Biomonitoring Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program 1995 Mississippi River Basin Activities

Metadata:


Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources
Originator:
Biomonitoring Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program
Publication_Date: 2000
Title:
Biomonitoring Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program 1995 Mississippi River Basin Activities
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place:
USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC), Columbia, Missouri, USA
Publisher: USGS/BRD-CERC
Other_Citation_Details:
DATA: (1) Fish Health Master Display.xls (field data); (2) Metals and Chemicals Residues Data.xls (composite samples); (3) Station Location Data.xls (coordinants); (4) Species Table.xls (scientific names, TSN, and species codes); and (5) Variables.xls (description).
Online_Linkage: http://www. best.usgs.gov/overview.html
Description:
Abstract:
The Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program is designed to identify and understand the effects of environmental contaminants on biological resources, particularly those resources under the stewardship of the Department of the Interior (DOI). BEST provides sound scientific information to be used proactively to prevent or limit contaminant-related effects on biological resources. The primary goals of BEST are to: (1) determine the status and trends of environmental contaminants and their effects on biological resources, (2) identify, assess and predict the effects of contaminants on ecosystems and biological populations, and (3) provide summary information in a timely manner to managers and the public for guiding conservation efforts. To address these goals, BEST will use different approaches, involving a combination of field biomonitoring methods and information assessment tools, for examining contaminant issues at the national, regional, and local levels. Fish, primarily common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), were sampled from a total of 48 stations (34 former NCBP stations, 13 NAWQA sites, and one reference site) in the Mississippi River drainage by FWS, USGS and NBS personnel during August-December 1995. Together, the array of sites, analyses, and assays will provide a synoptic overview of the current distribution of a wide variety of contaminants and their effects on fish in much of the Mississippi River drainage, in addition to evaluating the feasibility and performance of using new methods together in a testing battery.
Purpose:
The objectives of this BEST Mississippi River system project are: 1. To document the distribution of contaminants in the Mississippi River system and determine the potential of these contaminants to affect aquatic organisms. The selection of former NCBP sites will allow the study to draw on the extensive historic database on organochlorine chemicals and metals, and will also update that data base, which has not been sampled since 1986 and the floods of 1993 and 1995. Time and budget constraints precluded a complete, 115 station NCBP collection in 1995. Instead, NBS and the FWS proposed a reduced-scale implementation for 1995, to include 34 of the 38 stations located in the Mississippi River drainage. 2. To test the logistical feasibility of implementing an investigation incorporating multiple lines of evidence on a large geographic scale through partnerships with other agencies. This study was designed to be implemented as a partnership between NBS and other agencies, most notably FWS and, to a lesser extent, USGS. Although the methods to be employed are well founded scientifically, they have not been used together as a battery in a study of this scale and/or involving many participants. This study will test the logistics of such an approach; 3. To demonstrate compatibility with and to complement the NAWQA program of the U.S. Geological Survey and NBS. Elements of the NAWQA program are similar, but NAWQA study units are smaller in scale. This pilot will test the ability of BEST and NAWQA to integrate over larger scales; and 4. To quantitatively evaluate the performance of indicators selected for use in aquatic habitats by the BEST program. The precision of some indicators has not been well characterized. This pilot will generate sufficient data for statistical analyses of factors contributing to variation and for the optimization of sample sizes.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19950821
Ending_Date: 19951031
Currentness_Reference:
Stations sampled during fall of 1995, however data is continually generated and analyzed.
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Mississippi River Basin
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -107.6069
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -77.92583
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.48917
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.99806
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: BEST Program
Theme_Keyword: contaminants
Theme_Keyword: biomonitoring
Theme_Keyword: BEST
Theme_Keyword: NCBP
Theme_Keyword: NAWQA
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Mississippi River
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: USA
Place_Keyword: Eastern Iowa Basin
Temporal:
Temporal_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Temporal_Keyword: 1995
Taxonomy:
Taxonomic_Keywords:
168160: LMBS-Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 163344: CARP-Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 163998: CNCF-Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 161905: GDEY-Goldeye (Hiodon alosiodes)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 162139: NTPK-Northern pike (Esox lucius)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 167676: SBWB-Whiper (Morone sp.)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 167680: SDBS-Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 167682: WTBS-White bass (Morone chrysops)
Taxonomic_Keywords:
163917: QLBK-Quillback carpsucker (Carpiodes cyprinus)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 163936: RVRH-River redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 163895: WTSK-White sucker (Catostomus commersoni)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 163955: SMBF-Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 168509: SGER-Sauger (Stizostedion canadense)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 168508: WLYE-Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum)
Taxonomic_Keywords:
168159: SMBS-Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui)
Taxonomic_Keywords:
168161: STBS-Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
Taxonomic_Keywords:
168167: BKCP-Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 161997: BNTT-Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 161989: RBTT-Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Taxonomic_Keywords: 164725: BRBT-Burbot (Lota lota)
Taxonomic_Coverage:
Specific_Taxonomic_Information:
Kingdom: Animalia
Division-Phylum: Phylum=Chordata, Subphylum=Vertebrata
Class:
Superclass=Osteichthyes, Class=Actinopterygii, Infraclass=Teleostei
General_Taxonomic_Coverage: ITIS Classification System: www.itis.usda.gov
Access_Constraints: restricted
Use_Constraints: restricted
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Chris Schmitt
Contact_Organization: USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC)
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: Columbia Environmental Research Center
Address: 4200 New Haven Road
City: Columbia
State_or_Province: MO
Postal_Code: 65201
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 573-875-5399 X 1846
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 573-876-1896
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: chris_schmitt@usgs.gov
Hours_of_Service: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Data_Set_Credit: USGS/BRD-Columbia Environmental Research Center
Native_Data_Set_Environment: MS Excel 2000
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Schmitt C.J., T.M. Bartish, V.S. Blazer, T.S. Gross, D.E. Tillitt, W.L. Bryant, and L.R. DeWesse
Publication_Date: 19990312
Title:
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Contaminants and Related Effects in Fish from the Mississippi, Columbia, and Rio Grande Basins Proceedings of the 8th Toxic Substances Hydrology Meeting. Charleston, S.C.
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place:
USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC), Columbia, Missouri, USA
Publisher: USGS/BRD-CERC
Online_Linkage: http://www.best.usgs.gov/overview.html
Online_Linkage: http://www.best.usgs.gov/ncbp.html
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Schmitt C.J., V.S. Blazer, G.M. Dethloff, D.E. Tillitt, T.S. Gross, W.L. Bryant Jr., L.R. DeWeese, S.B. Smith, R.W. Goede, T.M. Bartish, T.J. Kubiak.
Publication_Date: 19990930
Title:
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Field Procedures for Assessing the Exposure of Fish to Environmental Contaminants. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Columbia, (MO): Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD-1999--0007. iv + 35 pp. + appendices.
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place:
USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC), Columbia, Missouri, USA
Publisher: USGS/BRD-CERC
Online_Linkage: www.cerc.usgs.gov/pubs/pubs.htm (BEST .pdf files)
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schmitt C.J. and G.M. Dethloff
Publication_Date: 20000300
Title:
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Selected methods for monitoring chemical contaminants and their effects in aquatic ecosystems. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Columbia, (MO): Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD-2000--0005. 81 pp.
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place:
USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, USA
Publisher: USGS/BRS-CERC
Online_Linkage: www.cerc.usgs.gov/pubs/pubs.htm (BEST .pdf files)
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schmitt C.J., J.L. Zajicek, T.W. May, D.F. Cowman
Publication_Date: 19991030
Title:
National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program: Concentrations of organochlorine chemical residues and elemental contaminants in U. S. freshwater fish, 1976-1986. Rev. Environ, Contam. Toxicol. 162:43-104.
Online_Linkage: http://www.cerc.usgs.gov/data/ncbp/ncbp.html
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Tillitt D., G. Ankley, and J. Giesy
Publication_Date: 1989
Title:
fish-eating water bird eggs from the Great Lakes. Marine Environmental Research 28(1-4):505-8.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schmitt, C.J. and C.M. Bunck
Publication_Date: 1995
Title:
Persistent Environmental Contaminants in Fish and Wildlife. Our Living Resources: A report to the nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Washington, DC
Publisher:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Biological Resources Division-USGS (formerly NBS). 530 pp.
Online_Linkage: www.cerc.usgs.gov/data/ncbp/ncbp

Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Analyses of composite fish samples for organochlorine chemical residues and elemental contaminants were performed by contract laboratories managed by the Patuxent Analytical Control Facility (PACF) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Precision and accuracy of contract laboratory results were confirmed through analyses of procedural blanks, duplicate samples, test recoveries of spiked materials, and reference material analyses. The identities of organochlorine residues were confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in about 10% of the samples. Oversight was provided by the PACF. Round-robin tests among PACF and contract analytical labs were also part of the quality control. Based on the quality assurance program, PACF determined that the results of the contract laboratory analyses were acceptable. In keeping with past NCBP practice (Schmitt 1999), analytical results were not adjusted to reflect spike recoveries or moisture loss during storage. EROD assays and analyses of composites fish extracts for TCDD-Eq with the H4IIE rat hepatoma cell bioassay (Tillitt et al. 1989) were performed at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC), Columbia, MO. Details of the laboratory methods including Q/A and Q/C measures are described in Schmitt and Dethloff 2000.
Logical_Consistency_Report: N/A
Completeness_Report: N/A
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
See online linkage URL in the citation information.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Schmitt C.J., V.S. Blazer, G.M. Dethloff, D.E. Tillitt, T.S. Gross, W.L. Bryant Jr., L.R. DeWeese, S.B. Smith, R.W. Goede, T.M. Bartish, T.J. Kubiak.
Publication_Date: 19990930
Title:
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Field Procedures for Assessing the Exposure of Fish to Environmental Contaminants. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Columbia, (MO): Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD-1999--0007. iv + 35 pp. + appendices.
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place:
USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC), Columbia, Missouri, USA
Publisher: USGS/BRD-CERC
Online_Linkage: www.cerc.usgs.gov/pubs/pubs.htm (BEST .pdf files)
Methodology_Type: Lab
Methodology_Description:
See online linkage URL in the citation information.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schmitt C.J. and G.M. Dethloff
Publication_Date: 20000300
Title:
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Selected methods for monitoring chemical contaminants and their effects in aquatic ecosystems. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Columbia, (MO): Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD-2000--0005. 81 pp.
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place:
USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, USA
Publisher: USGS/BRS-CERC
Online_Linkage: www.cerc.usgs.gov/pubs/pubs.htm (BEST .pdf files)
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Depending on the nature of the response variable (i.e., biomarker), we used three different statistical methods to compare stations and groups of stations. For continuous variables (EROD activity, GSI, etc.) other than the ratio of estradiol to 11-ketotestosterone (E/KT), we used a nested ANOVA to compare biomarker responses among stations nested within regions, among regions nested within programs, and between programs; station and region were both considered fixed effects in theses analyses. The significance of additional explanatory variables (e.g., age, weight, and stage) was also investigated. The actual terms included in a model for testing depended on the biomarker being analyzed. Lacking a larger, more complete dataset, modeling of these additional explanatory terms and their interactions could only be carried out on subsets of the data. This approach implicitly assumes that what we found for subsets of the data also held for the entire dataset. Compliance with distributional and other assumptions was evaluated by examining residual plots as well as with formal tests when possible. Data were log (base e)- or rank-transformed as necessary when standard ANOVA assumptions were not met. Significant ANOVA F-tests were followed by the Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison procedure. In contrast to most of the biomarkers we evaluated, "normal" values are known for E/KT ratios (i.e., females >1.0, males <1.0). Accordingly, we analyzed E/KT ratios differently from other reproductive biomarkers. Log-transformed E/KT ratios in the reduced-rank data sets were analyzed using a one-sample, one-tailed t-test. The null hypothesis that each station mean E/KT = 1.0 was evaluated against the alternative hypotheses of E/KT>1.0 for males and E/KT<1.0 for females. For binary variables (e.g., the presence or absence of external lesions; vtg in males), we compared the proportions of fish possessing a given characteristic among stations and regions using Fisher's Exact Test. This test is typically used to test whether the row and column variables of 2-by-2 contingency tables are independent; however, it is also appropriate in some situations (e.g., with product binomial sampling) for a test of equal population proportions. All P-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons using a Bonferroni procedure. For variables measured on composite samples (i.e., concentrations of organochlorine and elemental contaminants and H4IIE bioassay results) our approach was similar; however, due to the small sample sizes and large numbers of censored values for many analytes, we did not test statistically for differences among stations. We tested for differences among sub-basins and between programs using appropriately transformed variables where there were sufficient uncensored data. For small numbers of censored values (<15%), we substituted half the nominal detection limit. For highly censored variables (i.e., most of the organochlorine chemical residues), no formal statistical tests of significance were conducted. We also compared concentrations of organochlorine chemicals and elemental contaminants to historic values for NCBP sites.
Process_Date: 2000
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Chris Schmitt
Contact_Organization: USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC)
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: Columbia Environmental Research Center
Address: 4200 New Haven Road
City: Columbia
State_or_Province: MO
Postal_Code: 65201
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 573-875-5399 X 1846
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 573-876-1896
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: chris_schmitt@usgs.gov
Hours_of_Service: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
The NCBP sites in the Mississippi River Basin (MRB), which were parts of the original riverine NCBP network, were selected because they represent key points (i.e., confluences of major tributaries, impoundments) in the largest U.S. rivers (Schmitt et al. 1999; Schmitt and Bunck 1995).

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Metals and Chemicals Residues: Chemicals measured by GC/ECD (ppm, wet-weight): o,p'-DDD; o,p'-DDE; o,p'-DDT; p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE; p,p'-DDT; a-BHC (alpha BHC); g-BHC (gamma BHC); b-BHC (beta BHC); d-BHC (delta BHC); a-Chlor (cis-Chlordane); g-Chlor (trans-Chlordane); cis-Nona (cis-Nonachlor); trans-Nona (trans-Nonachlor); Oxychlor (oxychlordane); Hepox (heptachlor epoxide); Dieldrin; Endrin; Mirex; Toxaphene; HCB (hexachlorobenzene); and Total PCBs (polychlorinated byphenyls). Metals measured by ICPES (ppm) converted from dry-weight to wet-weight using the % inorganic moisture value: Al (aluminum); B (boron); Ba (barium); Be (beryllium); Cd (cadmium); Cr (chromium); Cu (copper); Fe (iron); Mg (magnesium); Mn (manganese); Mo (molybdenum); Ni (nickel); V (vanadium); and Zn (zinc). Metals measured by AA (ppm), converted from dry-weight to wet-weight using the % inorganic moisture value: As (arsenic); Hg (mercury); Pb (lead); and Se (selenium).
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Schmitt C.J. and G.M. Dethloff. 2000. Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Selected methods for monitoring chemical contaminants and their effects in aquatic ecosystems. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Columbia, (MO): Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD-2000--0005. 81 pp.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: future BEST 1995 report....
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Fish Health Master Display (field data): Station; FishID; Composite (ID); LabSex (histologically determined gender); Intersex (indeterminant gender); Length (total length in mm); Weight (bwt: body weight in grams); Species (4-letter species code); Taxa; Age (scale or spine analysis); Ext Lesion (scored based on external health examination); GWT (gonad weight to the 0.1 g); LIVWT (liver weight to the 0.1 g); SPLWT (spleen weight to the 0.002 g); EROD (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity); Lysozyme; Macrophage aggregate variables: MeanArea. MA MM (density); Tissocc (% tissue occupied); Stage; % Atresia; Estrogen; Testos (testosterone); 11-KT (11-ketotestosterone); VTG (vitellogenin); EKT (estrogen/11-KT ratio); Health Insices: HSI (hepato-somatic index = livwt/(bwt-gwt)); GSI (gonado-somatic index = gwt/bwt); SSI (spleno-somatic index = splwt/(bwt-gwt)); CF (condition factor = (bwt x 10^5)/length^3); and HAI (health assessment index).
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Schmitt C.J. and G.M. Dethloff. 2000. Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Selected methods for monitoring chemical contaminants and their effects in aquatic ecosystems. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Columbia, (MO): Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD-2000--0005. 81 pp.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: future BEST 1995 report.....
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Station Location Data: Station (station ID number); River; Nearest City or Feature (local reference name or landmark); State; FWS/ES Field Office (FWS Region); USGS State Office; Statistical Region; LAT-UP; LONG-UP; LAT-DOWN; LONG-DOWN.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: future BEST 1995 report
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
number); Genus; Species; Species Codes (designated 4-letter species codes).
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Integrated Taxonomic Information System: www.itis.usda.gov

Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Chris Schmitt
Contact_Organization: USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC)
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: Columbia Environmental Research Center
Address: 4200 New Haven Road
City: Columbia
State_or_Province: MO
Postal_Code: 65201
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 573-875-5399 X 1846
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 573-876-1896
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: chris_schmitt@usgs.gov
Hours_of_Service: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Distribution_Liability:
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from a U.S. Geological Survey server, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: EXCEL
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: http://www.best.usgs.gov/
Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 19990909
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Anne P. Donahue
Contact_Organization: USGS-Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC)
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: Columbia Environmental Research Center
Address: 4200 New Haven Road
City: Columbia
State_or_Province: Missouri
Postal_Code: 65201
Country: United States
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 573-875-5399 X1746
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 573-876-1896
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: anne_donahue@usgs.gov
Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday
Metadata_Standard_Name:
NBII Content Standard for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: December 1995

Generated by mp on Mon Jun 19 14:21:14 2000