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Document Title:
Trace elements in the aquatic bird food chain at the North Ponds, Texaco Refinery Casper, Wyoming
AUTHOR(S):
Kim Dickerson Pedro Ramirez Jr
REPORT NUMBER:
R6/713C/98
PAGES:
1 - 29
PUBLICATION DATE:
1998
ABSTRACT:
The objectives of this study were to determine nesting success of aquatic birds, trace element
concentrations in the aquatic food chain, and whether trace elements were biomagnifying through
the aquatic food chain of ponds at the inactive Texaco Refinery, in Evansville, Wyoming. Trace
element concentrations in samples collected from the Texaco Refinery were compared to those found
in samples collected from a background site, Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge.
The ponds at the inactive refinery provided a source of water to aquatic birds in an otherwise
arid landscape. Nesting success for shorebirds using an island in Pond 1 was greater than 90%.
Waterfowl used Pond 1 mainly to feed rather than for nesting. Little nesting activity was observed
for waterfowl and shorebirds at Pond 2, but shorebirds were consistently observed feeding and
resting there.
Trace elements in water samples from Ponds 1 and 2 were not at concentrations that could
adversely affect feeding and nesting aquatic birds. Chromium was slightly elevated in sediments and
in some vegetation and avian egg samples from both ponds relative to background concentrations.
However, the potential for these concentrations to affect aquatic birds is unknown. Arsenic was
slightly elevated in some sediment samples from both ponds but concentrations were comparable
to background concentrations. Boron and selenium were slightly elevated in vegetation samples, and
selenium was also slightly elevated in avian egg samples. Both boron and selenium are naturally
occurring in the area which would explain the slight elevations found in the biological samples.
There was no indication of significant bioaccumulation of any trace elements in the aquatic food chain.
PUBLISHED BY:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DOCUMENT LINK:
http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/contaminants/papers/r6713c98.pdf, 210 KB
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Wyoming Ecological Services Field Office
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