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

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

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

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

Unpublished data provided by Darell Slotton Combined FMP and RMP data Highest concentrations in South Bay fish Spatial Patterns: Mississippi Silverside

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

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).

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 2005 & 2006 Shiner Surf Perch

EEPS 2006 & 2007: Endocrine Disruption in SF Bay Fish 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 Pacific staghorn sculpin

EEPS 2006 & 2007: Endrocrine Disruption in SF Bay Fish 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 Pacific staghorn sculpin

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

EEPS 2007: Endrocrine Disruption in SF Bay Fish 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 Pacific staghorn sculpin

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

EEPS 2007 Hg 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