Project Title:

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Project Title Evaluate White Sturgeon
Nutritional Needs Contaminant Effects
Influenced by the Hydroelectric System
Investigators Eugene Foster (DEQ/PSU) Martin
Fitzpatrick (DEQ) Molly Webb (OSU) Grant Feist
(OSU) Carl Schreck (OCFRU) Deke Gundersen (Pac.
U)
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The hydropower system affected sturgeon by
altering flow, temperature, habitat. Poor
passage past dams impedes sturgeon access to the
ocean and their ability to follow prey.
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Hydroelectric System Toxic Chemicals

• There was historic use of toxic chemicals
  (PCBs) by the hydropower system
• Sediments and the associated toxic chemicals
  can be trapped behind the dams
• These contaminants can lead to increased
  exposure, bioaccumulation, potential effects.

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1996 2001 Research Contaminant Effects on
Reproductive Physiology
?
Effects on reproduction
Lipophilic compounds bioaccumulate
Sediment
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Sample Collection Locations
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Tissues Sampled Analysis
Liver OCs, Enzymes, histology
Gonad OCs, histology
Blood Plasma Steroids, Vtg, TAG
CF, GSI, Age
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LEVELS OF BIOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY
Ecology Behavior
Toxic chemicals can affect...
Growth Reproduction
Homeostasis
Organ Functions
Histological Lesions
Cell Integrity Metabolism
Gene function Enzyme activity Membrane function
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Multiple Stressors Affecting Sturgeon
Flow Temperature Habitat Disease Food
Contaminants
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Action Agencies Future Needs

• 1. Evaluate the effects of environmental
  contaminants on the reproductive physiology of
  white sturgeon in the Columbia River and the
  influence of the hydroelectric system on chemical
  concentrations in sediments, water, and tissue.
  (ranked as 1 needs immediate implementation)
• 2. Evaluate contaminant concentrations in tissues
  important for reproduction and development of
  mature and immature sturgeon to assess
  reproductive status and effects of environmental
  contaminants on reproductive physiology. (ranked
  as 1 needs immediate implementation)
• 3. Evaluate whether endocrine disrupting
  chemicals could be interacting with
  micronutrients and energetics to affect growth,
  reproduction, and development. (ranked as 1
  needs immediate implementation)
• 4. Investigate the possible mechanisms linking
  environmental contaminants to condition factor.
  (ranked as 1 needs immediate implementation)

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Action Agencies Future Needs (cont.)
5. Research the relative contribution of
contaminant stress to white sturgeon reproduction
to provide important information for white
sturgeon management and restoration efforts in
the Columbia River Basin. (ranked as 1 needs
immediate implementation) 6. Research whether
the current environment provides nutritionally
suitable forage in a timely manner and in
adequate amounts to sustain production or allow
additional production of white sturgeon. (ranked
as 1 needs immediate implementation) 7.
Research how white sturgeon prey quantities and
types vary throughout the system. (ranked as 1
needs immediate implementation)
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Project Proposal Conceptual Design

• Quality of prey
• Nutritional status of white
  sturgeon
• Contaminant effects on nutritional status
  and physiology

Sediment
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Project Proposal Objectives

• Determine if foods consumed meet the nutritional
  needs for
• young-of-year (YOY)
• juvenile (JUV)
• legal size (LEG) white sturgeon
• Determine if contaminants influenced by the
  hydroelectric system adversely affect immature
  white sturgeon.

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Tasks Methods

• Objective 1. Determine if foods currently
  consumed by young-of-year, juvenile, and legal
  size white sturgeon are meeting their nutritional
  needs.
• Tasks 1a.
• Stomach contents.
• Taxonomic identification
• Caloric value
• Nutritional status of white sturgeon.

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Tasks Methods (cont.)

• Objective 2. Determine if reproductively
  immature white sturgeon are adversely affected by
  contaminants influenced by the hydroelectric
  system.
• Task 2a.
• Bioaccumulative toxic chemicals
• stomach contents of white sturgeon
• sediments
• Trace and essential elements in white sturgeon
• Endocrine disruptors in water samples
• Task 2b.
• Biological endpoints (steroids, Vtg, histology,
  P450)

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YOY
JUV
LEG
Stomach Content Caloric value TAG Trace
element n25/pool/year/2 years
Stomach content Caloric value TAG Trace
element n20/pool/year/2 years Contaminant
analysis Biological endpoints n6/pool/year/2
years
Stomach Content Caloric value TAG Trace
element n25/pool/year/2 years
A
A
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Expected Results Evaluation of stomach content,
caloric value, trace elements, essential
elements, contaminants, biological endpoints
for
Relationships between variables
Interactions between multiple variables
Location Differences
Multiple Regression ANCOVA Multivariate Analysis
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Project Potential Effects on Hydroelectric
Fishery Management Decisions Resulting
Mitigative Actions
Hot spot cleanups System-wide cleanup Sturgeon
passage
Trawl Haul Sport Commercial take Water
Sediment Quality