Aquatic insect accumulation of uranium at spring outflows in the Grand Canyon region as influenced by aqueous and sediment geochemistry and biological factors: Implications for monitoring
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Abstract
Potential adverse ecological effects of expanded uranium (U) mining within the Grand Canyon region motivated studies to better understand U exposure and risk to endemic species. This study documents U exposures and analyzes geochemical and biological factors affecting U bioaccumulation at spring-fed systems within the Grand Canyon region. The principal objective was to determine if aqueous U was broadly indicative of U accumulated by insect larvae, a dominate fauna. Analyses focused on three widely distributed taxa: Argia sp. (a predatory damselfly), Culicidae (suspension feeding mosquitos), and Limnephilus sp. (a detritivorous caddisfly). The study showed that U accumulated by aquatic insects (and periphyton) generally correlated positively with total dissolved U, although correlations were strongest when based on modeled concentrations of the U-dicarbonato complex, UO2(CO3)2–2, and UO2(OH)2. Sediment metal concentration was a redundant indicator of U bioaccumulation. Neither insect size or U in the gut content of Limnephilus sp. substantially affected correlations between aqueous U and whole-body U concentrations. However, in Limnephilus sp., the gut and its content contained large quantities of U. Estimates of the sediment burden in the gut indicated that sediment was a minor source of U mass but contributed substantially to the total insect weight. As a result, whole-body U concentration would tend to vary inversely with the sediment burden of the gut. The correlations between aqueous U and bioaccumulated U provide an initial relational baseline against which newly acquired data could be evaluated for changes in U exposure during and after mining operations.
Suggested Citation
Cain, D.J., Croteau, M.N., Fuller, C.C., Barasch, D., Beisner, K.R., Campbell, K.M., Stoliker, D., Schenk, E.J., 2023, Aquatic insect accumulation of uranium at spring outflows in the Grand Canyon region as influenced by aqueous and sediment geochemistry and biological factors: Implications for monitoring: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v. 195, 841, 20 p., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11254-1.
ISSN: 1573-2959 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Aquatic insect accumulation of uranium at spring outflows in the Grand Canyon region as influenced by aqueous and sediment geochemistry and biological factors: Implications for monitoring |
| Series title | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10661-023-11254-1 |
| Volume | 195 |
| Publication Date | June 15, 2023 |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center |
| Description | 841, 20 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Other Geospatial | Grand Canyon region |