Exposure & Effects Pilot Study (EEPS)

RMP Objective #4Measure pollution exposure and effects on

selected parts of the Estuary ecosystem (including humans)

EEPS goals:Develop a suite of indicators for S&TConduct short-term studies to assess SF

Bay E&E

2003 Program Review:Recommendation for EEPS

Great chemical characterization of the Bay but what does it mean?Recommendation: need to

understand biological impacts of chemicals detected

In response, TRC/SC allocated $200K/yr for EEPS thru 2008

EEPS: Selection of IndicatorsRationale presented in ConceptualFramework (Hunt et al., 2004)

Fish

Clapper rails

Benthos/sediment

Terns

Cormorants

EEPS Projects – 2005

Avian Se Analysis of Diving Ducks $20K Hg Analysis of Tern Eggs $ 4K

Fish Analysis of Hg in Small Fish (3 Yr)

$50K E&E on Shiner Surfperch (2 Yr) $60K

Benthos Sediment Assessment $15K Benthic Archive $ 6K

EEPS 2005 & 2006 Avian

2005: Se in diving ducks Report early 2006 (2005 and 2002 data)

2005: Hg in Forster, Least, and Caspian tern eggsReport early 2006

2006: Egg injection study?

EEPS Fish 2005, 2006 & 2008: Small Fish Mercury Project

Understanding impact of management actions

Small fish – an ideal monitoring tool Accumulate MeHg Integrate over fixed time (1-yr) Indicate spatial variation Indicate risk to piscivorous wildlife

Activities coordinated with SBSP, IEP and CalFed FMP

EEPS: Small Fish Hg ProjectStudy Design

4 near restoration projects4 near existing marshes2 additional sites (IEP)

Pelagic species: Topsmelt and Inland silversides

Benthic species:Arrow goby, Cheekspot goby, and Shimofuri goby,Bay goby from deep water

Study Design

Plans for 2006Sample 8 sitesObtain additional funding

EEPS Fish 2006: Small Fish Hg Project

Inland silversides

Bay goby

Shimofuri goby

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.

Difficult to demonstrate effects Work undertaken by AMS and UC-Davis

EEPS 2005 & 2006: Shiner Surf Perch

Strategy: Yr 1: Field study measuring growth and

reproduction Yr 2: Lab study on effects of mixtures on growth

and fitness Yr 2: Develop population models explaining role of

contaminants

EEPS – 2005 Shiner Surf Perch

Collection of Fish 3 contaminated sites in Bay

(Oakland Middle Harbor, Candlestick, and IEP station)

1 reference site (Big River Mendocino)

Fish measured, weighed, dissected, sexed, young counted and weighed, and tissues stored.

Initiated evaluation of biomarkers (P-450 induction, histopathology, and vitellogenin).

EEPS – 2005 Shiner Surf Perch Study

Preliminary results: Skewed sex ratios toward females. All fish livers positive for

vitelloginen antibodies. All fish positive for P-450 induction.

Results suggest need to identify new reference site

EEPS – 2006 Shiner Surf Perch Study

For 2006: Identify new reference site Develop laboratory culture Continue to evaluate biomarkers Develop anti-body tests for EDC Continue to examine fish for effects

and sex ratios

Additional EEPS Projects 2006

BenthosSediment effects

$40K

EEPS: Incorporation of Indicators into S&T

Cormorants Biannual (e.g., 2002 and 2004)Presentation at March TRC for 2006 S&T

BenthosBaseline for SQOPresentation today for 2007 S&T