested in or are using acoustic technology will be
encouraged to send in participants.
Interaction
of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals in Rats
Dr.
Harish Sikka, SUNY College at Buffalo
Dr. Alexander Maccubbin, Roswell Park Cancer Institute
$17500
"Interaction of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons and
Heavy Metals in Rats" explores the formation of possibly
carcinogenic mutations in the DNA of rats. Polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons are formed by the incomplete combustion of virtually
all organic materials. They are released into the atmosphere in
tobacco smoke, automobile exhausts, and incineration. When an
organism ingests polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) the
body attempts to break down or metabolize the compounds. What
are left are metabolites, or restructured forms of the chemicals
which tend to bind to the DNA of the animal. These bound chemicals
prevent the DNA from replicating correctly, which in turn may
lead to cancer as the cells divide incorrectly. Oftentimes, however,
the body is fully able to deal with the PAH bound DNA. Activities
within an animal can repair the damage done, thus preventing any
harm from coming to the creature. Unfortunately, where there are
PAHs, there are often other toxins. These include heavy metals
that may be ingested along with the PAHs. The heavy metals may
work to impede either the metabolization of the PAHs or the body's
repair activities; therefore, the organism is left with not only
a bioaccumulating heavy metal, but unrepairable DNA damage. In
the study being done by Dr. Harish Sikka of SUNY College
at Buffalo and Dr. Alexander Maccubbin of the Roswell Park
Cancer Institute, the interactions between a common PAH, benzo[a]pyrene,
and a common heavy metal, methylmercury, within rats are explored.
