Exposure & Effects Pilot Study (EEPS)

Exposure & Effects Pilot Study (EEPS) RMP Objective #4 • Measure pollution exposure and effects on selected parts of the Estuary ecosystem (including humans) EEPS goals: • Develop a suite of biological indicators for S&T • Conduct short-term studies to assess SF Bay E&E

EEPS: Selection of Indicators Cormorants Rationale presented in Conceptual Framework (Hunt et al., 2004) Clapper rails Fish Terns Benthos/ sediment

EEPS Projects – 2006 Avian • PBDE tern egg injection, not feasible for 2006…2008? Fish • Analysis of Hg - Small Fish (4 Yr*) $40K • E&E on Shiner Surfperch (2 Yr) $50K • EDCs in Fish (2 Yr) $40K Benthos • Sediment Assessment (1Yr) $40K *Small fish funded in 2007 thru PS/SS

EEPS Projects – 2007 Avian • Hg Effects in Terns ~$90K Fish* • EDCs in Fish (2 Yr) ~$70K *Small fish funded in 2007 thru PS/SS

EEPS: Small Fish Project Goals • Monitor food-web mercury at fine spatial and temporal scales • Assess regional trends in bioaccumulation of Hg related to wetland restoration • Collect prey fish appropriate for wildlife risk evaluations • TMDL has small fish targets but there are limited data from Bay

Napa River Benicia Park China Camp Extant Marsh Restoration Area IEP215 IEP214 IEP trawl IEP212 IEP211 Oakland Middle Harbor IEP106 Eden Landing Bird Island/ Steinberger Slough Newark Slough Alviso Slough 2005 Sampling Locations

Patterns among Species Benthic Effects threshold for fish (Beckvar et al. 2003) Hg (log scale, ww) TMDL Target for prey fish to protect piscivorous wildlife Pelagic Benthic Pelagic Letters indicate results of ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test

Spatial Patterns:Mississippi Silverside • Combined FMP and RMP data • Highest concentrations in South Bay fish Unpublished data provided by Darell Slotton

EEPS 2006 and beyond 2006 New Sites China Camp Benicia Park Paradise Beach PinolePoint San Quentin In 2006: - Expanded # sites - No reporting Point Isabel Tiburon Berkeley Marina Treasure Island Oakland Middle Harbor In 2007: - Fewer sites (8) - Hg and PBDEs, PCBs, Pesticides - Yr 2 & 3 report Candlestick Point Eden Landing Bird Island/ Steinberger Slough Newark Slough Alviso Slough

EEPS 2005 & 2006 Shiner Surf Perch Study Goal: • Determine if shiner surfperch show effects of contamination on some aspect of their fitness, growth or reproduction. • Work undertaken by AMS/UC-Davis

EEPS 2005 & 2006 Shiner Surf Perch Collection of Fish • 3 contaminated sites in Bay (Oakland Middle Harbor, Candlestick, and IEP station) • 2 reference sites (Big River Mendocino and Tomales Bay) Fish measured, weighed, dissected, sexed, young counted and weighed, and tissues stored. Evaluation of biomarkers (P-450 induction, histopathology, vitellogenin,and choriogenin).

EEPS 2005 & 2006 Shiner Surf Perch Results: • Skewed sex ratios toward females in Bay • Unexpected pattern of P-450 induction; dramatically lower results second year • Vitellogenin and choriogenin analyses did not work • Differences in wet weight, difficult to develop meaningful correlation Conclusion of advisory panel – not promising for inclusion in S&T

EEPS 2006 & 2007: Endocrine Disruption in SF Bay Fish Pacific staghorn sculpin Study Goals: • Determine whether there is impairment of endocrine system in fish • Impairment leads to suppression of growth, defense capabilities & reproduction • Evaluate spatial effects and correlate to specific chemicals Shiner surfperch

EEPS 2006 & 2007: Endrocrine Disruption in SF Bay Fish Pacific staghorn sculpin Study Approach: • Led by Dr. Kelley, CSU – Long Beach • Collect sculpins and shiners from 4 sites in Bay; 2 reference sites (Summer 2006) • Measure cortisol, estradiol, testosterone, and insulin-like growth factors in fish blood • Measure contaminants (PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, PBDEs, NP) Shiner surfperch

EEPS 2006: Endrocrine Disruption in SF Bay Fish Shiner surfperch Pacific staghorn sculpin

EEPS 2007: Endrocrine Disruption in SF Bay Fish Pacific staghorn sculpin 2007 Plan: • Expand number of sites • Measure cortisol, estradiol, testosterone, insulin-like growth factors and others in fish blood • Measure contaminants in individual fish • Examine presence of parasites/health • Develop molecular indicators and better understand cause of stress Shiner surfperch

EEPS 2007: Avian Studies - Terns • Terns at very high risk for Hg exposure • 58% at very high risk based on blood Hg levels (High risk - documented molecular, cellular, behavior and population effects) • Joint study USFWS and USGS

EEPS 2007Hg Tern Study Objectives • Objective 1: Determine egg toxicity thresholds for: • 1a. Abandonment • 1b. Hatchability • Compare random eggs and fail-to-hatch eggs

EEPS 2007Hg Tern Study Objectives • Objective 2: Determine effects threshold of egg-derived mercury on chick mortality. • Compare random chick feathers to fail-to-hatch chick feathers • Objective 3: Link mercury concentrations in eggs to those in down feathers. • Compare egg concentrations to chicks in same bird to develop a predictive relationship

EEPS 2006: Benthos Benthos Assessment • Combined benthos data base (e.g., RMP, NOAA, BPTCP) • Five sites in SF Bay • Correlated benthic assessment with contamination, salinity, TOC, and fines to determine dominant factors • EEPS Workgroup recommendation: no further EEPS studies needed

Exposure & Effects Pilot Study (EEPS)