@article{pandolfo_cope_weaver_kwak_hoeksema_2024, title={Thermal Threats to Freshwater Mussels: An Empirical Stream Assessment}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1424-2818"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010037}, DOI={10.3390/d16010037}, abstractNote={Freshwater mussels fulfill an important ecological role in aquatic ecosystems, but they currently face many threats, including thermal regime alteration. Thermal transformation of the aquatic environment is associated with climate change, land use alteration, and other pervasive anthropogenic global changes. To enhance our understanding of ecological thermal impacts, we combined extensive field measurements of temperature in the stream water column and substrate depths (5 and 15 cm) at sites where mussels occur, measures of abundance and species richness for mussels and fish, and thermal tolerance knowledge for mussels and fish to generate a comprehensive assessment of the potential threats mussels face as temperatures continue to rise as a result of global change. Mean summer (June–August 2010–2012) temperatures at mussel-occupied sites in the upper Tar River basin of North Carolina, USA, ranged from 16.2 to 34.7 °C. The mean temperature from the hottest 96 h at each site ranged from 23.5 to 31.5 °C. At 80% of sites, a period of moderate drought coincided with the hottest 96 h period. Temperature threshold exceedance durations indicated that chronic, combined chronic/acute, and acute freshwater mussel thermal tolerance thresholds (i.e., 28 °C, 30 °C, and 33 °C, respectively) based on laboratory exposures of glochidia (larvae) and juveniles were commonly exceeded. Water temperatures exceeded 28 °C for at least 24 h at 55% of sites and for at least 96 h at 35% of sites, and they exceeded 30 °C for at least 24 h at 15% of sites. We quantified a thermal buffering effect of the substrate that may be protective of mussels. There was a mean difference of 0.5 °C between the water column and the upper substrate (5 cm) and a mean difference of 0.9 °C between the water column and the lower substrate (15 cm). Maximum differences of up to 5.5 °C between the water column and the upper substrate and 11.5 °C between the water column and the lower substrate were observed. Our models estimating the relation between the water column and substrate temperatures more realistically characterize ambient temperature exposures and have widespread implications for mussel conservation and climate change risk assessment in similar streams. Freshwater mussels currently exist on the edge of their thermal limits, but their abundance and species richness cannot be explained by temperature patterns alone. Fish species richness was related to the thermal regime, indicating that species interactions may be an important driver of freshwater mussel responses to global change.}, number={1}, journal={DIVERSITY-BASEL}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Weaver, Daniel M. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Hoeksema, Bert W.}, year={2024}, month={Jan} } @article{mciver ii_cope_bringolf_kwak_watson_maynard_mair_2023, title={Assessing the Toxicity of Sea Salt to Early Life Stages of Freshwater Mussels: Implications for Sea Level Rise in Coastal Rivers}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1002/etc.5731}, abstractNote={AbstractSea levels across the planet are rising, particularly along the eastern coast of the United States. Climate‐induced sea level rise can result in the inundation and intrusion of seawater into freshwater drainages. This would alter salinity regimes and lead to the salinization of coastal freshwater ecosystems. Increased salinity levels in freshwater can negatively affect freshwater‐dependent species, including native mussels belonging to the order Unionida, which are highly sensitive to changes in water quality. Sea salt is largely made up of sodium and chloride ions, forming sodium chloride, a known toxicant to freshwater mussels. However, sea salt is a mixture that also contains other major ions, including potassium, sulfate, calcium, strontium, and magnesium, among others. Freshwater mussels exposed to sea salt would be exposed to each of the sea salt ions at the same time, resulting in a mixture toxicity effect. The mixture toxicity of these ions on early life stages of freshwater mussels is largely unknown because most research to date has evaluated individual salt ions in relative isolation. Therefore, we conducted acute toxicity tests on early life stages (glochidia and juvenile) of three freshwater mussel species that inhabit Atlantic Slope drainages (nonsalinity‐adapted Atlanticoncha ochracea, salinity‐adapted A. ochracea, Sagittunio nasutus, and Utterbackiana implicata). Glochidia and juveniles of each species were exposed to a control and six concentrations of Instant Ocean® Sea Salt (IOSS), a synthetic sea salt that closely resembles the ionic composition of natural sea salt. Exposure concentrations were 1 part(s) per thousand (ppt), 2 ppt, 8.5 ppt, 12.5 ppt, 17 ppt, and 34 ppt. We calculated the median effect concentration (EC50) for each of the eight acute toxicity tests and found that glochidia were more sensitive than juveniles to IOSS. At hour 24 EC50s for the glochidia ranged from 0.38 to 3.6 ppt, with the most sensitive freshwater mussel being the nonsalinity‐adapted A. ochracea, exhibiting an EC50 of 0.38 ppt (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.44). Juvenile freshwater mussels exhibited EC50s at hour 96 ranging from 5.0 to 10.4 ppt, with the least sensitive freshwater mussel being the nonsalinity‐adapted A. ochracea, exhibiting an EC50 of 10.4 ppt (95% CI 9.1–12.0). Our results show that acute exposure to sea salt adversely affects freshwater mussel viability, particularly glochidia. This information can be used to enhance freshwater mussel conservation strategies in regions that are or will be impacted by climate‐induced sea level rise and associated freshwater salinization. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2478–2489. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Mciver II, Joseph K. and Cope, W. Gregory and Bringolf, Robert B. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Watson, Brian and Maynard, Amy and Mair, Rachel}, year={2023}, month={Sep} } @article{rogers_henley_weberg_jones_cope_2023, title={Histological evaluations of organ tissues reveal sublethal effects in a freshwater mussel (Villosa iris) exposed to chloride and potassium concentrations below benchmark estimates}, volume={258}, ISSN={["1879-1514"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106476}, abstractNote={Salinization of freshwater ecosystems due to anthropogenic sources will increasingly impact biodiversity. An example of point-source industrial salinization has occurred from historical activities at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site near Saltville, Virginia USA and its associated chemical waste ponds adjacent to the North Fork Holston River. These point source discharges are documented contributors to mussel declines, partially due to high concentrations of chloride (Cl−, ≤ 26,000 mg Cl−/L) and potassium (K+, ≤ 97 mg K+/L). During a chronic 61-day laboratory study, Rainbow mussels, Villosa iris, were exposed to concentrations of Cl- (0, 416, 831, and 1,663 mg/L) and K+ (0, 4, 8, and 17 mg/L) to determine effects on survival and organ tissues. All test mussels died by day-2 in the 1,663 mg Cl−/L exposure, and 50% of mussels died by day-13 in the 17 mg K+/L concentration. Significantly greater abundances of tissue abnormalities were observed in digestive glands and kidneys with exposures to the 4 and 8 mg/L concentrations of K+ versus the control, and significantly greater abundances of lesions in kidneys were observed in the 416 and 831 mg Cl−/L concentrations compared to the control. The sublethal effects to digestive glands and kidneys were below reported effect (EC50, 20, 10 and LOEC) concentrations. Significant histological differences between control and baseline (day-0 sample) mussels were observed, suggesting the need for further study on the effects of captivity during longer-term laboratory experiments.}, journal={AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY}, author={Rogers, Jennifer J. and Henley, William F. and Weberg, Amanda G. and Jones, Jess W. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2023}, month={May} } @article{waller_pucherelli_barbour_tank_meulemans_wise_dahlberg_aldridge_claudi_cope_et al._2023, title={Review and Development of Best Practices for Toxicity Tests with Dreissenid Mussels}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1002/etc.5648}, abstractNote={AbstractSince their introduction to North America in the 1980s, research to develop effective control tools for invasive mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis) has been ongoing across various research institutions using a range of testing methods. Inconsistencies in experimental methods and reporting present challenges for comparing data, repeating experiments, and applying results. The Invasive Mussel Collaborative established the Toxicity Testing Work Group (TTWG) in 2019 to identify “best practices” and guide development of a standard framework for dreissenid mussel toxicity testing protocols. We reviewed the literature related to laboratory‐based dreissenid mussel toxicity tests and determined the degree to which standard guidelines have been used and their applicability to dreissenid mussel testing. We extracted detailed methodology from 99 studies from the peer‐reviewed and gray literature and conducted a separate analysis for studies using presettlement and postsettlement mussels. We identified specific components of methods and approaches that could be refined or standardized for dreissenid mussels. These components included species identification, collection methods, size/age class distinction, maintenance practices, testing criteria, sample size, response measures, reporting parameters, exposure methods, and mortality criteria. We consulted experts in the field of aquatic toxicology and dreissenid mussel biology on our proposed. The final recommendations contained in the present review are based on published standard guidelines, methods reported in the published and gray literature, and the expertise of TTWG members and an external panel. In addition, our review identifies research needs for dreissenid mussel testing including improved methods for early–life stage testing, comparative data on life stages and between dreissenid mussel species, inclusion of a reference toxicant, and additional testing of nontarget species (i.e., other aquatic organisms). Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1649–1666. © 2023 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Waller, Diane and Pucherelli, Sherri and Barbour, Matthew and Tank, Samantha and Meulemans, Matthew and Wise, Jeremy and Dahlberg, Angelique and Aldridge, David C. and Claudi, Renata and Cope, W. Gregory and et al.}, year={2023}, month={Jun} } @article{rudershausen_cross_runde_evans_cope_buckel_2023, title={Total mercury, methylmercury, and selenium concentrations in blue marlin Makaira nigricans from a long-term dataset in the western north Atlantic}, volume={858}, ISSN={0048-9697}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159947}, DOI={10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159947}, abstractNote={Mercury in seafood is a neurotoxicant that threatens human health. Dynamic rates of mercury emission, re-emission, and atmospheric deposition warrant studies into mercury concentrations in fish because many are consumed by humans and can serve as sentinels of mercury levels in the environment. We modeled trends in total mercury content in an apex marine fish predator, Atlantic blue marlin Makaira nigricans, whose muscle tissues were opportunistically sampled from North Carolina (USA) sportfishing tournaments over a discontinuous time period: between 1975 and 77 and 1998-2021 (n = 148). The model-estimated influence of marlin weight on total mercury concentration was constant across years (shared slope) allowing for comparisons of weight-corrected mercury concentrations among years. Weight-corrected total mercury concentrations revealed an inter-decadal decline of approximately 45 % between the 1970s and late 1990s and then variable but relatively stable concentrations through 2021. The mean (SD) wet weight concentration of total mercury was 9.47 (4.11) from 1975 to 77 and 4.17 (2.61) from 2020 to 2021. Methylmercury and selenium were measured on a subset of fish to address questions related to human health and consumption. Methylmercury levels (mean = 0.72 μg/g) were much lower than total mercury (mean = 4.69 μg/g) indicating that total mercury is not a good proxy for methylmercury in Atlantic blue marlin. Selenium, examined as a Se:Hg molar ratio and as a selenium health benefit value (HBVSe), showed high protective value against mercury toxicity. Long-term trends in the concentration of mercury in blue marlin should continue to be monitored to determine whether policies to mitigate anthropogenic contributions to global mercury are achieving their intended goals and to provide information to inform safe human consumption.}, journal={Science of The Total Environment}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Rudershausen, P.J. and Cross, F.A. and Runde, B.J. and Evans, D.W. and Cope, W.G. and Buckel, J.A.}, year={2023}, month={Feb}, pages={159947} } @article{leprevost_cope_shen_wrights_2021, title={A New Open-Source Web Application with Animations to Support Learning of Neuron-to-Neuron Signaling}, volume={83}, ISSN={0002-7685 1938-4211}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/abt.2021.83.9.600}, DOI={10.1525/abt.2021.83.9.600}, abstractNote={Pesticides and their associated modes of action serve as real-world examples of chemical toxicity, stimulating student interest and supporting their understanding of nervous system function and cell signaling. An open-source web application called “Neuron-to-Neuron Normal and Toxic Actions” hosts narrated animations of pesticide toxic actions and exists as a resource for instructors of advanced secondary or undergraduate biology courses. This article describes the features of the web application, reports student feedback on the animations, and details a cooperative learning procedure for instructors to use the web application in online learning environments or in-person classroom settings with technology support.}, number={9}, journal={AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER}, publisher={University of California Press}, author={LePrevost, Catherine E. and Cope, W. Gregory and Shen, Yan and Wrights, Donnie}, year={2021}, pages={593–595} } @article{cope_kwak_black_pacifici_harris_miller_raley_hallerman_2021, title={Genetic Structure and Diversity of the Endemic Carolina Madtom and Conservation Implications}, volume={41}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10589}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10589}, abstractNote={AbstractIdentification and conservation of genetic diversity within and among freshwater fish populations are important to better manage and conserve imperiled species. The Carolina Madtom Noturus furiosus is a small, nongame catfish that is endemic to the Tar and Neuse River basins of North Carolina. Genetic structure has not been studied in the species, and given recent population declines in both basins, identification of remaining genetic diversity within the species is vital for informing conservation efforts. To assess the status and trends of Carolina Madtom genetic structure, we analyzed genetic markers from 173 individuals to (1) define population genetic structure, (2) assess intra‐ and interbasin genetic differentiation in the Tar and Neuse River basins, and (3) present management implications to guide conservation efforts. Using 10 microsatellite primers developed for the related Yellowfin Madtom N. flavipinnis, we observed low genetic diversity in Carolina Madtoms. Genotype frequencies within samples were not in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, with a deficit of heterozygotes that could be due to family structure, inbreeding, or segregation of null alleles. Mean (±SD) M‐ratios for the Tar River (0.414 ± 0.117) and Neuse River (0.117 ± 0.102) basin collections indicated that both populations have experienced recent demographic bottlenecks, with that in the Neuse River basin population being more severe. Effective population size estimates for the respective populations were small, on the order of tens of individuals, driving low genetic diversity within populations. However, the multilocus population differentiation metrics (mean ± SE = 0.135 ± 0.031) and DEST (0.125 ± 0.029) were significantly different from zero (P < 0.001), indicating significant genetic differentiation between the Tar and Neuse River basin populations. Our findings will inform managers on the status of genetic variation in the Carolina Madtom and will guide conservation toward protective listing and management decisions to maintain the viability of this important endemic species.}, number={S1}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Cope, W. Robert and Kwak, Thomas J. and Black, Tyler R. and Pacifici, Krishna and Harris, Sheila C. and Miller, Caitlin M. and Raley, Morgan E. and Hallerman, Eric M.}, year={2021}, month={Oct}, pages={S27–S41} } @article{wang_kunz_hardesty_steevens_norberg-king_hammer_bauer_augspurger_dunn_martinez_et al._2021, title={Method Development for a Short-Term 7-Day Toxicity Test with Unionid Mussels}, volume={40}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.5225}, DOI={10.1002/etc.5225}, abstractNote={AbstractThe US Environmental Protection Agency's short‐term freshwater effluent test methods include a fish (Pimephales promelas), a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia), and a green alga (Raphidocelis subcapitata). There is a recognized need for additional taxa to accompany the three standard species for effluent testing. An appropriate additional taxon is unionid mussels because mussels are widely distributed, live burrowed in sediment and filter particles from the water column for food, and exhibit high sensitivity to a variety of contaminants. Multiple studies were conducted to develop a relevant and robust short‐term test method for mussels. We first evaluated the comparative sensitivity of two mussel species (Villosa constricta and Lampsilis siliquoidea) and two standard species (P. promelas and C. dubia) using two mock effluents prepared by mixing ammonia and five metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc) or a field‐collected effluent in 7‐day exposures. Both mussel species were equally or more sensitive (more than two‐fold) to effluents compared with the standard species. Next, we refined the mussel test method by first determining the best feeding rate of a commercial algal mixture for three age groups (1, 2, and 3 weeks old) of L. siliquoidea in a 7‐day feeding experiment, and then used the derived optimal feeding rates to assess the sensitivity of the three ages of juveniles in a 7‐day reference toxicant (sodium chloride [NaCl]) test. Juvenile mussels grew substantially (30%–52% length increase) when the 1‐ or 2‐week‐old mussels were fed 2 ml twice daily and the 3‐week‐old mussels were fed 3 ml twice daily. The 25% inhibition concentrations (IC25s) for NaCl were similar (314–520 mg Cl/L) among the three age groups, indicating that an age range of 1‐ to 3‐week‐old mussels can be used for a 7‐day test. Finally, using the refined test method, we conducted an interlaboratory study among 13 laboratories to evaluate the performance of a 7‐day NaCl test with L. siliquoidea. Eleven laboratories successfully completed the test, with more than 80% control survival and reliable growth data. The IC25s ranged from 296 to 1076 mg Cl/L, with a low (34%) coefficient of variation, indicating that the proposed method for L. siliquoidea has acceptable precision. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3392–3409. © 2021 SETAC}, number={12}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Wang, Ning and Kunz, James L. and Hardesty, Douglas K. and Steevens, Jeffery A. and Norberg-King, Teresa and Hammer, Edward J. and Bauer, Candice R. and Augspurger, Tom and Dunn, Suzanne and Martinez, David and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Nov}, pages={3392–3409} } @article{grieshaber_cope_kwak_penland_heise_mac law_2021, title={Survival and Contaminants in Imperiled and Common Riverine Fishes Assessed with an In Situ Bioassay Approach}, volume={40}, DOI={10.1002/etc.5104}, abstractNote={AbstractAn in situ bioassay approach was used to determine whether aquatic contaminant stressors in a large Atlantic river ecosystem affect the survival of 3 fish species: the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, juveniles), the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas, adults), and the robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum, juveniles). Hatchery‐propagated fish were placed into cages to assess site‐specific survival in the Yadkin‐Pee Dee River of North Carolina and South Carolina, USA. Contaminants were measured in caged fish and sediment and surface water at each site. No apparent longitudinal trends in fish survival were detected, and contaminant concentrations varied among sites. Juvenile largemouth bass and robust redhorse did not survive past 13 and 23 d, with corresponding Kaplan‐Meier median survival estimates of 9.7 and 12.1 d, respectively. Survival of adult fathead minnows deployed in cages alongside the juvenile fish averaged 43% at the end of the 28‐d exposure, with a 22‐d median survival estimate. The intersex condition, an indicator of endocrine disruption, was not observed in any adult fathead minnow. Contaminant accumulation in surviving fathead minnows was apparent, with highest accumulated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (34.6–93.4 ng/g dry wt), organochlorine pesticides (19.9–66.1 ng/g dry wt), and mercury (0.17–0.63 μg/g dry wt). Contaminants and other water quality stressors in this river system appear to detrimentally impact juvenile fish survival, with presumed effects at the fish assemblage and community levels. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2206–2219. © 2021 SETAC}, number={8}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Grieshaber, Casey A. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J. and Penland, Tiffany N. and Heise, Ryan J. and Mac Law, J.}, year={2021}, month={Jun}, pages={2206–2219} } @article{cope_bergeron_archambault_jones_beaty_lazaro_shea_callihan_rogers_2021, title={Understanding the influence of multiple pollutant stressors on the decline of freshwater mussels in a biodiversity hotspot}, volume={773}, DOI={10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144757}, abstractNote={The Clinch River watershed of the upper Tennessee River Basin of Virginia and Tennessee, USA supports one of North America's greatest concentrations of freshwater biodiversity, including 46 extant species of native freshwater mussels (Order Unionida), 20 of which are protected as federally endangered. Despite the global biological significance of the Clinch River, mussel populations are declining in some reaches, both in species richness and abundance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure of adult resident mussels to a suite of inorganic and organic contaminant stressors in distinct sections of the Clinch River that encompassed a range of mussel abundance and health. To provide insight into the potential role of pollutants in the decline of mussels, including within a previously documented “zone of mussel decline”, the mainstem Clinch River (8 sites) and its tributaries (4 sites) were examined over two consecutive years. We quantified and related metals and organic contaminant concentrations in mussels to their associated habitat compartments (bed sediment, suspended particulate sediment, pore water, and surface water). We found that concentrations of organic contaminants in resident mussels, particularly the suite of 42 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) analyzed, were related to PAH concentrations in all four habitat (media) compartments. Further, PAH concentrations in mussel tissue (range 37.8–978.1 ng/g dry weight in 2012 and 194.3–1073.7 ng/g dry weight in 2013) were negatively related to the spatial pattern in mussel densities (rs = −0.64, p ≤ 0.05 in 2012 and rs = −0.83, p ≤ 0.05 in 2013) within the river, and were highest in the “zone of mussel decline”. In contrast, the suite of 22 metals analyzed in resident mussels were largely unrelated to the spatial pattern of variation of metals in the four habitat compartments except for Manganese (Mn; range 3630.5-23,749.2 μg/g dry weight in 2012 and 1540.4-12,605.8 μg/g dry weight in 2013) in surface water (rs = 0.58, p < 0.1) and pore water (rs = 0.76, p ≤ 0.05). This study revealed that PAHs and Mn are important pollutant stressors to mussels in the Clinch River and that they are largely being delivered through the Guest River tributary watershed. Accordingly, future conservation and management efforts would benefit by identifying, and ideally mitigating, the sources of PAHs, Mn, and other current or legacy mining-associated pollutants to the mainstem river and its tributaries.}, journal={SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT}, author={Cope, W. Gregory and Bergeron, Christine M. and Archambault, Jennifer M. and Jones, Jess W. and Beaty, Braven and Lazaro, Peter R. and Shea, Damian and Callihan, Jody L. and Rogers, Jennifer J.}, year={2021}, month={Jun}, pages={144757} } @article{gray_leprevost_cope_2020, title={Anglers' Views on Using Signs to Communicate Fish Consumption Advisories}, volume={45}, ISBN={1548-8446}, DOI={10.1002/fsh.10463}, abstractNote={The purpose of this case study was to examine signs as a means of communicating fish consumption advisory information to English‐ and Spanish‐speaking anglers in North Carolina. This study involved a group of stakeholders, including representatives from local and state agencies, non‐governmental organizations, and academia, as well as 38 anglers in focus group discussions to learn about their knowledge and beliefs in the context of fishing in polluted waterways, including what they knew about fish consumption advisories and their perceptions of prototype signs. Across groups, participants identified two confusing elements of signs: the allowable number of servings of fish under advisory and distinct consumption recommendations for different subgroups. They recommended streamlined messaging and the use of visuals, lay terms, and locally relevant languages as ways to improve prototype signs. Additionally, participants identified the state wildlife agency as a common source of information about fish safety, more so than signs. These results suggest opportunities for improved communication of advisories, especially to the most at‐risk populations.}, number={10}, journal={FISHERIES}, author={Gray, Kathleen M. and LePrevost, Catherine E. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2020}, month={Oct}, pages={307–316} } @article{buczek_archambault_gregory cope_heilman_2020, title={Evaluation of Juvenile Freshwater Mussel Sensitivity to Multiple Forms of Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl}, volume={105}, ISSN={["1432-0800"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02971-1}, DOI={10.1007/s00128-020-02971-1}, number={4}, journal={BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Buczek, Sean B. and Archambault, Jennifer M. and Gregory Cope, W. and Heilman, Mark A.}, year={2020}, month={Oct}, pages={588–594} } @article{leprevost_denlea_dong_cope_2021, title={Investigating audience response system technology during pesticide training for farmers}, volume={27}, ISSN={["1750-8622"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2020.1816478}, DOI={10.1080/1389224X.2020.1816478}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Purpose: Audience response system technology has been found to have modest learning and larger non-cognitive impacts on students in traditional secondary and post-secondary learning environments. The impacts of this technology are less understood for learners in informal settings, including for farmers in training provided by extension services. Approach: In this study, we investigated the implementation of audience response systems by Cooperative Extension trainers in five counties in North Carolina during pesticide training for farmers. We quantitatively assessed farmers’ knowledge gains and explored their impressions of the learning environment when audience response systems were used. Findings: Results suggest that audience response technology has similar benefits in farmer pesticide training as those identified during use in traditional educational settings. Education, age, and experience did not affect knowledge gains observed with use of the technology with farmers. Practical Implications: This study supports the use of audience response system technology in farmer training provided by extension services, even for older adults without post-secondary education. Theoretical Implications: As in traditional learning environments, non-cognitive impacts of audience response system use in farmer training appear to be more robust than learning impacts, and the implementation practices of trainers may influence learning outcomes. Originality/Value: This study meets a need to understand the impact of audience response systems on learning outcomes in agricultural and extension learning environments and uses pre-test measures to establish baseline comparisons of control and treatment groups.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION & EXTENSION}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={LePrevost, Catherine E. and Denlea, Gregory and Dong, Lin and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2021}, pages={73–87} } @article{willis_gravelie_bishop_buczek_cope_2020, title={Managing the Invasive Cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei in a Southeastern USA Reservoir: Evaluation of a Multi-year Treatment Program}, volume={231}, ISBN={1573-2932}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04532-y}, DOI={10.1007/s11270-020-04532-y}, number={5}, journal={WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION}, author={Willis, Ben E. and Gravelie, Joseph T. and Bishop, West M. and Buczek, Sean B. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2020} } @article{willis_gravelie_bishop_buczek_cope_2020, title={Managing the Invasive CyanobacteriumLyngbya wolleiin a Southeastern USA Reservoir: Evaluation of a Multi-year Treatment Program (vol 231, 196, 2020)}, volume={231}, ISSN={["1573-2932"]}, DOI={10.1007/s11270-020-04663-2}, abstractNote={The authors realized post publication that pertinent information from the Acknowledgments section was inadvertently omitted.}, number={6}, journal={WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION}, author={Willis, Ben E. and Gravelie, Joseph T. and Bishop, West M. and Buczek, Sean B. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2020}, month={Jun} } @book{harwell_leprevost_cope_2020, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and your respiratory system: what we know about a lifetime of farm exposures and lung and airway health}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service and North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services}, author={Harwell, E. and LePrevost, C.E. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2020} } @article{penland_cope_kwak_strynar_grieshaber_heise_sessions_2020, title={Trophodynamics of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Food Web of a Large Atlantic Slope River}, volume={54}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05007}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.9b05007}, abstractNote={Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have attracted scientific and regulatory attention due to their persistence, bioaccumulative potential, toxicity, and global distribution. We determined the accumulation and trophic transfer of 14 PFASs within the food web of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River of North Carolina and South Carolina, USA. Food web components and pathways were determined by stable isotope analyses of producers, consumers, and organic matter. Analyses of water, sediment, organic matter, and aquatic biota revealed that PFASs were prevalent in all food web compartments, with most detections and greatest concentrations in aquatic insects. All 14 PFASs were detected in individual aquatic insect samples (range, < limit of detection [ .10).Main conclusionsOur results are potentially applicable to many species for which life history traits have not been well‐documented, because reproductive and dispersal traits in unionid mussels typically follow phylogenetic relationships. These findings may help resource managers prioritize species according to climate change vulnerability and predict which species might become further imperilled with climate warming. Finally, we suggest that similar trait‐based decision support frameworks may be applicable for other movement limited taxa.}, number={7}, journal={DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J.}, editor={Ricciardi, AnthonyEditor}, year={2018}, month={Jul}, pages={880–891} } @article{engman_kwak_cope_2018, title={Do postlarval amphidromous fishes transport marine-derived nutrients and pollutants to Caribbean streams?}, volume={27}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/eff.12397}, DOI={10.1111/eff.12397}, abstractNote={AbstractDiadromous fishes are known biotransport vectors that can move nutrients, energy and contaminants in an upstream direction in lotic ecosystems. This function has been demonstrated repeatedly in anadromous salmonids, but the role of other diadromous species, especially tropical taxa, as biotransport vectors is less studied. Amphidromous fish species exhibit potential to act as upstream vectors of nutrients and contaminants in their postlarval and juvenile stages, but this role is largely unknown because of limited understanding of larval growth habitats. Moreover, because some species are harvested in artisanal fisheries as postlarvae, and postlarvae are consumed by riverine and estuarine predators, heavy contaminant loads may present a human or wildlife health concern. This research incorporates stable isotope and contaminant analyses to infer larval habitats and contaminant accumulation of amphidromous fishes on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. The isotopic signatures of postlarval amphidromous fishes indicated marine basal sources and food web components, rather than those from riverine habitats. Additionally, postlarvae did not contain concentrations of anthropogenic pollutants that would be of ecological or human health concern. These findings are the first and strongest evidence that amphidromous fish postlarvae function as biotransport vectors of marine nutrients into and up river ecosystems without posing a health threat to the receiving food web or human consumers.}, number={3}, journal={Ecology of Freshwater Fish}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Engman, A. C. and Kwak, T. J. and Cope, W. G.}, year={2018}, month={Jul}, pages={847–856} } @article{buczek_cope_mclaughlin_kwak_2018, title={Effects of Turbidity, Sediment, and Polyacrylamide on Native Freshwater Mussels}, volume={54}, ISSN={["1752-1688"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12639}, DOI={10.1111/1752-1688.12639}, abstractNote={AbstractTurbidity is a ubiquitous pollutant adversely affecting water quality and aquatic life in waterways globally. Anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is widely used as an effective chemical flocculent to reduce suspended sediment (SS) and turbidity. However, no information exists on the toxicity of PAM‐flocculated sediments to imperiled, but ecologically important, freshwater mussels (Unionidae). Thus, we conducted acute (96 h) and chronic (24 day) laboratory tests with juvenile fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and three exposure conditions (nonflocculated settled sediment, SS, and PAM‐flocculated settled sediment) over a range of turbidity levels (50, 250, 1,250, and 3,500 nephelometric turbidity units). Survival and sublethal endpoints of protein oxidation, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and protein concentration were used as measures of toxicity. We found no effect of turbidity levels or exposure condition on mussel survival in acute or chronic tests. However, we found significant reductions in protein concentration, ATP production, and oxidized proteins in mussels acutely exposed to the SS condition, which required water movement to maintain sediment in suspension, indicating responses that are symptoms of physiological stress. Our results suggest anionic PAM applied to reduce SS may minimize adverse effects of short‐term turbidity exposure on juvenile freshwater mussels without eliciting additional lethal or sublethal toxicity.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION}, author={Buczek, Sean B. and Cope, W. Gregory and McLaughlin, Richard A. and Kwak, Thomas J.}, year={2018}, month={Jun}, pages={631–643} } @article{penland_grieshaber_kwak_cope_heise_sessions_2018, title={Food web contaminant dynamics of a large Atlantic Slope river: Implications for common and imperiled species}, volume={633}, ISSN={["1879-1026"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.251}, abstractNote={Persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants often reach concentrations that threaten aquatic life by causing alterations in organism behavior and development, disruption of biological processes, reproductive abnormalities, and mortality. The objectives of this research were to determine the aquatic food web structure and trophic transfer and accumulation of contaminants within a riverine ecosystem and identify potential stressors to the health of an imperiled fish, the robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum) and other species of conservation concern in a large Atlantic Slope (USA) river. Trophic position was determined for food web taxa by stable isotope analyses of representative producers, consumers, and organic matter of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River of North Carolina and South Carolina. Contaminant analyses were performed on water, sediment, organic matter, and aquatic biota to assess the prevalence and accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), current use pesticides (CUPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and selected metals. Contaminants were prevalent in the environment and food web components of the river. PCBs were detected in 32% of biotic samples (mean 0.24μg/g dry weight [DW], range 0.01-3.33μg/g DW), and DDTs (legacy OCPs and metabolites) were detected in 90% (mean 0.014μg/g DW, range 0.0004-0.29μg/g DW). The trace metals manganese and cadmium exceeded published threshold effect concentrations in sediment (460 and 0.99μg/g DW, respectively). Mercury was detected in all food web samples exhibiting a mean of 0.61μg/g DW and range 0.006-2.35μg/g DW (mean 0.13μg/g wet weight [WW], range 0.001-0.6μg/g WW). Concentrations exceeded the 0.2μg/g WW aquatic life criterion for mercury in 38% of fish samples. Fish trophic magnification factors (TMFs; range 0.33-3.75) indicated that contaminant accumulation occurred from both water and dietary sources. The combination of analytical approaches applied here provides new insight into contaminant dynamics with conservation implications.}, journal={SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT}, author={Penland, Tiffany N. and Grieshaber, Casey A. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Heise, Ryan J. and Sessions, Forrest W.}, year={2018}, month={Aug}, pages={1062–1077} } @article{drew_eddy_kwak_cope_augspurger_2018, title={Hydrologic characteristics of freshwater mussel habitat: novel insights from modeled flows}, volume={37}, ISSN={["2161-9565"]}, DOI={10.1086/697947}, abstractNote={The ability to model freshwater stream habitat and species distributions is limited by the spatially sparse flow data available from long-term gauging stations. Flow data beyond the immediate vicinity of gauging stations would enhance our ability to explore and characterize hydrologic habitat suitability. The southeastern USA supports high aquatic biodiversity, but threats, such as landuse alteration, climate change, conflicting water-resource demands, and pollution, have led to the imperilment and legal protection of many species. The ability to distinguish suitable from unsuitable habitat conditions, including hydrologic suitability, is a key criterion for successful conservation and restoration of aquatic species. We used the example of the critically endangered Tar River Spinymussel (Parvaspina steinstansana) and associated species to demonstrate the value of modeled flow data (WaterFALL™) to generate novel insights into population structure and testable hypotheses regarding hydrologic suitability. With ordination models, we: 1) identified all catchments with potentially suitable hydrology, 2) identified 2 distinct hydrologic environments occupied by the Tar River Spinymussel, and 3) estimated greater hydrological habitat niche breadth of assumed surrogate species associates at the catchment scale. Our findings provide the first demonstrated application of complete, continuous, regional modeled hydrologic data to freshwater mussel distribution and management. This research highlights the utility of modeling and data-mining methods to facilitate further exploration and application of such modeled environmental conditions to inform aquatic species management. We conclude that such an approach can support landscape-scale management decisions that require spatial information at fine resolution (e.g., enhanced National Hydrology Dataset catchments) and broad extent (e.g., multiple river basins).}, number={2}, journal={FRESHWATER SCIENCE}, author={Drew, C. Ashton and Eddy, Michele and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Augspurger, Tom}, year={2018}, month={Jun}, pages={343–356} } @article{grieshaber_penland_kwak_cope_heise_law_shea_aday_rice_kullman_et al._2018, title={Relation of contaminants to fish intersex in riverine sport fishes}, volume={643}, ISSN={0048-9697}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2018.06.071}, DOI={10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.071}, abstractNote={Endocrine active compounds (EACs) are pollutants that have been recognized as an emerging and widespread threat to aquatic ecosystems globally. Intersex, the presence of female germ cells within a predominantly male gonad, is considered a biomarker of endocrine disruption caused by EACs. We measured a suite of EACs and assessed their associated impacts on fish intersex occurrence and severity in a large, regulated river system in North Carolina and South Carolina, USA. Our specific objective was to determine the relationship of contaminants in water, sediment, and fish tissue with the occurrence and severity of the intersex condition in wild, adult black bass (Micropterus), sunfish (Lepomis), and catfish (Ictaluridae) species at 11 sites located on the Yadkin-Pee Dee River. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ethinylestradiol (EE2), and heavy metals were the most prevalent contaminants that exceeded effect levels for the protection of aquatic organisms. Fish intersex condition was most frequently observed and most severe in black basses and was less frequently detected and less severe in sunfishes and catfishes. The occurrence of the intersex condition in fish showed site-related effects, rather than increasing longitudinal trends from upstream to downstream. Mean black bass and catfish tissue contaminant concentrations were higher than that of sunfish, likely because of the latter's lower trophic position in the food web. Principal component analysis identified waterborne PAHs as the most correlated environmental contaminant with intersex occurrence and severity in black bass and sunfish. As indicated by the intersex condition, EACs have adverse but often variable effects on the health of wild sport fishes in this river, likely due to fluctuations in EAC inputs and the dynamic nature of the riverine system. These findings enhance the understanding of the relationship between contaminants and fish health and provide information to guide ecologically comprehensive conservation and management decisions.}, journal={Science of The Total Environment}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Grieshaber, C.A. and Penland, T.N. and Kwak, T.J. and Cope, W.G. and Heise, R.J. and Law, J.M. and Shea, Damian and Aday, D.D. and Rice, J.A. and Kullman, S.W. and et al.}, year={2018}, month={Dec}, pages={73–89} } @article{johnson_leprevost_kwak_cope_2018, title={Selenium, Mercury, and Their Molar Ratio in Sportfish from Drinking Water Reservoirs}, volume={15}, ISSN={1660-4601}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15091864}, DOI={10.3390/ijerph15091864}, abstractNote={Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulates in aquatic ecosystems and may pose a risk to humans who consume fish. Selenium (Se) has the ability to reduce Hg toxicity, but the current guidance for human consumption of fish is based on Hg concentration alone. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between Se and Hg in freshwater sportfish, for which there is a paucity of existing data. We collected three species of fish from different trophic positions from two drinking water reservoirs in central North Carolina, USA, to assess Hg and Se concentrations in relation to fish total length and to compare two measures of the protective ability of Se, the Se:Hg molar ratio and Se health benefit value (HBVSe), to current guidance for Hg. According to the Se:Hg molar ratio, all of the low trophic position fish sampled and the middle trophic position fish sampled from one of the reservoirs were safe for consumption. The same number of fish were considered safe using the HBVSe. More fish were deemed unsafe when using the Se:Hg molar ratio and HBVSe than were considered unsafe when using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Hg threshold. These findings suggest that the measures of Se protection may be unnecessarily conservative or that the USEPA Hg threshold may not be sufficiently protective of human health, especially the health of sensitive populations like pregnant or nursing mothers and young children. Future examination of the Se:Hg molar ratio and HBVSe from a variety of fish tissue samples would help refine the accuracy of these measures so that they may be appropriately utilized in ecological and human health risk assessment.}, number={9}, journal={International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Johnson, Tara and LePrevost, Catherine and Kwak, Thomas and Cope, W.}, year={2018}, month={Aug}, pages={1864} } @article{bishop_willis_richardson_cope_2018, title={The presence of algae mitigates the toxicity of copper-based algaecides to a nontarget organism}, volume={37}, ISSN={0730-7268}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ETC.4166}, DOI={10.1002/ETC.4166}, abstractNote={AbstractCopper‐based algaecides are routinely applied to target noxious algal blooms in freshwaters. Standard toxicity testing data with copper suggest that typical concentrations used to control algae can cause deleterious acute impacts to nontarget organisms. These “clean” water experiments lack algae, which are specifically targeted in field applications of algaecides and contain competing ligands. The present research measured the influence of algae on algaecide exposure and subsequent response of the nontarget species Daphnia magna to copper sulfate and an ethanolamine‐chelated copper algaecide (Captain®). Significant shifts (p < 0.05) in D. magna 48‐h median lethal concentration (LC50) values were found when algae were present in exposures along with a copper salt or a chelated copper formulation. Copper sulfate 48‐h LC50 values shifted from 75.3 to 317.8 and 517.8 μg Cu/L, whereas Captain increased from 353.8 to 414.2 and 588.5 μg Cu/L in no algae, 5 × 105, and 5 × 106 cells/mL algae treatments, respectively. Larger shifts were measured with copper sulfate exposures, although Captain was less toxic to D. magna in all corresponding treatments. Captain was more effective at controlling Scenedesmus dimorphus at most concentrations, and control was inversely proportional to toxicity to D. magna. Overall, incorporating target competing ligands (i.e., algae) into standard toxicity testing is important for accurate risk assessment, and copper formulation can significantly alter algaecidal efficacy and risks to nontarget organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2132–2142. © 2018 SETAC}, number={8}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Bishop, West M. and Willis, Ben E. and Richardson, Robert J. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2018}, month={Jun}, pages={2132–2142} } @article{powell_cope_leprevost_augspurger_mccarthy_shea_2017, title={A Retrospective Analysis of Agricultural Herbicides in Surface Water Reveals Risk Plausibility for Declines in Submerged Aquatic Vegetation}, volume={5}, ISSN={["2305-6304"]}, url={http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/5/3/21}, DOI={10.3390/toxics5030021}, abstractNote={The Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System (APES) is the second largest estuarine system within the mainland of the United States and is estimated to have lost about half of its submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) over the past several decades. The issue of herbicide runoff and subsequent toxic effects to SAV is important because of the extensive agricultural production that occurs in the APES region. The aim of this study was to conduct a retrospective analysis of herbicide influx to waters of the APES region during the time period of documented SAV declines and to compare the measured concentrations to SAV toxicity thresholds and changes in agricultural land use. Surface water grab samples were collected at 26 sites in the APES region during May through July 2000. The most consistently measured herbicides were alachlor, atrazine, and metolachlor with geometric mean concentrations ranging from 29 to 2463 ng/L for alachlor, 14 to 7171 ng/L for atrazine, and 17 to 5866 ng/L for metolachlor. Concentrations of alachlor, atrazine, and metolachlor measured in water samples from the APES region in 2000 exceeded several of the established benchmarks, standards, or guidelines for protection of aquatic plants. Although this evaluation was of point-in-time herbicide samples (year 2000) and not analyzed for all possible herbicides used at the time, they were taken during the period of SAV declines, reveal the plausibility of exposure risk to SAV, and suggest that herbicide runoff should be studied along with other variables that influence SAV growth and distribution in future studies.}, number={3}, journal={TOXICS}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Powell, Kelly W. and Cope, W. Gregory and LePrevost, Catherine E. and Augspurger, Tom and McCarthy, Annette M. and Shea, Damian}, year={2017}, month={Sep} } @article{buczek_cope_mclaughlin_kwak_2017, title={ACUTE TOXICITY OF POLYACRYLAMIDE FLOCCULANTS TO EARLY LIFE STAGES OF FRESHWATER MUSSELS}, volume={36}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1002/etc.3821}, abstractNote={AbstractPolyacrylamide has become an effective tool for reducing construction‐related suspended sediment and turbidity, which are considered to have significant adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and are a leading cause of the degradation of North American streams and rivers. However, little is known about the effects of polyacrylamide on many freshwater organisms, and prior to the present study, no information existed on the toxicity of polyacrylamide compounds to native freshwater mussels (family Unionidae), one of the most imperiled faunal groups globally. Following standard test guidelines, we exposed juvenile mussels (test duration 96 h) and glochidia larvae (test duration 24 h) to 5 different anionic polyacrylamide compounds and 1 non‐ionic compound. Species tested included the yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa), an Atlantic Slope species that is listed as endangered in North Carolina; the Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana), a federally endangered Interior Basin species; and the washboard (Megalonaias nervosa), a common Interior Basin species. We found that median lethal concentrations (LC50s) of polyacrylamide ranged from 411.7 to >1000 mg/L for glochidia and from 126.8 to >1000 mg/L for juveniles. All LC50s were orders of magnitude greater (2–3) than concentrations typically recommended for turbidity control (1–5 mg/L), regardless of their molecular weight or charge density. The results demonstrate that the polyacrylamide compounds tested were not acutely toxic to the mussel species and life stages tested, indicating minimal risk of short‐term exposure from polyacrylamide applications in the environment. However, other potential uses of polyacrylamide in the environment (e.g., wastewater treatment, paper processing, mining, algae removal) and their chronic or sublethal effects remain uncertain and warrant additional investigation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2715–2721. Published 2017 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.}, number={10}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, publisher={Wiley-Blackwell}, author={Buczek, Sean B. and Cope, W. Gregory and McLaughlin, Richard A. and Kwak, Thomas J.}, year={2017}, month={Oct}, pages={2715–2721} } @article{buttermore_cope_kwak_cooney_shea_lazaro_2018, title={Contaminants in tropical island streams and their biota}, volume={161}, ISSN={["1096-0953"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85038027709&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.envres.2017.11.053}, abstractNote={Environmental contamination is problematic for tropical islands due to their typically dense human populations and competing land and water uses. The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico (USA) has a long history of anthropogenic chemical use, and its human population density is among the highest globally, providing a model environment to study contaminant impacts on tropical island stream ecosystems. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, historic-use chlorinated pesticides, current-use pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and metals (mercury, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, and selenium) were quantified in the habitat and biota of Puerto Rico streams and assessed in relation to land-use patterns and toxicological thresholds. Water, sediment, and native fish and shrimp species were sampled in 13 rivers spanning broad watershed land-use characteristics during 2009–2010. Contrary to expectations, freshwater stream ecosystems in Puerto Rico were not severely polluted, likely due to frequent flushing flows and reduced deposition associated with recurring flood events. Notable exceptions of contamination were nickel in sediment within three agricultural watersheds (range 123–336 ppm dry weight) and organic contaminants (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides) and mercury in urban landscapes. At an urban site, PCBs in several fish species (Mountain Mullet Agonostomus monticola [range 0.019–0.030 ppm wet weight] and American Eel Anguilla rostrata [0.019–0.031 ppm wet weight]) may pose human health hazards, with concentrations exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consumption limit for 1 meal/month. American Eel at the urban site also contained dieldrin (range < detection-0.024 ppm wet weight) that exceeded the EPA maximum allowable consumption limit. The Bigmouth Sleeper Gobiomorous dormitor, an important piscivorus sport fish, accumulated low levels of organic contaminants in edible muscle tissue (due to its low lipid content) and may be most suitable for human consumption island-wide; only mercury at one site (an urban location) exceeded EPA's consumption limit of 3 meals/month for this species. These results comprise the first comprehensive island-wide contaminant assessment of Puerto Rico streams and biota and provide natural resource and public health agencies here and in similar tropical islands elsewhere with information needed to guide ecosystem and fisheries conservation and management and human health risk assessment.}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH}, author={Buttermore, Elissa N. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cooney, Patrick B. and Shea, Damian and Lazaro, Peter R.}, year={2018}, month={Feb}, pages={615–623} } @article{bishop_lynch_willis_cope_2017, title={Copper-Based Aquatic Algaecide Adsorption and Accumulation Kinetics: Influence of Exposure Concentration and Duration for Controlling the Cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei}, volume={99}, ISSN={["1432-0800"]}, DOI={10.1007/s00128-017-2134-2}, abstractNote={Filamentous mat-forming cyanobacteria are increasingly impairing uses of freshwater resources. To effectively manage, a better understanding of control measures is needed. Copper (Cu)-based algaecide formulations are often applied to reactively control nuisance cyanobacterial blooms. This laboratory research assessed typical field exposure scenarios for the ability of Cu to partition to, and accumulate in Lyngbya wollei. Exposure factors (Cu concentration × duration) of 4, 8, 16, 24, 32 h were tested across three aqueous Cu concentrations (1, 2, 4 ppm). Results indicated that internally accumulated copper correlated with control of L. wollei, independent of adsorbed copper. L. wollei control was determined by filament viability and chlorophyll a concentrations. Similar exposure factors elicited similar internalized copper levels and consequent responses of L. wollei. Ultimately, a "concentration-exposure-time" (CET) model was created to assist water resource managers in selecting an appropriate treatment regime for a specific in-water infestation. By assessing the exposure concentration and duration required to achieve the internal threshold of copper (i.e., critical burden) that elicits control, water management objectives can be achieved while simultaneously decreasing the environmental loading of copper and potential for non-target species risks.}, number={3}, journal={BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY}, author={Bishop, West M. and Lynch, Clayton L. and Willis, Ben E. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2017}, month={Sep}, pages={365–371} } @article{pandolfo_kwak_cope_heise_nichols_pacifici_2017, title={Declining Occurrence and Low Colonization Probability in Freshwater Mussel Assemblages: A Dynamic Occurrence Modeling Approach}, volume={20}, ISSN={2472-2944}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v20i1.2017.13-19}, DOI={10.31931/fmbc.v20i1.2017.13-19}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Mussel monitoring data are abundant, but methods for analyzing long-term trends in these data are often uninformative or have low power to detect changes. We used a dynamic occurrence model, which accounted for imperfect species detection in surveys, to assess changes in species occurrence in a long-term data set (1986–2011) for the Tar River basin of North Carolina, USA. Occurrence of all species decreased steadily over the time period studied. Occurrence in 1986 ranged from 0.19 for Utterbackia imbecillis to 0.60 for Fusconaia masoni. Occurrence in 2010–2011 ranged from 0.10 for Lampsilis radiata to 0.40 for F. masoni. The maximum difference between occurrence in 1986 and 2011 was a decline of 0.30 for Alasmidonta undulata. Mean persistence for all species was high (0.97, 95% CI = 0.95–0.99); however, mean colonization probability was very low (<0.01, 95% CI = <0.01–0.01). These results indicate that mussels persisted at sites already occupied but that they have not colonized sites where they had not occurred previously. Our findings highlight the importance of modeling approaches that incorporate imperfect detection in estimating species occurrence and revealing temporal trends to inform conservation planning.}, number={1}, journal={Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Heise, Ryan J. and Nichols, Robert B. and Pacifici, Krishna}, year={2017}, month={Mar}, pages={13–19} } @article{archambault_prochazka_cope_shea_lazaro_2018, title={Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters, sediments, and unionid mussels: relation to road crossings and implications for chronic mussel exposure}, volume={810}, ISSN={0018-8158 1573-5117}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/S10750-017-3101-Y}, DOI={10.1007/S10750-017-3101-Y}, number={1}, journal={Hydrobiologia}, publisher={Springer Nature}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Prochazka, Sharon T. and Cope, W. Gregory and Shea, Damian and Lazaro, Peter R.}, year={2018}, month={Mar}, pages={465–476} } @book{cope_reyes_leprevost_2017, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={When a Good Pesticide Application Goes Bad}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service and North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services}, author={Cope, W.G. and Reyes, A.J. and LePrevost, C.E.}, year={2017} } @article{lee pow_tilahun_creech_law_cope_kwak_rice_aday_kullman_2017, title={Windows of Susceptibility and Consequences of Early Life Exposures to 17β–estradiol on Medaka (Oryzias latipes) Reproductive Success}, volume={51}, ISSN={0013-936X 1520-5851}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ACS.EST.7B01568}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.7b01568}, abstractNote={Estrogens and estrogen mimics are commonly found in surface waters and are associated with deleterious effects in fish populations. Impaired fertility and fecundity in fish following chronic exposures to estrogens and estrogen mimics during critical windows in development are well documented. However, information regarding differential reproductive effects of exposure within defined developmental stages remains sparse. In this study, reproductive capacity was assessed in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) after exposure to two concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2β; 2 ng/L and 50 ng/L) during four distinct stages of development: gonad development, gonad differentiation, development of secondary sex characteristics (SSC) and gametogenesis. Exposure to E2β did not adversely impact survival, hatch success, growth, or genotypic ratios. In contrast, exposure to 50 ng/L E2β during SSC development altered phenotypic ratios and SSC. Exposure to both E2β treatments reduced reproductive capacity (fertility, fecundity) by 7.3-57.4% in adult medaka breeding pairs, with hindrance of SSC development resulting in the largest disruption in breeding capacity (51.6-57.4% decrease) in the high concentration. This study documents differential effects among four critical stages of development and provides insight into factors (window of exposure, exposure concentration and duration of exposure period) contributing to reproductive disruption in fish.}, number={9}, journal={Environmental Science & Technology}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Lee Pow, Crystal S.D. and Tilahun, Kedamawit and Creech, Kari and Law, J. Mac and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J. and Rice, James A. and Aday, D. Derek and Kullman, Seth W.}, year={2017}, month={Apr}, pages={5296–5305} } @article{storm_leprevost_tutor-marcom_cope_2016, title={Adapting Certified Safe Farm to North Carolina Agriculture: An Implementation Study}, volume={21}, ISSN={["1545-0813"]}, DOI={10.1080/1059924x.2016.1180273}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Certified Safe Farm (CSF) is a multimodal safety and health program developed and assessed through multiple controlled intervention studies in Iowa. Although developed with the intent to be broadly applicable to agriculture, CSF has not been widely implemented outside the midwestern United States. This article describes the CSF implementation process in North Carolina (NC), as piloted on a large-scale in three agriculturally diverse and productive counties of NC, and reports its effectiveness using the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Implementation involved (1) capacity building through safety and health training, (2) adaptation of components of Iowa’s CSF model to NC agriculture, (3) marketing and recruitment, and (4) formative evaluation, including an online survey and focus group discussion. From 2009 to 2012, 113 farms participated in at least one component of the CSF intervention, representing a NC farm participation rate of 3.1% in the study area. A major adaptation of NC implementation was the utilization of NC Cooperative Extension as the local driver of implementation in contrast to local AgriSafe clinics in Iowa. The most innovative adaptation to CSF components was the development of a defined economic incentive in the form of a cost-share program. The RE-AIM framework was found to be useful and relevant to the field of agricultural health and safety translational research. This study provides effectiveness measures and implementation alternatives useful for those considering implementing CSF. It informs current efforts to move CSF from research to practice through the National Sustainable Model CSF Program initiative.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF AGROMEDICINE}, author={Storm, Julia F. and LePrevost, Catherine E. and Tutor-Marcom, Robin and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2016}, pages={269–283} } @article{archambault_bergeron_cope_lazaro_leonard_shea_2016, title={Assessing toxicity of contaminants in riverine suspended sediments to freshwater mussels}, volume={36}, ISSN={0730-7268}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.3540}, DOI={10.1002/etc.3540}, abstractNote={AbstractThe Clinch River in Virginia and Tennessee, USA, is well known for its diverse native freshwater mussel assemblages; however, notable declines in mussel populations in recent decades have prompted much concern and subsequent research. The authors examined the toxicity of recently deposited sediments on juveniles of the freshwater mussel Epioblasma brevidens by collecting time‐integrated sediment samples from the water column with sediment traps from 11 sites in the Clinch River basin, including 6 sites within an 88‐km reach deemed a “mussel zone of decline.” Mussels were exposed to the riverine sediments and to 3 control sediments for 28 d; survival, shell length, and biomass were then assessed. Sediment treatment (i.e., river location) had a significant effect on mussel survival (p < 0.01) and biomass (p = 0.02) but did not affect length (p = 0.37), and sediments from 2 of the tributaries were the most toxic. Inorganic and organic analyses of sediments indicated the presence of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at all sites. Manganese was negatively correlated with mussel survival and biomass, as was ammonia with survival and total organic carbon with biomass. Current land uses in the watershed indicate that fossil fuel mining and agriculture may be associated with elevated manganese and ammonia, respectively. The authors found that sediments collected with sediment traps over relatively short deployment durations can help elucidate recent contaminant influx and its potential for inducing toxicity in benthic organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:395–407. © 2016 SETAC}, number={2}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Bergeron, Christine M. and Cope, W. Gregory and Lazaro, Peter R. and Leonard, Jeremy A. and Shea, Damian}, year={2016}, month={Aug}, pages={395–407} } @article{lee pow_law_kwak_cope_rice_kullman_aday_2017, title={Endocrine active contaminants in aquatic systems and intersex in common sport fishes}, volume={36}, ISSN={0730-7268}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ETC.3607}, DOI={10.1002/ETC.3607}, abstractNote={AbstractMale fish are susceptible to developing intersex, a condition characterized by the presence of testicular oocytes. In the present study, the relationship between intersex and exposure to estrogenic endocrine active contaminants (EACs) was assessed for 2 genera of sport fish, Micropterus and Lepomis, at 20 riverine sites. Seasonal trends and relationships between EACs and intersex (prevalence and severity) were examined at varying putative sources of EACs throughout North Carolina, identified as point sources, nonpoint sources, and reference sites. Intersex was identified in both genera, which was documented for the first time in wild‐caught Lepomis. Intersex was more prevalent (59.8%) and more severe (1.6 mean rank) in Micropterus, which was highly correlation to EACs in sediment. In contrast, intersex was less common (9.9%) and less severe (0.2 mean rank) in Lepomis and was highly correlated to EACs in the water column. The authors found that concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, industrial EACs, and estrogens were highest at point source sites; however, no source type variation was identified in the prevalence or severity of intersex, nor were there seasonal trends in intersex or EAC concentrations. The authors’ results associate genus‐specific prevalence of intersex with specific EAC classes in common sport fishes having biological, ecological, and conservation implications. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:959–968. © 2016 SETAC}, number={4}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Lee Pow, Crystal S.D. and Law, J. Mac and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Rice, James A. and Kullman, Seth W. and Aday, D. Derek}, year={2017}, month={Apr}, pages={959–968} } @article{leonard_cope_hammer_barnhart_bringolf_2017, title={Extending the toxicity-testing paradigm for freshwater mussels: Assessing chronic reproductive effects of the synthetic estrogen 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol on the unionid mussel Elliptio complanata}, volume={191}, ISSN={["1878-1659"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.cbpc.2016.09.002}, abstractNote={Surface water concentrations of the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) as low as 1ng/L can cause adverse reproductive effects in fish under acute and chronic exposure conditions, whereas higher concentrations (> 5ng/L) in acute studies are necessary to elicit adverse effects in freshwater mussels. Prolonged chronic exposures of freshwater mussels to EE2 remain un-evaluated. An extended duration testing paradigm was used to examine reproductive and biochemical (carbohydrate, lipid, protein) effects of EE2 on the unionid mussel, Elliptio complanata, throughout its reproductive cycle. Mussels were exposed to a control and EE2 concentrations (5 and 50ng/L) in six discrete and sequential 28 d tests, and in one discrete and simultaneous 180 d test, from February through August. Foot protrusion and siphoning behavior were recorded daily, along with conglutinate releases and larval (glochidia) mortality. Gonad, hemolymph, and gonad fluid samples were taken for biochemical and vitellogenin-like protein (Vtg) analysis post-exposure. Female mussels released eggs and conglutinates during the months of April to June, indicating sexual maturation during this time. Conglutinates released in the 5ng/L treatment in 28 d exposures contained fewer glochidia and more eggs, and increased concentrations of Vtg in hemolymph were observed from April to August in the 5ng/L treatment during the 180 d exposure. Results indicate that the 180 d test approach, concurrent with the sequence of 28 d tests, enabled a more robust evaluation of mussel behavior and physiology than would have been possible with a single short-term (28 d) test.}, journal={COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY}, author={Leonard, Jeremy A. and Cope, W. Gregory and Hammer, Edward J. and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Bringolf, Robert B.}, year={2017}, month={Jan}, pages={14–25} } @article{archambault_cope_2016, title={Life Stage Sensitivity of a Freshwater Snail to Herbicides Used in Invasive Aquatic Weed Control}, volume={19}, ISSN={2472-2944}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v19i2.2016.69-79}, DOI={10.31931/fmbc.v19i2.2016.69-79}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Invasive aquatic plants like hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) threaten native species in many ways, ultimately degrading overall habitat quality and quantity. Aquatic herbicides are often chosen as a control and management strategy, but few peer-reviewed studies address their effects on non-target organisms, especially native freshwater mussels and snails. The aim of this study was to assess the life stage sensitivity of a rare snail, Somatogyrus virginicus (Lithoglyphidae), to two aquatic herbicides (dipotassium salt of endothall and fluridone). We collected adult snails, cultured their eggs on a vinyl card substrate, exposed adults and eggs in 96-h static-renewal experiments, and monitored eggs through hatching. Because fluridone is typically applied for ≥ 60 d, an additional treatment was exposed in staticrenewal through hatching (30 d total) to improve environmental relevance. Eggs present on the shells of adult snails were also monitored. Endpoints were adult survival and egg hatching success. Fluridone did not affect adult snail survival at concentrations up to 1500 µg/L, and in the test with eggs on vinyl cards, fluridone did not significantly delay (p = 0.12) or influence overall hatching success (p = 0.22), including in the 30-d exposure (Dunnett's p = 0.09). However, fluridone significantly delayed hatching of eggs on adult shells (p < 0.01) and reduced their overall hatching success (p < 0.01). The 96-h median effect concentration (EC50) for fluridone on hatching success of eggs on adults was 1334 µg/L (95% CI, 1215 – 1466 µg/L). For endothall, the adult 96-h median lethal concentration (LC50) was 223 mg/L (157 – 318 mg/L). Endothall negatively affected hatching success in both egg tests by delaying hatching (p < 0.01 in both tests) and by reducing overall hatching success (p = 0.04 for eggs on cards, and p < 0.01 for eggs on adults). The endothall 96-h EC50s for egg hatching success were 54.1 mg/L (95% CI, 35.6 – 82.2 mg/L; eggs on adults) and 83.4 mg/L (95% CI, 60.4 – 115.2 mg/L; eggs on cards). Neither herbicide had toxic effects to either life stage at concentrations typically prescribed for control of hydrilla (5 – 15 µg/L fluridone and 1 – 5 mg/L endothall). However, applying the minimum amount of herbicide needed for effective weed control is recommended for ensuring safety of non-target organisms.}, number={2}, journal={Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2016}, month={Sep}, pages={69} } @article{pandolfo_kwak_cope_2016, title={Microhabitat Suitability and Niche Breadth of Common and Imperiled Atlantic Slope Freshwater Mussels}, volume={19}, ISSN={2472-2944}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v19i2.2016.27-50}, DOI={10.31931/fmbc.v19i2.2016.27-50}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Knowledge of the habitat suitability of freshwater mussels (family Unionidae) is necessary for effective decision making in conservation and management. We empirically measured microhabitat use for 10 unionid mussel species, including the U.S. federally endangered Alasmidonta heterodon, at 20 sites in the Tar River basin, North Carolina, USA. We also quantified habitat availability at each site, and calculated habitat suitability for each mussel species. The majority of available habitat across all sites consisted of shallow, slow-moving water with penetrable silt or sand substrate. Among species, mean water depth of occupied habitats ranged 0.23 – 0.54 m, mean bottom velocity ranged 0.001 – 0.055 m/s, average mean-column velocity ranged 0 – 0.055 m/s, and mean substrate penetrability ranged 0.11 – 11.67 on an index scale. The most commonly measured dominant substrate materials were silt, sand, very coarse sand, pea gravel, and coarse gravel. The most common cover types were coarse woody debris and fine woody debris. These findings revealed a relationship between the niche breadth and conservation status of four species. Federally endangered A. heterodon consistently showed a narrower suite of suitable microhabitats than the common mussel Elliptio complanata. The range of suitable habitat characteristics for Fusconaia masoni and Villosa constricta, listed as North Carolina (USA) state endangered and special concern, respectively, was typically narrower than those of E. complanata and wider than those of A. heterodon. These habitat suitability criteria and relationships will be useful to guide identification of suitable sites for habitat protection, mussel relocation, or site restoration.}, number={2}, journal={Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2016}, month={Sep}, pages={27} } @article{pandolfo_kwak_cope_heise_nichols_pacifici_2016, title={Species traits and catchment‐scale habitat factors influence the occurrence of freshwater mussel populations and assemblages}, volume={61}, ISSN={0046-5070 1365-2427}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fwb.12807}, DOI={10.1111/fwb.12807}, abstractNote={Summary Conservation of freshwater unionid mussels presents unique challenges due to their distinctive life cycle, cryptic occurrence and imperilled status. Relevant ecological information is urgently needed to guide their management and conservation. We adopted a modelling approach, which is a novel application to freshwater mussels to enhance inference on rare species, by borrowing data among species in a hierarchical framework to conduct the most comprehensive occurrence analysis for freshwater mussels to date. We incorporated imperfect detection to more accurately examine effects of biotic and abiotic factors at multiple scales on the occurrence of 14 mussel species and the entire assemblage of the Tar River Basin of North Carolina, U.S.A. The single assemblage estimate of detection probability for all species was 0.42 (95% CI, 0.36–0.47) with no species‐ or site‐specific detection effects identified. We empirically observed 15 mussel species in the basin but estimated total species richness at 21 (95% CI, 16–24) when accounting for imperfect detection. Mean occurrence probability among species ranged from 0.04 (95% CI, 0.01–0.16) for Alasmidonta undulata, an undescribed Lampsilis sp., and Strophitus undulatus to 0.67 (95% CI, 0.42–0.86) for Elliptio icterina. Median occurrence probability among sites was <0.30 for all species with the exception of E. icterina. Site occurrence probability generally related to mussel conservation status, with reduced occurrence for endangered and threatened species. Catchment‐scale abiotic variables (stream power, agricultural land use) and species traits (brood time, host specificity, tribe) influenced the occurrence of mussel assemblages more than reach‐ or microhabitat‐scale features. Our findings reflect the complexity of mussel ecology and indicate that habitat restoration alone may not be adequate for mussel conservation. Catchment‐scale management can benefit an entire assemblage, but species‐specific strategies may be necessary for successful conservation. The hierarchical multispecies modelling approach revealed findings that could not be elucidated by other means, and the approach may be applied more broadly to other river basins and regions. Accurate measures of assemblage dynamics, such as occurrence and species richness, are required to create management plans for effective conservation. }, number={10}, journal={Freshwater Biology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Heise, Ryan J. and Nichols, Robert B. and Pacifici, Krishna}, year={2016}, month={Aug}, pages={1671–1684} } @book{hodgson_cope_2015, place={Raleigh, NC}, edition={1st}, title={Dictionary of Agromedicine}, url={http://appliedecology.cals.ncsu.edu/extension/toxicology/dictionary-of-agromedicine/}, publisher={North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service}, year={2015} } @article{leprevost_storm_asuaje_arellano_cope_2014, title={Assessing the Effectiveness of the Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit: A Curriculum for Enhancing Farmworkers' Understanding of Pesticide Safety Concepts}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1545-0813"]}, DOI={10.1080/1059924x.2014.886538}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Among agricultural workers, migrant and seasonal farmworkers have been recognized as a special risk population because these laborers encounter cultural challenges and linguistic barriers while attempting to maintain their safety and health within their working environments. The crop-specific Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit (Toolkit) is a pesticide safety and health curriculum designed to communicate to farmworkers pesticide hazards commonly found in their working environments and to address Worker Protection Standard (WPS) pesticide training criteria for agricultural workers. The goal of this preliminary study was to test evaluation items for measuring knowledge increases among farmworkers and to assess the effectiveness of the Toolkit in improving farmworkers’ knowledge of key WPS and risk communication concepts when the Toolkit lesson was delivered by trained trainers in the field. After receiving training on the curriculum, four participating trainers provided lessons using the Toolkit as part of their regular training responsibilities and orally administered a pre- and post-lesson evaluation instrument to 20 farmworker volunteers who were generally representative of the national farmworker population. Farmworker knowledge of pesticide safety messages significantly (P < .05) increased after participation in the lesson. Further, items with visual alternatives were found to be most useful in discriminating between more and less knowledgeable farmworkers. The pilot study suggests that the Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit is an effective, research-based pesticide safety and health intervention for the at-risk farmworker population and identifies a testing format appropriate for evaluating the Toolkit and other similar interventions for farmworkers in the field.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF AGROMEDICINE}, author={LePrevost, Catherine E. and Storm, Julia F. and Asuaje, Cesar R. and Arellano, Consuelo and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2014}, pages={96–102} } @article{leprevost_storm_asuaje_arellano_cope_2014, title={Assessing the Effectiveness of the Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit: A Curriculum for Enhancing Farmworkers’ Understanding of Pesticide Safety Concepts}, volume={19}, ISSN={1059-924X 1545-0813}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2014.890991}, DOI={10.1080/1059924X.2014.890991}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Agromedicine}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={LePrevost, Catherine E. and Storm, Julia F. and Asuaje, Cesar R. and Arellano, Consuelo and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2014}, month={Apr}, pages={222–223} } @article{archambault_cope_kwak_2014, title={Influence of sediment presence on freshwater mussel thermal tolerance}, volume={33}, ISSN={["2161-9565"]}, DOI={10.1086/674141}, abstractNote={Abstract: Median lethal temperature (LT50) data from water-only exposures with the early life stages of freshwater mussels suggest that some species may be living near their upper thermal tolerances. However, evaluation of thermal sensitivity has never been conducted in sediment. Mussels live most of their lives burrowed in sediment, so understanding the effect of sediment on thermal sensitivity is a necessary step in evaluating the effectiveness of the water-only standard method, on which the regulatory framework for potential thermal criteria currently is based, as a test of thermal sensitivity. We developed a method for testing thermal sensitivity of juvenile mussels in sediment and used the method to assess thermal tolerance of 4 species across a range of temperatures common during summer. Stream beds may provide a thermal refuge in the wild, but we hypothesized that the presence of sediment alone does not alter thermal sensitivity. We also evaluated the effects of 2 temperature acclimation levels (22 and 27°C) and 2 water levels (watered and dewatered treatments). We then compared results from the sediment tests to those conducted using the water-only standard methods. We also conducted water-only LT tests with mussel larvae (glochidia) for comparison with the juvenile life stage. We found few consistent differences in thermal tolerance between sediment and water-only treatments, between acclimation temperatures, between waterlevel treatments, among species, or between juvenile and glochidial life stages (LT50 range = 33.3–37.2°C; mean = 35.6°C), supporting our hypothesis that the presence of sediment alone does not alter thermal sensitivity. The method we developed has potential for evaluating the role of other stressors (e.g., contaminants) in a more natural and complex environment.}, number={1}, journal={FRESHWATER SCIENCE}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J.}, year={2014}, month={Mar}, pages={56–65} } @article{leonard_cope_barnhart_bringolf_2014, title={Metabolomic, behavioral, and reproductive effects of the aromatase inhibitor fadrozole hydrochloride on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola}, volume={206}, ISSN={["1095-6840"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.07.019}, abstractNote={Androgen-induced masculinization of female aquatic biota poses concerns for natural population stability. This research evaluated the effects of a twelve day exposure of fadrozole hydrochloride on the metabolism and reproductive status of the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola. Although this compound is not considered to be widespread in the aquatic environment, it was selected as a model aromatase (enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol) inhibitor. Adult mussels were exposed to a control and 3 concentrations of fadrozole (2 μg/L, 20 μg/L, and 50 μg/L), and samples of gill tissue were taken on days 4 and 12 for metabolomics analysis. Gills were used because of the variety of critical processes they mediate, such as feeding, ion exchange, and siphoning. Daily observed mussel behavior included female mantle display, foot protrusion, siphoning, and larval (glochidia) releases. Glochidia mortality was significantly higher in the 20 μg/L treatment. Fewer conglutinate (packets of glochidia) releases were observed in the 50 μg/L treatment, and mortality was highly correlated to release numbers. Foot protrusion was significantly higher in females in nearly all treatments, including the control, during the first 4 days of observations. However, this sex difference was observed only in the 50 μg/L treatment during the last 8 days. Generally, metabolites were significantly altered in female gill tissue in the 2 μg/L treatment whereas males were mostly affected only at the highest (50 μg/L) treatment. Both sexes also revealed significant reductions in fadrozole-induced metabolic effects in gill tissue sampled after 12 days compared to tissue sampled after 4 days, indicating time-dependent mechanisms of disruptions in metabolic pathways and homeostatic processes to compensate for such disruptions.}, journal={GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY}, author={Leonard, Jeremy A. and Cope, W. Gregory and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Bringolf, Robert B.}, year={2014}, month={Sep}, pages={213–226} } @article{leonard_cope_barnhart_bringolf_2014, title={Metabolomic, behavioral, and reproductive effects of the synthetic estrogen 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol on the unionid mussel Lampsilis fasciola}, volume={150}, ISSN={["1879-1514"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.aquatox.2014.03.004}, abstractNote={The endocrine disrupting effects of estrogenic compounds in surface waters on fish, such as feminization of males and altered sex ratios, may also occur in aquatic invertebrates. However, the underlying mechanisms of action and toxicity, especially in native freshwater mussels (Order Unionoida), remain undefined. This study evaluated the effects of a 12-day exposure of 17 α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic estrogen in oral contraceptives commonly found in surface waters, on the behavior, condition, metabolism, and reproductive status of Lampsilis fasciola. Adult mussels of both sexes were exposed to a control and two concentrations of EE2 (0 ng/L, 5 ng/L considered to be environmentally relevant, and 1,000 ng/L designed to provide a positive metabolic response), and samples of gill tissue were taken on days 4 and 12; gills were used because of the variety of critical processes they mediate, such as feeding, ion exchange, and siphoning. Observations of mussel behavior (mantle display, siphoning, and foot movement) were made daily, and condition of conglutinates (packets of eggs and/or glochidia) released by females was examined. No significant effects of EE2 on glochidia mortality, conglutinate condition, female marsupial gill condition, or mussel foot extension were observed. However, exposure to both concentrations of EE2 significantly reduced male siphoning and mantle display behavior of females. Metabolomics analyses identified 207 known biochemicals in mussel gill tissue and showed that environmentally relevant EE2 concentrations led to decreases in glycogen metabolism end products, glucose, and several essential fatty acids in females after 12 days, indicating reductions in energy reserves that could otherwise be used for growth or reproduction. Moreover, males and females showed significant alterations in metabolites involved in signal transduction, immune response, and neuromodulation. Most of these changes were apparent at 1,000 ng/L EE2, but similar metabolites and pathways were also affected at 5 ng/L EE2. Components of the extracellular matrix of gill tissue were also altered. These results demonstrate the utility of metabolomics when used in conjunction with traditional physiological and behavioral toxicity test endpoints and establish the usefulness of this approach in determining possible underlying toxicological mechanisms of EE2 in exposed freshwater mussels.}, journal={AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY}, author={Leonard, Jeremy A. and Cope, W. Gregory and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Bringolf, Robert B.}, year={2014}, month={May}, pages={103–116} } @article{leprevost_blanchard_cope_2014, title={Personal Goals and Perceived Barriers of Farmworker Pesticide Trainers: Implications for Workplace Safety and Health}, volume={20}, ISSN={1074-7583 1943-7846}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.13031/jash.20.10528}, DOI={10.13031/jash.20.10528}, abstractNote={Abstract. Farmworkers are an at-risk occupational group, frequently exposed to pesticides in their working and living environments. Pesticide training for farmworkers is federally mandated, but little is known about the farmworker trainers who provide or supplement the training. Using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study explored a sample of pesticide trainers (n = 45) in North Carolina. A conceptual framework that recognizes the trainer as a “person-in-context” guided an examination of trainers’ goals and perceived constraints. Findings indicated that five types of organizations provide pesticide training. Individuals from these organizations have shared goals to reduce exposure and ensure health for farmworkers. Trainers identified practical constraints (time, farmworker physical and mental state, physical setting, institutional factors, training, and curricular materials) as restricting goal attainment. This study improves understanding of pesticide trainers and the context of pesticide training, guiding future interventions. Further, it suggests that the congruence of trainers’ goals provides a foundation for future collaborations to better meet farmworkers’ needs.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health}, publisher={American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Blanchard, M.R. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2014}, month={Oct}, pages={267–282} } @article{archambault_bergeron_cope_richardson_heilman_corey_netherland_heise_2015, title={Sensitivity of freshwater molluscs to hydrilla-targeting herbicides: providing context for invasive aquatic weed control in diverse ecosystems}, volume={30}, ISSN={["2156-6941"]}, DOI={10.1080/02705060.2014.945104}, abstractNote={Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive aquatic weed that has spread rapidly throughout the USA, especially in the southeast. A common control method is the application of aquatic herbicides, such as fluridone and endothall. However, there is limited documentation on the effects of herbicides commonly used to control hydrilla and other aquatic weeds on many non-target freshwater species and no published information exists on the toxicity of these herbicides to freshwater molluscs. We exposed juveniles (96 h) and glochidia (48 h) of the unionid mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea and adults (28 d) of Lampsilis fullerkati to a formulation of fluridone (Sonar – PR®) in laboratory toxicity tests. The early life stages of L. siliquoidea were also exposed to a formulation of the dipotassium salt of endothall (Aquathol – K®) in separate tests. Juveniles of the freshwater gastropod snail, Somatogyrus viriginicus (Lithoglyphidae), were exposed (96 h) to the Sonar – Genesis® fluridone formulation. Endpoints were survival (all species and life stages) as well as siphoning behavior and foot protrusion (adult mussels). Median lethal fluridone concentrations (LC50s) were 865 μg/L (95% CI, 729–1,026 μg/L) for glochidia (24 h), 511 μg/L (309–843 μg/L) for juvenile L. siliquoidea (96 h), and 500 μg/L (452–553 μg/L) for juvenile S. viriginicus (96 h). No mortality occurred in the 28-d exposure of adult L. fullerkati and we found no statistically significant effect of fluridone concentration on foot protrusion (p = 0.06) or siphoning behavior (p = 0.08). The 24-h LC50 for glochidia exposed to the dipotassium salt of endothall was 31.2 mg/L (30.3–32.2 mg/L) and the 96-h LC50 for juvenile mussels was 34.4 mg/L (29.3–40.5 mg/L). Freshwater molluscs were more sensitive to fluridone and endothall than most other species previously tested. Fluridone and endothall concentrations typically recommended for hydrilla treatment (5–15 μg/L and 1–5 mg/L, respectively) were not acutely toxic to the molluscs we tested and a 28-d exposure to fluridone was not lethal to adult mussels even at the highest concentration (300 μg/L), indicating minimal risk of short-term exposure effects.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF FRESHWATER ECOLOGY}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Bergeron, Christine M. and Cope, W. Gregory and Richardson, Robert J. and Heilman, Mark A. and Corey, J. Edward, III and Netherland, Michael D. and Heise, Ryan J.}, year={2015}, pages={335–348} } @article{sackett_pow_rubino_aday_cope_kullman_rice_kwak_law_2015, title={Sources of endocrine-disrupting compounds in North Carolina waterways: A geographic information systems approach}, volume={34}, ISSN={0730-7268}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ETC.2797}, DOI={10.1002/etc.2797}, abstractNote={AbstractThe presence of endocrine‐disrupting compounds (EDCs), particularly estrogenic compounds, in the environment has drawn public attention across the globe, yet a clear understanding of the extent and distribution of estrogenic EDCs in surface waters and their relationship to potential sources is lacking. The objective of the present study was to identify and examine the potential input of estrogenic EDC sources in North Carolina water bodies using a geographic information system (GIS) mapping and analysis approach. Existing data from state and federal agencies were used to create point and nonpoint source maps depicting the cumulative contribution of potential sources of estrogenic EDCs to North Carolina surface waters. Water was collected from 33 sites (12 associated with potential point sources, 12 associated with potential nonpoint sources, and 9 reference), to validate the predictive results of the GIS analysis. Estrogenicity (measured as 17β‐estradiol equivalence) ranged from 0.06 ng/L to 56.9 ng/L. However, the majority of sites (88%) had water 17β‐estradiol concentrations below 1 ng/L. Sites associated with point and nonpoint sources had significantly higher 17β‐estradiol levels than reference sites. The results suggested that water 17β‐estradiol was reflective of GIS predictions, confirming the relevance of landscape‐level influences on water quality and validating the GIS approach to characterize such relationships. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;9999:1–9. © 2014 SETAC}, number={2}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Sackett, Dana K. and Pow, Crystal Lee and Rubino, Matthew J. and Aday, D. Derek and Cope, W. Gregory and Kullman, Seth and Rice, James A. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Law, Mac}, year={2015}, month={Jan}, pages={437–445} } @article{leprevost_storm_asuaje_cope_2014, title={The Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit: an innovative model for developing an evidence-informed program for a low-literacy, Latino immigrant audience}, volume={52}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Extension}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C.R. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2014}, month={Jun}, pages={1–10} } @article{fritts_barnhart_bradley_liu_cope_hammer_bringolf_2014, title={ASSESSMENT OF TOXICITY TEST ENDPOINTS FOR FRESHWATER MUSSEL LARVAE (GLOCHIDIA)}, volume={33}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1002/etc.2417}, abstractNote={AbstractThe objectives of the present study were to determine if the viability of freshwater mussel larvae (glochidia) is an ecologically relevant endpoint for toxicity tests and to define the appropriate duration of those tests. The authors assessed 1) how viability (the shell closure response to sodium chloride) compares with infectivity (ability to attach to a host fish and successfully metamorphose to the juvenile stage), and 2) the decline of viability and infectivity over time after glochidia were released from female mussels. Glochidia of 7 mussel species were isolated from females, placed in water, and subsampled daily for 2 d to 5 d. Viability, when ≥90%, was generally a good predictor of infectivity; however, when viability was <90%, infectivity was often disproportionately low, especially for glochidia collected near the end of the brooding period. Viability and infectivity declined more rapidly in natural water and sediment compared to reconstituted water. Following 24‐h exposure to a toxicant (sodium chloride or copper), infectivity of the viable glochidia did not differ among concentrations of toxicants. The results indicate that viability is a valid proxy for infectivity and an ecologically relevant endpoint for standard toxicity tests with freshwater mussels for any test duration with control viability >90%. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:199–207. © 2013 SETAC}, number={1}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Fritts, Andrea K. and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Bradley, Megan and Liu, Na and Cope, W. Gregory and Hammer, Edward and Bringolf, Robert B.}, year={2014}, month={Jan}, pages={199–207} } @article{leprevost_blanchard_cope_2013, title={Beliefs of science educators who teach pesticide risk to farmworkers}, volume={8}, number={4}, journal={International Journal of Environmental and Science Education}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Blanchard, M.R. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2013}, pages={587–609} } @article{archambault_cope_kwak_2013, title={Burrowing, byssus, and biomarkers: behavioral and physiological indicators of sublethal thermal stress in freshwater mussels (Unionidae)}, volume={46}, ISSN={["1029-0362"]}, DOI={10.1080/10236244.2013.805891}, abstractNote={Recent research has elucidated the acute lethal effects of elevated water temperatures to glochidia (larvae), juvenile, and adult life stages of freshwater mussels (Order Unionida), but few studies have focused on sublethal effects of thermal stress. We evaluated the sublethal effects of elevated temperature on burrowing behavior and byssus production in juveniles, and on enzymatic biomarkers of stress in adults in acute (96 h) laboratory experiments in sediment, with two acclimation temperatures (22 and 27 °C) and two experimental water levels (watered and dewatered) as proxies for flow regime. Increasing temperature significantly reduced burrowing in all five species tested, and the dewatered treatment (a proxy for drought conditions) reduced burrowing in all but Amblema plicata. Production of byssal threads was affected most drastically by flow regime, with the probability of byssus presence reduced by 93–99% in the dewatered treatment, compared to the watered treatment (a proxy for low flow conditions); increasing temperature alone reduced byssus by 18–35%. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly affected by treatment temperature in the 27 °C acclimation, watered test (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Our results are important in the context of climate change, because stream temperature and flow are expected to change with increasing air temperature and altered precipitation patterns.}, number={4}, journal={MARINE AND FRESHWATER BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J.}, year={2013}, month={Jul}, pages={229–250} } @article{hazelton_cope_mosher_pandolfo_belden_barnhart_bringolf_2013, title={Fluoxetine alters adult freshwater mussel behavior and larval metamorphosis}, volume={445}, ISSN={["1879-1026"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.12.026}, abstractNote={We used acute and partial-lifecycle tests to examine the effects of the pharmaceutical fluoxetine on freshwater mussels (Unionida). In acute tests lasting 24–48 h, we determined median effective concentrations (EC50s) for fluoxetine with larval (glochidia viability) and juvenile (survival) life-stages of fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and black sandshell (Ligumia recta). In a 28-d behavioral test we exposed brooding adult female wavy-rayed lampmussels (Lampsilis fasciola) to 0.37 and 29.3 μg/L fluoxetine to determine effects on adult behavior (foot protrusion, mantle lure display and glochidia parturition). We also assessed the effects of 24-h exposure of 1 and 100 μg/L fluoxetine on glochidia viability duration and metamorphosis success for the wavy-rayed lampmussel. Fluoxetine EC50s ranged from 62 μg/L for juveniles (96 h) to 293 μg/L for glochidia (24 h). In adults, statistically significant increases were observed in foot protrusion at 0.37 and 29.3 μg/L fluoxetine and lure display rates at 29.3 μg/L; glochidia parturition was not significantly affected at any test concentration. Twenty-four hour exposure of glochidia to fluoxetine did not affect viability duration, but likelihood of metamorphosis to the juvenile stage significantly increased with 1 and 100 μg/L treatments. Our results demonstrated effects of fluoxetine to unionid mussels at concentrations less than previously reported and approaching concentrations measured in surface waters.}, journal={SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT}, author={Hazelton, Peter D. and Cope, W. Gregory and Mosher, Shad and Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Belden, Jason B. and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Bringolf, Robert B.}, year={2013}, month={Feb}, pages={94–100} } @article{sackett_aday_rice_cope_2013, title={Maternally transferred mercury in wild largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides}, volume={178}, ISSN={0269-7491}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2013.03.046}, DOI={10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2013.03.046}, abstractNote={Maternal transfer of mercury in fish represents a potential route of elimination for adult females and a risk to developing embryos. To better quantify maternal transfer, we measured Hg in female largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) muscle and eggs from six waterbodies. Mercury in eggs from two waterbodies exceeded a US federal screening level (0.3 μg g(-1)) and was likely high enough to cause adverse reproductive effects. We found a curvilinear relationship between female and egg Hg. Fish with <0.37 μg g(-1) Hg had low levels of Hg in eggs; those with Hg >0.37 μg g(-1) showed a direct relationship between egg and muscle Hg (Log10 egg Hg = -1.03 + 1.18 * log10 muscle tissue Hg + 2.15 * (log10 muscle tissue Hg + 0.35)(2)). We also report higher maternal transfer (0.2-13.2%) and higher ratios of egg to muscle tissue Hg (4-52%) and egg to whole body Hg concentrations (7-116%) than previously observed for teleost fish.}, journal={Environmental Pollution}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Sackett, Dana K. and Aday, D. Derek and Rice, James A. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2013}, month={Jul}, pages={493–497} } @article{leprevost_gray_hernandez-pelletier_bouma_arellano_cope_2013, title={Need for Improved Risk Communication of Fish Consumption Advisories to Protect Maternal and Child Health: Influence of Primary Informants}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1660-4601"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10051720}, DOI={10.3390/ijerph10051720}, abstractNote={Fish consumption has established benefits, including the promotion of cardiovascular health and pre- and neonatal brain and eye development, but local freshwater fish may be a source of contaminants that are especially harmful to fetuses and young children, such as the neurotoxic and developmentally toxic methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. Fish consumption advisories may be issued by state health departments to limit human exposure to these and other toxicants. This study examined the efficacy of a sign designed by the North Carolina Division of Public Health that was posted along a reservoir (Badin Lake) in central North Carolina, USA, for increasing anglers’ awareness of a fish consumption advisory, with a special focus on anglers who share their catch with women and children. In this study, 109 anglers were interviewed about their awareness of fish consumption advisories in general and their knowledge of the Badin Lake fish advisory in particular. Shore anglers were significantly less likely to be aware of the term “fish consumption advisory” and of the specific advisory for Badin Lake than boat anglers. Although a significant increase in knowledge of the specific fish consumption advisory was found for the entire sample of study participants after the sign intervention, a commensurate increase in knowledge was not found for a subsample of anglers who reported sharing their catch with women and children. Study findings underscore differences in fish consumption advisory awareness among subpopulations. Specifically, the study revealed the importance of characterizing the communication needs of shore anglers and anglers who share their catch with sensitive subpopulations (e.g., women and children) for the creation of more targeted communications of fish consumption advisories.}, number={5}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH}, author={LePrevost, Catherine E. and Gray, Kathleen M. and Hernandez-Pelletier, Mercedes and Bouma, Brennan D. and Arellano, Consuelo and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2013}, month={May}, pages={1720–1734} } @article{heise_cope_kwak_eads_2013, title={Short-Term Effects of Small Dam Removal on a Freshwater Mussel Assemblage}, volume={16}, ISSN={2472-2944}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v16i1.2013.41-52}, DOI={10.31931/fmbc.v16i1.2013.41-52}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Dam removal is increasingly used to restore lotic habitat and biota, but its effects on freshwater mussels (family Unionidae) are not well known. We conducted a four-year study to assess short-term effects on mussels after removal of a small hydropower dam on the Deep River (Cape Fear River drainage), North Carolina, USA, in 2006. We conducted annual pre- and post-removal monitoring of mussel density, richness, and survival (post removal only) with transect surveys and quadrat excavation, and assessed changes in substrate composition at two impact sites (tailrace and impoundment) and two reference sites. Before-after-control-impact (BACI) analyses of variance did not detect a significant change in mussel density (total or individually for the three most abundant species), species richness, Eastern Elliptio (Elliptio complanata) mean length, or substrate composition in the tailrace or drained impoundment following dam removal. Apparent annual survival estimates of Eastern Elliptio at the tailrace site did not differ among sampling periods and were similar to control sites. We observed minimal mussel mortality from stranding in the dewatered reservoir. These results demonstrate that adverse short-term impacts of dam removal on downstream mussel assemblages can be minimized with appropriate planning, timing, and removal techniques, but additional monitoring is warranted to determine long-term effects on mussels within the restored river reach.}, number={1}, journal={Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Heise, Ryan J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J. and Eads, Chris B.}, year={2013}, month={Mar}, pages={41–52} } @article{archambault_cope_kwak_2014, title={Survival and behaviour of juvenile unionid mussels exposed to thermal stress and dewatering in the presence of a sediment temperature gradient}, volume={59}, ISSN={["1365-2427"]}, DOI={10.1111/fwb.12290}, abstractNote={Summary Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are a highly imperilled faunal group. One critical threat is thermal sensitivity, because global climate change and other anthropogenic activities contribute to increasing stream temperature and altered hydrologic flow that may be detrimental to freshwater mussels. We incorporated four benthic environmental components – temperature, sediment, water level (a surrogate for flow) and a vertical thermal gradient in the sediment column – in laboratory mesocosm experiments with juveniles of two species of freshwater mussels (Lampsilis abrupta and Lampsilis radiata) and tested their effects on survival, burrowing behaviour and byssus production. Increasing temperature diminished burrowing behaviour significantly in both species (P < 0.01), and the dewatered treatment significantly reduced burrowing in L. radiata, compared with that in the watered treatment. Increasing temperature also significantly reduced byssus production in both species (P < 0.01). Median lethal temperatures (LT50) ranged from 29.9 to 35.6 °C. Mussels did not burrow beneath the top stratum of sediment (0–2.5 cm) and thus did not use the available thermal refuge. Our findings suggest that rising stream water temperature and dewatering may directly impact freshwater mussel abundance by causing mortality and may have indirect impacts via sublethal effects. Reduced burrowing capacity may hamper ability to escape predation or unfavourably high or low flows, and decreased byssus production may inhibit attachment and dispersal capabilities in juveniles. }, number={3}, journal={FRESHWATER BIOLOGY}, author={Archambault, Jennifer M. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J.}, year={2014}, month={Mar}, pages={601–613} } @article{sackett_cope_rice_aday_2013, title={The Influence of Fish Length on Tissue Mercury Dynamics: Implications for Natural Resource Management and Human Health Risk}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1660-4601"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10020638}, DOI={10.3390/ijerph10020638}, abstractNote={Consumption of fish has well-known human health benefits, though some fish may contain elevated levels of mercury (Hg) that are especially harmful to developing children. Fish length is most often the basis for establishing fishery harvest regulations that determine which fish will ultimately be consumed by humans. It is, therefore, essential to quantify the relationship between fish length and Hg accumulation in regard to harvest regulations for effective fishery and public health policy. We examined this relationship for three sportfish from six lakes across North Carolina, USA. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) had the lowest Hg levels and only the very largest fish in the most contaminated site exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Hg screening level. Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) had an intermediate level of Hg and larger individuals exceeded the USEPA screening level; however, they tended not to exceed this level before reaching the harvest length limit. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exceeded the USEPA screening level at sizes below the fishery length limit in two lakes, leaving only higher risk fish for anglers to harvest and consume. Removing the effects of fish age and trophic position, we found strong positive correlations between Hg and fish length for largemouth bass and black crappie. We suggest public health officials and wildlife managers collaborate to structure fishery regulations and length-based fish consumption advisories that protect consumers from Hg exposure and communicate the relative risk of fish consumption.}, number={2}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH}, author={Sackett, Dana K. and Cope, W. Gregory and Rice, James A. and Aday, D. Derek}, year={2013}, month={Feb}, pages={638–659} } @article{sackett_aday_rice_cope_2013, title={Validation of a Predictive Model for Fish Tissue Mercury Concentrations}, volume={142}, ISSN={["0002-8487"]}, DOI={10.1080/00028487.2012.747990}, abstractNote={AbstractIn an effort to reconcile the extensive variability in fish tissue mercury (Hg) in North Carolina, we previously created a predictive model using data collected from 1990 to 2006. Our model identified four factors—fish trophic status, fish species, ecoregion, and water pH—that explained 81% of the variation in fish tissue Hg. Herein, we evaluate the performance of this model by using two independently collected data sets describing fish tissue Hg in North Carolina and Virginia. Our model explained 75% of the variation in independently collected tissue Hg data from North Carolina and 68% of the variation in data collected from the same ecoregion types in Virginia. Although the relationships were relatively strong, the model generally underestimated observed tissue Hg. Residual analysis indicated that at least some of the model bias was due to error in predictions for sites near (within 10 km of) coal‐fired power plants. The model was not significantly biased when sites near power plants were removed from the independent data set, suggesting that the model was best at predicting mean tissue Hg in adult fish collected from water bodies greater than 10 km from power plants; such sites constitute the majority of the landscape. Fortuitously, fish at sites near power plants have significantly less tissue Hg than fish at sites far from power plants and are therefore of less concern to public health officials. The validated model can serve as a fish tissue Hg screening tool for use by state and federal agencies because it was created to predict Hg levels in numerous species and systems, and it only requires data that are readily available or relatively simple and inexpensive to measure. Identification of specific systems that may have highly contaminated fish and would not otherwise be sampled due to limited resources will help to focus sampling and enhance efforts to protect fish consumers.}, number={2}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Sackett, Dana K. and Aday, D. Derek and Rice, James A. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2013}, month={Mar}, pages={380–387} } @article{pandolfo_cope_young_jones_hua_lingenfelser_2012, title={Acute effects of road salts and associated cyanide compounds on the early life stages of the unionid mussel Villosa iris}, volume={31}, ISSN={["0730-7268"]}, DOI={10.1002/etc.1876}, abstractNote={AbstractThe toxicity of cyanide to the early life stages of freshwater mussels (order Unionida) has remained unexplored. Cyanide is known to be acutely toxic to other aquatic organisms. Cyanide‐containing compounds, such as sodium ferrocyanide and ferric ferrocyanide, are commonly added to road deicing salts as anticaking agents. The purpose of the present study was to assess the acute toxicity of three cyanide compounds (sodium cyanide, sodium ferrocyanide, and ferric ferrocyanide), two road salts containing cyanide anticaking agents (Morton and Cargill brands), a brine deicing solution (Liquidow brand), and a reference salt (sodium chloride) on glochidia (larvae) and juveniles of the freshwater mussel Villosa iris. Sodium ferrocyanide and ferric ferrocyanide were not acutely toxic to glochidia and juvenile mussels at concentrations up to 1,000 mg/L and 100 mg/L, respectively. Lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) for these two chemicals ranged from 10 to >1,000 mg/L. Sodium cyanide was acutely toxic to juvenile mussels, with a 96‐h median effective concentration (EC50) of 1.10 mg/L, although glochidia tolerated concentrations up to 10 mg/L. The EC50s for sodium chloride, Liquidow brine, Morton road salt, and Cargill road salt were not significantly different for tests within the same life stage and test duration (range, 1.66–4.92 g/L). These results indicate that cyanide‐containing anticaking agents do not exacerbate the toxicity of road salts, but that the use of road salts and brine solutions for deicing or dust control on roads may warrant further investigation. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1801–1806. © 2012 SETAC}, number={8}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Young, George B. and Jones, Jess W. and Hua, Dan and Lingenfelser, Susan F.}, year={2012}, month={Aug}, pages={1801–1806} } @article{mosher_cope_weber_kwak_shea_2012, title={Assessing Accumulation and Sublethal Effects of Lead in a Unionid Mussel}, volume={15}, ISSN={2472-2944}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v15i1.2012.60-68}, DOI={10.31931/fmbc.v15i1.2012.60-68}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Lead (Pb) contamination of the environment remains a global problem. Previous studies have demonstrated that Pb deposited onto roadside sediments from the past use of leaded gasoline in vehicles may be mobilized into rivers and streams, thereby resulting in exposure to aquatic biota. The aims of this study were to conduct a 28-day laboratory toxicity test with Pb and adult Eastern Elliptio (Elliptio complanata; family Unionidae) mussels to determine uptake kinetics and to assess several potential non-lethal biomarkers of Pb exposure. Mussels were collected from a relatively uncontaminated reference site and exposed to a control and eight concentrations of Pb (as lead nitrate) ranging from 1 to 251 µg/L, as a static renewal test. There were five replicates per treatment with one mussel per replicate. The hemolymph of mussels from four of the replicates was repeatedly sampled (days 7, 14, 21, and 28) for analysis of Pb and ion (Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+) concentrations. The mussels in the fifth replicate per treatment were only sampled on day 28 and served as a comparison to the repeatedly sampled mussels. The accumulation of Pb in mussel tissue was also evaluated during the study. No mussels died during the test. We found that measured concentrations of Pb in mussel hemolymph suggested regulation of the heavy metal up to 66 µg/L by day 14, whereas concentrations in tissue proved to be strongly correlated (R2 = 0.98; p < 0.0001) throughout the 28-day exposure, displaying concentration dependent uptake. The concentration of Pb in mussel hemolymph, which can be sampled and measured non-lethally, is a suitable marker of recent Pb exposure in mussels. In contrast, none of the ion concentrations measured in the hemolymph from the repeatedly sampled mussels was significantly changed with increasing concentrations of Pb, whereas the mussels from the fifth replicate sampled only on day 28 showed altered calcium concentrations. The activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), a demonstrated Pb-specific biomarker in vertebrates and some invertebrates, which was also evaluated as a potential endpoint in an initial evaluation for this study, proved to be an unsuitable biomarker in Elliptio complanata, with no detectable activity observed. This finding was in contrast to a second freshwater, but nonunionid bivalve tested, the Asian Clam Corbicula fluminea, which had detectable ALAD activity.}, number={1}, journal={Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Mosher, Shad and Cope, W. Gregory and Weber, Frank X. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Shea, Damian}, year={2012}, month={Mar}, pages={60} } @article{leprevost_storm_blanchard_asuaje_cope_2013, title={Engaging Latino Farmworkers in the Development of Symbols to Improve Pesticide Safety and Health Education and Risk Communication}, volume={15}, ISSN={1557-1912 1557-1920}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/S10903-012-9685-4}, DOI={10.1007/s10903-012-9685-4}, abstractNote={The working and living environments of farmworkers put them and their families at risk for pesticide exposure and, consequently, immediate and long-term health effects. In this study, visual materials for a pesticide toxicology safety and health curriculum were constructed by engaging farmworkers in various stages of symbol development. Twenty-seven farmworkers in two states participated in this descriptive case study through focused small group discussions and interviews. Our findings support the importance of vivid and realistic symbols, the effectiveness of a traffic-light symbol in communicating technical information to farmworkers, and the need to engage low-literacy end-users in the production of educational materials. This work informs the development of curricula for other vulnerable populations pertaining to a variety of health-related topics, as well as discussions surrounding regulatory proposals to revise the United States Worker Protection Standard.}, number={5}, journal={Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={LePrevost, Catherine E. and Storm, Julia F. and Blanchard, Margaret R. and Asuaje, Cesar R. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2013}, month={Oct}, pages={975–981} } @article{prochazka_cope_recio_2012, title={Genotoxic Response of Unionid Mussel Hemolymph to Hydrogen Peroxide and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons}, volume={15}, ISSN={2472-2944}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v15i2.2012.113-125}, DOI={10.31931/fmbc.v15i2.2012.113-125}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT The single cell gel electrophoresis or comet assay is widely used to detect DNA damage in isolated cells following exposure to genotoxic compounds. This assay, although commonly used with marine bivalve tissue and circulatory fluid, has received little use or demonstration in freshwater mussels of the order Unionida. Because such a large proportion (>70%) of this faunal group is globally imperiled and is being adversely impacted by environmental contaminants, including many genotoxicants, the aim of this study was to assess the applicability of the comet assay in unionid mussel hemolymph sampled non-lethally with a reference genotoxicant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of common environmental pollutants of genotoxic action. DNA damage was evaluated in samples of hemolymph from Elliptio complanata in both in vitro and in vivo exposures and quantified using the endpoints % tail DNA, or the percentage of DNA in the comet tail and OTM or olive tail moment, the product of the fraction of DNA in the tail and tail length. Hemocytes were isolated and the comet assay was performed on control, 160 µM H2O2, and PAH treated cells. From the in vitro exposures, 160 µM H2O2, as well as the 50 and 100 µg/L total PAH treatments yielded statistically significant (p < 0.05) levels of DNA damage, with the H2O2 yielding an average of 39.7 % tail DNA and 13.3 OTM and the two PAH treatments yielding 40.7 % and 38.6 % tail DNA, and 12.4 and 11.0 OTM, respectively. An in vivo PAH exposure with adult E. complanata did not detect a similar genotoxic response to that detected with in vitro exposure, indicating that additional research and evaluation may be necessary before implementing the widespread use of a non-lethal, unionid mussel hemolymph based genotoxicity screening tool for environmental biomonitoring.}, number={2}, journal={Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Prochazka, Sharon T. and Cope, W. Gregory and Recio, Leslie}, year={2012}, month={Sep}, pages={113} } @article{hazelton_cope_pandolfo_mosher_strynar_barnhart_bringolf_2012, title={Partial life-cycle and acute toxicity of perfluoroalkyl acids to freshwater mussels}, volume={31}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1002/etc.1866}, abstractNote={AbstractFreshwater mussels are among the most sensitive aquatic organisms to many contaminants and have complex life‐cycles that include several distinct life stages with unique contaminant exposure pathways. Standard acute (24–96 h) and chronic (28 d) toxicity tests with free larva (glochidia) and juvenile mussels are effective at generating data on contaminant effects at two discrete life stages but do not incorporate effects on brooded glochidia. We developed a novel partial life‐cycle assay that incorporates exposures to brooding adult female mussels and used this method in combination with acute toxicity tests to assess adverse effects of perfluoroctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA) on freshwater mussels. Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) were exposed to PFOS at two life stages: brooding glochidia (in marsupia) for 36 d and free glochidia in water for 24 h. In standard acute tests with glochidia (24–48 h exposures) and juveniles (48–96 h exposures) of fatmucket and black sandshell (Ligumia recta), glochidia were 8 to 25 times more sensitive than juveniles. Perfluoroctanesulfonic acid significantly reduced the duration of glochidia viability and reduced probability of metamorphosis at concentrations 3,000 times lower than the most sensitive acute endpoint (24‐h EC50). The partial life‐cycle test is adaptable to a variety of endpoints and research objectives and is useful for identifying adverse effects at contaminant concentrations below those required for an acute lethal response. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1611–1620. © 2012 SETAC}, number={7}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Hazelton, Peter D. and Cope, W. Gregory and Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Mosher, Shad and Strynar, Mark J. and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Bringolf, Robert B.}, year={2012}, month={Jul}, pages={1611–1620} } @article{choi_cope_harms_law_2012, title={Rapid decreases in salinity, but not increases, lead to immune dysregulation in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus(L.)}, volume={36}, ISSN={0140-7775}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.2012.01417.x}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2761.2012.01417.x}, abstractNote={AbstractRapid changes in salinity, as with other environmental stressors, can have detrimental effects on fish and may trigger increased susceptibility to disease. However, the precise mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. We examined the effects of sudden increases or decreases in salinity on teleost immune function using Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), as the fish model in a battery of bioassays of increasing immune system specificity. Two different salinity experiments were performed: one of increasing salinity (0 to 5, 10 and 20 g L−1) and one of decreasing salinity (20 to 15, 10 and 5 g L−1). Histopathology of anterior kidney, gills, gonads, intestines and liver of exposed fish was performed, but no remarkable lesions were found that were attributable to the salinity treatment regimes. The spleen was removed from each fish for analysis of cytokine expression, and peripheral blood was used for haematology, cortisol and phagocytosis assays. In the increasing salinity experiments, no significant changes were observed in any immune system assays. However, in the decreasing salinity experiments, lymphopenia, neutrophilia and monocytosis were observed in the peripheral blood without modification of the packed cell volume, plasma protein or plasma cortisol levels. Phagocytosis was increased in response to decreases in salinity from 20 g L−1 to 15 g L−1, 10 g L−1 and 5 g L−1, whereas phagocytic index was not significantly altered. Transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) transcription increased during the same decreases in salinity. However, the TGF‐β value at 5 g L−1 was less than those in the 15 and 10 g L−1 salinity treatments. Interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) transcription did not significantly respond to either salinity regime. In total, acute salinity changes appeared to trigger reactive dysregulation of the immune response in tilapia, a situation which, when combined with additional co‐occurring stressors such as sudden changes in temperature and/or dissolved oxygen, could make fish more susceptible to infectious diseases. Accordingly, these findings may help to explain how sudden environmental changes may initiate disease outbreaks and lead to critical declines in cultured or wild fish populations.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Fish Diseases}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Choi, K and Cope, W G and Harms, C A and Law, J M}, year={2012}, month={Nov}, pages={389–399} } @article{pandolfo_kwak_cope_2012, title={Thermal Tolerances of Freshwater Mussels and their Host Fishes: Species Interactions in a Changing Climate}, volume={15}, ISSN={2472-2944}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v15i1.2012.69-82}, DOI={10.31931/fmbc.v15i1.2012.69-82}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Rising environmental temperatures result from changes in land use and global climate and can cause significant shifts in the composition and distribution of species within communities. In freshwater systems, the larval life stage, glochidia, of Unionida mussels develops as an obligate parasite on host fish gills or fins before transforming into the juvenile stage and dropping to the sediment to complete the life cycle. Because of the relationship between freshwater mussels and their often specific host fish species, mussels are not only limited by their own variable thermal tolerances, but also by those of their host fish. Our intent was to compile data from available literature regarding thermal sensitivities of eight species of freshwater mussels and their host fishes, to determine if the community structure of these systems is at risk from rising environmental temperatures. Mussels were both more and less thermally sensitive than specific host fish species (2.9 °C mean absolute difference between mussel and host; range = 0 – 6.8 °C). In 62% of mussel-host fish comparisons, freshwater mussels were more thermally tolerant than their hosts (3.4 °C mean difference; range = 0.2 – 6.8 °C), suggesting that some mussels are effectively more stenothermic than tolerance criteria indicate, which may pose additional environmental risk. Further analysis revealed that variation in mussel thermal tolerance could not be attributed to mussel acclimation temperature, species, life stage, or mean host fish thermal tolerance, suggesting that mussel thermal tolerance is controlled by multiple interacting and complex factors. Our findings in this meta-analysis suggest that thermal effects of anthropogenic landscape alteration and climate change may be compounded for freshwater mussels via their obligate life cycle interaction with fish and highlight the importance of considering global change effects in a community context.}, number={1}, journal={Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2012}, month={Mar}, pages={69} } @inbook{cope_2011, place={Hoboken, NJ}, edition={4th}, title={Exposure classes: toxicants in air, water, soil, domestic, and occupational settings}, booktitle={A Textbook of Modern Toxicology}, publisher={John Wiley & Sons, Inc}, author={Cope, W.G.}, editor={Hodgson, E.Editor}, year={2011}, pages={31–47} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_babbs_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for Christmas trees}, number={AG-MED-16 and AG-MED-17}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Babbs, D. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_miller_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for apples}, number={AG-MED-18 and AG-MED-19}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Miller, G. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_miller_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for bell peppers}, number={AG-MED-11 and AG-MED-12}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Miller, G. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_miller_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for blueberries}, number={AG-MED-27 and AG-MED-28}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Miller, G. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_miller_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for cucumbers}, number={AG-MED-13 and AG-MED-14}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Miller, G. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_miller_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for grapes}, number={AG-MED-20 and AG-MED-21}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Miller, G. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_miller_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for landscape and turfgrass}, number={AG-MED-29 and AG-MED-30}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Miller, G. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_miller_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for strawberries}, number={AG-MED-31 and AG-MED-32}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Miller, G. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_babbs_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for sweetpotatoes}, number={AG-MED-9 and AG-MED-10}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Babbs, D. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_babbs_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for tobacco}, number={AG-MED-7 and AG-MED-8}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Babbs, D. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @book{leprevost_storm_asuaje_babbs_bunch_cope_2011, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and farmworker health toolkit for tomatoes}, number={AG-MED-22 and AG-MED-23}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={LePrevost, C.E. and Storm, J.F. and Asuaje, C. and Babbs, D. and Bunch, B. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2011} } @article{leprevost_blanchard_cope_2011, title={The Pesticide Risk Beliefs Inventory: A Quantitative Instrument for the Assessment of Beliefs about Pesticide Risks}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1660-4601"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8061923}, DOI={10.3390/ijerph8061923}, abstractNote={Recent media attention has focused on the risks that agricultural pesticides pose to the environment and human health; thus, these topics provide focal areas for scientists and science educators to enhance public understanding of basic toxicology concepts. This study details the development of a quantitative inventory to gauge pesticide risk beliefs. The goal of the inventory was to characterize misconceptions and knowledge gaps, as well as expert-like beliefs, concerning pesticide risk. This study describes the development and field testing of the Pesticide Risk Beliefs Inventory with an important target audience: pesticide educators in a southeastern U.S. state. The 19-item, Likert-type inventory was found to be psychometrically sound with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.780 and to be a valuable tool in capturing pesticide educators’ beliefs about pesticide risk, assessing beliefs in four key categories. The Pesticide Risk Beliefs Inventory could be useful in exploring beliefs about pesticide risks and in guiding efforts to address misconceptions held by a variety of formal and informal science learners, educators, practitioners, the agricultural labor force, and the general public.}, number={6}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH}, author={LePrevost, Catherine E. and Blanchard, Margaret R. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2011}, month={Jun}, pages={1923–1935} } @inbook{cope_hodgson_2011, place={Hoboken, NJ}, edition={4th}, title={Use classes: metals, agricultural chemicals, food additives and contaminants, toxins, solvents, therapeutic drugs, drugs of abuse, combustion products, and cosmetics}, booktitle={A Textbook of Modern Toxicology}, publisher={John Wiley & Sons, Inc}, author={Cope, W.G. and Hodgson, E.}, editor={Hodgson, E.Editor}, year={2011}, pages={49–75} } @article{cope_holliman_kwak_oakley_lazaro_shea_augspurger_law_henne_ware_et al._2011, title={Assessing water quality suitability for shortnose sturgeon in the Roanoke River, North Carolina, USA with an in situ bioassay approach}, volume={27}, ISSN={["0175-8659"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-78751690460&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1111/j.1439-0426.2010.01570.x}, abstractNote={Summary The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of water quality in the Roanoke River of North Carolina for supporting shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum, an endangered species in the United States. Fathead minnows Pimephales promelas were also evaluated alongside the sturgeon as a comparative species to measure potential differences in fish survival, growth, contaminant accumulation, and histopathology in a 28-day in situ toxicity test. Captively propagated juvenile shortnose sturgeon (total length 49 ± 8 mm, mean ± SD) and fathead minnows (total length 39 ± 3 mm, mean ± SD) were used in the test and their outcomes were compared to simultaneous measurements of water quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, total ammonia nitrogen, hardness, alkalinity, turbidity) and contaminant chemistry (metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides, current use pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls) in river water and sediment. In the in situ test, there were three non-riverine control sites and eight riverine test sites with three replicate cages (25 × 15-cm (OD) clear plexiglass with 200-μm tear-resistant Nitex® screen over each end) of 20 shortnose sturgeon per cage at each site. There was a single cage of fathead minnows also deployed at each site alongside the sturgeon cages. Survival of caged shortnose sturgeon among the riverine sites averaged 9% (range 1.7–25%) on day 22 of the 28-day study, whereas sturgeon survival at the non-riverine control sites averaged 64% (range 33–98%). In contrast to sturgeon, only one riverine deployed fathead minnow died (average 99.4% survival) over the 28-day test period and none of the control fathead minnows died. Although chemical analyses revealed the presence of retene (7-isopropyl-1-methylphenanthrene), a pulp and paper mill derived compound with known dioxin-like toxicity to early life stages of fish, in significant quantities in the water (251–603 ng L−1) and sediment (up to 5000 ng g−1 dry weight) at several river sites, no correlation was detected of adverse water quality conditions or measured contaminant concentrations to the poor survival of sturgeon among riverine test sites. Histopathology analysis determined that the mortality of the river deployed shortnose sturgeon was likely due to liver and kidney lesions from an unknown agent(s). Given the poor survival of shortnose sturgeon (9%) and high survival of fathead minnows (99.4%) at the riverine test sites, our study indicates that conditions in the Roanoke River are incongruous with the needs of juvenile shortnose sturgeon and that fathead minnows, commonly used standard toxicity test organisms, do not adequately predict the sensitivity of shortnose sturgeon. Therefore, additional research is needed to help identify specific limiting factors and management actions for the enhancement and recovery of this imperiled fish species.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY}, author={Cope, W.G. and Holliman, F.M. and Kwak, T.J. and Oakley, N.C. and Lazaro, P.R. and Shea, Damian and Augspurger, T. and Law, J.M. and Henne, J.P. and Ware, K.M. and et al.}, year={2011}, month={Feb}, pages={1–12} } @article{sackett_aday_rice_cope_buchwalter_2010, title={Does proximity to coal-fired power plants influence fish tissue mercury?}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1573-3017"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79952278475&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1007/s10646-010-0545-5}, abstractNote={Much of the mercury contamination in aquatic biota originates from coal-fired power plants, point sources that release mercury into the atmosphere. Understanding mercury dynamics is primarily important because of the toxic threat mercury poses to wildlife and humans through the consumption of contaminated fish. In this study, we quantified the relative importance of proximity to coal-fired power plants on mercury accumulation in two fish species of different trophic positions. Fish, water and sediment were collected and analyzed from 14 lakes, seven near to (<10 km) and seven far from (>30 km) coal-fired power plants. Lower tissue mercury and higher tissue selenium concentrations were measured in fish collected near power plants. Moreover, mercury accumulation in fish was driven by biotic characteristics (e.g., trophic position, total length, age), waterbody characteristics (e.g., pH, dissolved organic carbon and sulfate) and distance from power plants. Proximity to an atmospheric point-source of mercury and selenium, such as a coal-fired power plant, affects the quantities of mercury and selenium accumulated in fish tissue. Differences in accumulation are hypothesized to be driven in part by selenium-mitigated reductions in fish tissue mercury near power plants. Although reduced fish tissue mercury in systems near power plants may decrease mercury-specific risks to human consumers, these benefits are highly localized and the relatively high selenium associated with these tissues may compromise ecological health.}, number={8}, journal={ECOTOXICOLOGY}, author={Sackett, Dana K. and Aday, D. Derek and Rice, James A. and Cope, W. Gregory and Buchwalter, David}, year={2010}, month={Nov}, pages={1601–1611} } @article{bringolf_heltsley_newton_eads_fraley_shea_cope_2010, title={ENVIRONMENTAL OCCURRENCE AND REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL FLUOXETINE IN NATIVE FRESHWATER MUSSELS}, volume={29}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-77953583998&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1002/etc.157}, abstractNote={AbstractThe present study measured the occurrence, distribution, and bioaccumulation of fluoxetine in samples of water, polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS), sediment, and caged freshwater mussels at stream sites near a municipal wastewater treatment facility effluent discharge. We assessed the relation of the environmental concentrations to reproductive endpoints in mussels in acute laboratory tests. Concentrations of fluoxetine in water and POCIS samples were similar (<20% difference) within each site and were greatest in the effluent channel (104–119 ng/L), and decreased at 50 m and 100 m downstream. Likewise, concentrations of fluoxetine in sediment and mussel (Elliptio complanata) tissue were greatest in the effluent channel (17.4 ng/g wet wt for sediment and 79.1 ng/g wet wt for mussels). In 96‐h lab tests, fluoxetine significantly induced parturition of nonviable larvae from female E. complanata exposed to 300 µg/L (p = 0.0118) and 3,000 µg/L (p < 0.0001) compared to controls. Fluoxetine exposure at 300 µg/L (p = 0.0075) and 3,000 µg/L (p = 0.0001) also resulted in stimulation of lure display behavior in female Lampsilis fasciola and Lampsilis cardium, respectively. In male E. complanata, 3,000 µg fluoxetine/L significantly induced release of spermatozeugmata during a 48‐h exposure. These results suggest that fluoxetine accumulates in mussel tissue and has the potential to disrupt several aspects of reproduction in freshwater mussels, a faunal group recognized as one of the most imperiled in the world. Despite the disparity between measured environmental concentrations of fluoxetine and effects concentrations in our short‐term tests with these long‐lived animals, additional tests are warranted to evaluate the effects of long‐term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations and critical lifestages (e.g., juveniles). Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:1311–1318. © 2010 SETAC}, number={6}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Bringolf, Robert B. and Heltsley, Rebecca M. and Newton, Teresa J. and Eads, Chris B. and Fraley, Stephen J. and Shea, Damian and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2010}, month={Jun}, pages={1311–1318} } @article{mosher_cope_weber_shea_kwak_2012, title={Effects of lead on Na+, K+-ATPase and hemolymph ion concentrations in the freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata}, volume={27}, ISSN={1520-4081}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/tox.20639}, DOI={10.1002/tox.20639}, abstractNote={AbstractFreshwater mussels are an imperiled fauna exposed to a variety of environmental toxicants such as lead (Pb) and studies are urgently needed to assess their health and condition to guide conservation efforts. A 28‐day laboratory toxicity test with Pb and adult Eastern elliptio mussels (Elliptio complanata) was conducted to determine uptake kinetics and to assess the toxicological effects of Pb exposure. Test mussels were collected from a relatively uncontaminated reference site and exposed to a water‐only control and five concentrations of Pb (as lead nitrate) ranging from 1 to 245 μg/L in a static renewal test with a water hardness of 42 mg/L. Endpoints included tissue Pb concentrations, hemolymph Pb and ion (Na+, K+, Cl−, Ca2+) concentrations, and Na+, K+‐ATPase enzyme activity in gill tissue. Mussels accumulated Pb rapidly, with tissue concentrations increasing at an exposure‐dependent rate for the first 2 weeks, but with no significant increase from 2 to 4 weeks. Mussel tissue Pb concentrations ranged from 0.34 to 898 μg/g dry weight, were strongly related to Pb in test water at every time interval (7, 14, 21, and 28 days), and did not significantly increase after day 14. Hemolymph Pb concentration was variable, dependent on exposure concentration, and showed no appreciable change with time beyond day 7, except for mussels in the greatest exposure concentration (245 μg/L), which showed a significant reduction in Pb by 28 days, suggesting a threshold for Pb binding or elimination in hemolymph at concentrations near 1000 μg/g. The Na+, K+‐ATPase activity in the gill tissue of mussels was significantly reduced by Pb on day 28 and was highly correlated with tissue Pb concentration (R2 = 0.92; P = 0.013). The Na+, K+‐ATPase activity was correlated with reduced hemolymph Na+ concentration at the greatest Pb exposure when enzyme activity was at 30% of controls. Hemolymph Ca2+ concentration increased significantly in mussels from the greatest Pb exposure and may be due to remobilization from the shell in an attempt to buffer the hemolymph against Pb uptake and toxicity. We conclude that Na+, K+‐ATPase activity in mussels was adversely affected by Pb exposure, however, because the effects on activity were variable at the lower test concentrations, additional research is warranted over this range of exposures. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2012.}, number={5}, journal={Environmental Toxicology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Mosher, Shad and Cope, W. Gregory and Weber, Frank X. and Shea, Damian and Kwak, Thomas J.}, year={2012}, month={May}, pages={268–276} } @article{pandolfo_cope_arellano_2010, title={THERMAL TOLERANCE OF JUVENILE FRESHWATER MUSSELS (UNIONIDAE) UNDER THE ADDED STRESS OF COPPER}, volume={29}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1002/etc.92}, abstractNote={AbstractFreshwater mussels fulfill an essential role in aquatic communities, but are also one of the most sensitive and rapidly declining faunal groups in North America. Rising water temperatures, caused by global climate change or industrial discharges, can further challenge impaired unionid communities, but thermal stress is almost certainly not the only stressor affecting freshwater mussels. Metals, such as copper (Cu), are a common source of toxicant exposure in aquatic environments. The toxic effects of Cu on the early life stages of freshwater mussels have been well studied, and freshwater mussels are more sensitive to Cu than most aquatic organisms. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a sublethal copper concentration on the upper thermal tolerance of three species, Lampsilis siliquoidea, Potamilus alatus, and Ligumia recta, of juvenile freshwater mussels in 48‐ and 96‐h tests. Thermal tolerance was determined over a range of experimental temperatures (20–42°C) at three acclimation temperatures (17, 22, and 27°C). Median lethal temperatures (LT50s) were calculated in the absence and presence of Cu, and at 48 h ranged from 34.6 to 44.4°C (mean 37.7°C) without Cu, and from 33.8 to 38.9°C (mean 35.8°C) with Cu. The LT50s at 96 h ranged from 32.5 to 35.6°C (mean 34.5°C) without Cu and from 33.0 to 35.4°C (mean 34.2°C) with Cu. Potamilus alatus had a significantly lower 48 h LT50 with Cu than without Cu at the 22°C acclimation temperature; there were no other significant differences in LT50s attributed to Cu. Survival trends showed limited evidence of interactive effects between copper and temperature for all three species, suggesting the combined stress of elevated temperatures and copper exposure to freshwater mussels should be further explored. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:691–699. © 2009 SETAC}, number={3}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Arellano, Consuelo}, year={2010}, month={Mar}, pages={691–699} } @article{pandolfo_cope_arellano_bringolf_barnhart_hammer_2010, title={Upper thermal tolerances of early life stages of freshwater mussels}, volume={29}, ISSN={["0887-3593"]}, DOI={10.1899/09-128.1}, abstractNote={Abstract Freshwater mussels (order Unioniformes) fulfill an essential role in benthic aquatic communities, but also are among the most sensitive and rapidly declining faunal groups in North America. Rising water temperatures, caused by global climate change, industrial discharges, drought, or land development, could further challenge imperiled unionid communities. The aim of our study was to determine the upper thermal tolerances of the larval (glochidia) and juvenile life stages of freshwater mussels. Glochidia of 8 species of mussels were tested: Lampsilis siliquoidea, Potamilus alatus, Ligumia recta, Ellipsaria lineolata, Lasmigona complanata, Megalonaias nervosa, Alasmidonta varicosa, and Villosa delumbis. Seven of these species also were tested as juveniles. Survival trends were monitored while mussels held at 3 acclimation temperatures (17, 22, and 27°C) were exposed to a range of common and extreme water temperatures (20–42°C) in standard acute laboratory tests. The average median lethal temperature (LT50) among species in 24-h tests with glochidia was 31.6°C and ranged from 21.4 to 42.7°C. The mean LT50 in 96-h juvenile tests was 34.7°C and ranged from 32.5 to 38.8°C. Based on comparisons of LT50s, thermal tolerances differed among species for glochidia, but not for juveniles. Acclimation temperature did not affect thermal tolerance for either life stage. Our results indicate that freshwater mussels already might be living close to their upper thermal tolerances in some systems and, thus, might be at risk from rising environmental temperatures.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BENTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Arellano, Consuelo and Bringolf, Robert B. and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Hammer, Edward}, year={2010}, month={Sep}, pages={959–969} } @article{sackett_aday_rice_cope_2009, title={A Statewide Assessment of Mercury Dynamics in North Carolina Water Bodies and Fish}, volume={138}, ISSN={["0002-8487"]}, DOI={10.1577/t08-178.1}, abstractNote={AbstractMercury contamination of aquatic systems has received much attention recently because of potential health effects on humans and wildlife. Although the factors affecting mercury deposition, its conversion to biologically active methylmercury, and its bioaccumulation in aquatic systems have been identified, equivocal results for particular species and systems have hampered policy making. Our study addresses this problem through a comprehensive, statewide synthesis of the available data on fish mercury contamination in North Carolina and the environmental factors associated with methylmercury formation and transport through aquatic food webs. Using data collected by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and others, we examined the relationships between a suite of biotic and abiotic factors and tissue mercury concentrations in fish from North Carolina water bodies. Multivariate tests were conducted to create predictive models relating environmental variables to mercury levels in fish, and Akaike's information criterion was used to examine the relative strengths of the candidate models. The best model in our analyses (R2 = 0.81) included species, fish trophic status, ecoregion, and pH. Other important drivers of mercury accumulation were land use patterns (the percentage of the subbasin that is agricultural) and site type (swamps versus lakes, rivers, and bays). Although previous investigations have indicated similar individual relationships, our study is unique in that we examined the relative importance of a large number of biotic and abiotic variables across a range of environments, ecosystems, and species. The results of these analyses should help policymakers in making risk assessment decisions and serve as a template for future investigations.}, number={6}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Sackett, Dana K. and Aday, D. Derek and Rice, James A. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2009}, month={Nov}, pages={1328–1341} } @article{pandolfo_cope_arellano_2009, title={Heart rate as a sublethal indicator of thermal stress in juvenile freshwater mussels}, volume={154}, ISSN={["1531-4332"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.07.001}, abstractNote={Freshwater mussels (Unionoida) are one of the most sensitive and rapidly declining faunal groups in the world. Rising water temperatures, caused by industrial discharges, land development, or climate change can further challenge threatened unionid communities. The direct relationship between heart rate and temperature in ectotherms enables the use of heart rate as an indicator of whole-animal thermal stress. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of heart rate as an indicator of thermal stress in freshwater mussels. Seven species of juvenile mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea, Potamilus alatus, Ligumia recta, Ellipsaria lineolata, Megalonaias nervosa, Alasmidonta varicosa, and Villosa delumbis) were evaluated in response to a range of experimental temperatures (20–36 °C) at three acclimation temperatures (17, 22, and 27 °C). Heart rate was measured by direct visual observation through transparent mussel shells. The average heart rate for all 7 species at 20 °C was 55 bpm, with a range from 38 bpm (L. recta) to 65 bpm (P. alatus). L. recta and V. delumbis exhibited significant changes in heart rate with increasing temperature at each of the three acclimation temperatures. The use of heart rate appears to be a suitable indicator of thermal stress in some unionid mussels.}, number={3}, journal={COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Pandolfo, Tamara J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Arellano, Consuelo}, year={2009}, month={Nov}, pages={347–352} } @article{heise_bringolf_patterson_cope_ross_2009, title={Plasma Vitellogenin and Estradiol Concentrations in Adult Gulf Sturgeon from the Pascagoula River Drainage, Mississippi}, volume={138}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/T08-140.1}, abstractNote={AbstractGulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi are anadromous, the adults moving into rivers by early spring for spawning and migrating back to salt water in the fall. Because Gulf sturgeon lack readily discernable secondary sex characteristics, minimally invasive means, such as evaluation of plasma vitellogenin (an egg yolk protein precursor) and sex steroid hormones, have been used to determine gender. Our objectives were to explore the use of vitellogenin (Vtg) and estradiol (E2) to identify the gender of adult Gulf sturgeon captured in the Pascagoula River drainage and to determine whether these substances were useful in identifying which females would be spawning in a given spring. Our enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay detected Vtg in all samples at concentrations ranging from 5.47 to 7,634.2 μg/mL. For samples collected from March through May, the plasma Vtg concentrations generally clustered into one of two groups, low (<100 μg/mL) and high (>1,000 μg/mL). During the same months, plasma E2 values followed a similar pattern of separation into low (<0.5‐ng/mL) and high (>8‐ng/mL) concentrations. Based on the clear delineation of Vtg and E2 concentrations in spring‐captured sturgeon and comparison with previous studies in which gender was definitively determined, fish with high Vtg (>1,000‐μg/mL) and high E2 (>8‐ng/mL) concentrations were putatively identified as spawning females. The plasma Vtg concentrations in 10 known males (based on the release of milt) were 13‐86 μg/mL. Our work provides the first information regarding Vtg and E2 concentrations for threatened Gulf sturgeon throughout the freshwater phase of their life cycle. It is currently unclear whether the Vtg concentrations measured in male Gulf sturgeon are within a normal range for this species in the wild or are a biomarker of endocrine disruption due to exposure to xenobiotic substances.}, number={5}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Heise, Ryan J. and Bringolf, Robert B. and Patterson, Rhonda and Cope, W. Gregory and Ross, Stephen T.}, year={2009}, month={Sep}, pages={1028–1035} } @article{hewitt_kwak_cope_pollock_2009, title={Population Density and Instream Habitat Suitability of the Endangered Cape Fear Shiner}, volume={138}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/t08-038.1}, abstractNote={AbstractThe Cape Fear shinerNotropis mekistocholasis an endangered minnow endemic to the Cape Fear River basin of North Carolina; only five populations remain, all of which are declining. Determining the population densities and habitat requirements of the species is critical to its survival and restoration planning. We conducted population surveys (four sites) and instream microhabitat suitability analyses (six sites) on the Rocky and Deep rivers to (1) estimate the population density of Cape Fear shiners, (2) quantify the use, availability, and suitability of microhabitats, and (3) determine whether physical habitat alterations were a likely cause of local extirpations and whether instream habitat limits the occurrence and density of this species. Density ranged from 795 fish/ha to 1,393 fish/ha (4,768–7,392 fish/km) at three of the sites surveyed and was too low to be estimated at the fourth site. The fish most frequently occupied riffles and velocity breaks at moderate depths over gravel substrates. It occupied microhabitats nonrandomly with respect to availability; the microhabitats occupied were similar between spawning and postspawning seasons but shallower during spawning. Comparisons of suitable habitat among sites where the fish is extant, rare, or extirpated suggest that suitable substrate (gravel) is lacking where the fish is rare and that suitable microhabitat combinations, especially with respect to water velocity, are rare at all sites. Potential reintroduction sites where the species is rare or extirpated were shallower than extant sites, and one site where the fish is extirpated contained suitable physical habitat but lacked adequate water quality. Another site where the species is rare would require substrate alteration to improve conditions. The survival and recovery of the Cape Fear shiner is dependent on the protection of remaining suitable physical habitat with approaches that consider instream habitat, water quality, and biotic interactions as well as human uses and alterations of the river, riparian zone, and watershed.}, number={6}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Hewitt, Amanda H. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Pollock, Kenneth H.}, year={2009}, month={Nov}, pages={1439–1457} } @book{debusk_hunt_osmond_cope_2009, place={Raleigh}, title={Water quality of rooftop runoff: implications for residential water harvesting systems}, number={AG-588-18W}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={DeBusk, K.M. and Hunt, W.F. and Osmond, D.L. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2009} } @article{tullos_penrose_jennings_cope_2009, title={Analysis of functional traits in reconfigured channels: implications for the bioassessment and disturbance of river restoration}, volume={28}, ISSN={["0887-3593"]}, DOI={10.1899/07-122.1}, abstractNote={Abstract Channel reconfiguration is a popular but controversial approach to river restoration, and ecological responses to channel reconfiguration have not been rigorously assessed. We compared physical-habitat variables, taxonomic and functional-trait diversities, taxonomic composition, and functional-trait abundances between 24 pairs of upstream (control) and downstream reconfigured (restored) reaches in 3 catchment land uses (urban, agricultural, rural) across the North Carolina Piedmont. We asked how environmental filters and functional species traits might provide insight to biological responses to restoration. Taxonomic and functional-trait differences between control and restored reaches suggest that restoration affected aquatic assemblages only in agricultural and rural catchments. Our results highlight 2 important aspects of channel reconfiguration as a restoration practice. First, responses to restoration differ between agricultural/rural and urban catchments, possibly because of modified hydrological regimes caused by urbanization. Second, we find evidence that channel reconfiguration disturbs food and habitat resources in stream ecosystems. Taxa sensitive to disturbance were characteristic of control reaches, whereas insensitive taxa were characteristic of restored reaches. Abundances of traits related to reproduction (voltinism, development, synchronization of emergence, adult life span), mobility (occurrence in drift, maximum crawling rate, swimming ability), and use of resources (trophic and habitat preferences) differed significantly between control and recently restored reaches. Our results suggest that taxa in restored habitats are environmentally selected for traits favored in disturbed environments. Our work suggests how functional-trait approaches could benefit the practice of river restoration when used to target restoration activities and to develop informed expectations regarding recovery following restoration activities.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BENTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY}, author={Tullos, Desiree D. and Penrose, David L. and Jennings, Gregory D. and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2009}, month={Mar}, pages={80–92} } @article{cope_bringolf_mosher_rice_noble_edwards_2008, title={Controlling nitrogen release from farm ponds with a subsurface outflow device: Implications for improved water quality in receiving streams}, volume={95}, ISSN={["0378-3774"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.agwat.2008.01.015}, abstractNote={Abstract The retention of nutrients in farm ponds has many potential benefits, including reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus (promoters of eutrophication) in receiving streams. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial subsurface pond outflow control device (Pond Management System™) on nutrient retention in farm ponds. Four ponds of similar size and water chemistry in the upper Tar River basin of North Carolina, USA were studied; three were equipped with the pond outflow control device and one was retained without a device (normal surface outflow) that served as a reference site. Water samples were collected monthly from each pond at 0.3 m intervals from the surface to 2.1 m at a fixed station adjacent to the pond standpipe and from the pond outflow pipe from March to October 2005. The water samples were analyzed for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), chlorophyll a, and a suite of other physicochemical variables. In ponds with the subsurface outflow device, the mean N concentrations in the outflow were substantially less (6.2–20.7%) than concentrations at the pond surface. Concentrations of N in the outflow were similar to N concentrations at intermediate pond depths (0.9–1.5 m), the depth of the outflow devices, indicating water was drawn from these depths and that N was being retained in the surface layers of the pond. Also, mean water temperatures were 1.1–1.9 °C cooler at intermediate depths compared to the surface, suggesting potential application of the outflow device for minimizing warm water outflows to receiving streams. These results provide evidence that under these conditions a subsurface pond outflow device can reduce nutrient release to receiving streams, thereby increasing overall stream water quality.}, number={6}, journal={AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT}, author={Cope, W. Gregory and Bringolf, Robert B. and Mosher, Shad and Rice, James A. and Noble, Richard L. and Edwards, H. Clifton}, year={2008}, month={Jun}, pages={737–742} } @article{cope_bringolf_buchwalter_newton_ingersoll_wang_augspurger_dwyer_barnhart_neves_et al._2008, title={Differential exposure, duration, and sensitivity of unionoidean bivalve life stages to environmental contaminants}, volume={27}, ISSN={["0887-3593"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-47049104907&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1899/07-094.1}, abstractNote={Abstract Freshwater mussels (superfamily Unionoidea) are in serious global decline and in urgent need of protection and conservation. The declines have been attributed to a wide array of human activities resulting in pollution and water-quality degradation, and habitat destruction and alteration. Linkages among poor water quality, pollutant sources, and mussel decline in rivers and streams have been associated with results of laboratory-based tests of specific pollutants. However, uncertainties remain about the relationship of laboratory data to actual contaminant exposure routes for various mussel species, life stages, and in the habitats occupied during these exposures. We evaluated the pathways of exposure to environmental pollutants for all 4 life stages (free glochidia, encysted glochidia, juveniles, adults) of unionoidean mussels and found that each life stage has both common and unique characteristics that contribute to observed differences in exposure and sensitivity. Free glochidia typically are exposed only briefly (e.g., seconds to days) through surface water, whereas adults sustain exposure over years to decades through surface water, pore water, sediment, and diet. Juveniles live largely burrowed in the sediment for the first 0 to 4 y of life. Thus, sediment, pore water, and diet are the predominant exposure routes for this life stage, but surface water also might contribute to exposure during certain periods and environmental conditions. The obligate parasitic stage (encysted glochidia stage) on a host fish might be exposed from surface water while partially encysted or from toxicants in host-fish tissue while fully encysted. Laboratory methods for testing for acute and chronic exposures in water have advanced, and toxicant-specific information has increased in recent years. However, additional research is needed to understand interactions of life history, habitat, and long-term exposure to contaminants through water, pore water, sediment, and diet so that the risks of environmental exposures can be properly assessed and managed.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BENTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY}, author={Cope, W. Gregory and Bringolf, Robert B. and Buchwalter, David B. and Newton, Teresa J. and Ingersoll, Christopher G. and Wang, Ning and Augspurger, Tom and Dwyer, F. James and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Neves, Richard J. and et al.}, year={2008}, month={Jun}, pages={451–462} } @article{holliman_davis_bogan_kwak_cope_levine_2008, title={Magnetic resonance imaging of live freshwater mussels (Unionidae)}, volume={127}, ISSN={["1744-7410"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1744-7410.2008.00143.x}, abstractNote={Abstract. We examined the soft tissues of live freshwater mussels, Eastern elliptio Elliptio complanata, via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), acquiring data with a widely available human whole‐body MRI system. Anatomical features depicted in the profile images included the foot, stomach, intestine, anterior and posterior adductor muscles, and pericardial cavity. Noteworthy observations on soft tissue morphology included a concentration of lipids at the most posterior aspect of the foot, the presence of hemolymph‐filled fissures in the posterior adductor muscle, the presence of a relatively large hemolymph‐filled sinus adjacent to the posterior adductor muscle (at the ventral‐anterior aspect), and segmentation of the intestine (a diagnostic description not reported previously in Unionidae). Relatively little is known about the basic biology and ecological physiology of freshwater mussels. Traditional approaches for studying anatomy and tissue processes, and for measuring sub‐lethal physiological stress, are destructive or invasive. Our study, the first to evaluate freshwater mussel soft tissues by MRI, clarifies the body plan of unionid mussels and demonstrates the efficacy of this technology for in vivo evaluation of the structure, function, and integrity of mussel soft tissues.}, number={4}, journal={INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY}, author={Holliman, F. Michael and Davis, Denise and Bogan, Arthur E. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Levine, Jay F.}, year={2008}, pages={396–402} } @article{bringolf_cope_mosher_barnhart_shea_2007, title={Acute and chronic toxicity of glyphosate compounds to glochidia and juveniles of Lampsilis Siliquoidea (Unionidae)}, volume={26}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-35348838337&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1897/06-519R1.1}, abstractNote={AbstractNative freshwater mussels (family Unionidae) are among the most imperiled faunal groups in the world. Factors contributing to the decline of mussel populations likely include pesticides and other aquatic contaminants; however, there is a paucity of data regarding the toxicity of even the most globally distributed pesticides, including glyphosate, to mussels. Therefore, the toxicity of several forms of glyphosate, its formulations, and a surfactant (MON 0818) used in several glyphosate formulations was determined for early life stages of Lampsilis siliquoidea, a native freshwater mussel. Acute and chronic toxicity tests were performed with a newly established American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard guide for conducting toxicity tests with freshwater mussels. Roundup®, its active ingredient, the technical‐grade isopropylamine (IPA) salt of glyphosate, IPA alone, and MON 0818 (the surfactant in Roundup formulations) were each acutely toxic to L. siliquoidea glochidia. MON 0818 was most toxic of the compounds tested and the 48‐h median effective concentration (0.5 mg/L) for L. siliquoidea glochidia is the lowest reported for any aquatic organism tested to date. Juvenile L. siliquoidea were also acutely sensitive to MON 0818, Roundup, glyphosate IPA salt, and IPA alone. Technical‐grade glyphosate and Aqua Star® were not acutely toxic to glochidia or juveniles. Ranking of relative chronic toxicity of the glyphosate‐related compounds to juvenile mussels was similar to the ranking of relative acute toxicity to juveniles. Growth data from chronic tests was largely inconclusive. In summary, these results indicate that L. siliquoidea, a representative of the nearly 300 freshwater mussel taxa in North America, is among the most sensitive aquatic organisms tested to date with glyphosate‐based chemicals and the surfactant MON 0818.}, number={10}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Bringolf, Robert B. and Cope, W. Gregory and Mosher, Shad and Barnhart, M. Chris and Shea, Damian}, year={2007}, month={Oct}, pages={2094–2100} } @article{bringolf_cope_barnhart_mosher_lazaro_shea_2007, title={Acute and chronic toxicity of pesticide formulations (atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and permethrin) to glochidia and juveniles of Lampsilis Siliquoidea}, volume={26}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-35348815483&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1897/06-555R.1}, abstractNote={AbstractFreshwater mussels are among the most imperiled faunal groups in North America; approximately 67% of the nearly 300 native freshwater mussel species (family Unionidae) are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Despite evidence that glochidia and juvenile life stages are highly sensitive to some chemical contaminants, the effects of pesticides on early life stages of unionid mussels are largely unknown. In the United States, pesticide registration is based on toxicity data of the active ingredient, not formulations as they are sold and applied. Some pesticide formulations, however, are more toxic than their active ingredient (technical‐grade pesticide) alone because of the presence of surfactants, adjuvants, or other ingredients in the formulation. The objective of the present study was to compare the toxicity of active ingredients of several current‐use pesticides (atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and permethrin) to the toxicity of pesticide formulations to glochidia and juvenile life stages of a freshwater mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea). The atrazine formulation (Aatrex) was more toxic than technical‐grade atrazine in chronic tests with juvenile L. siliquoidea. For other pesticides, acute and chronic toxicity of technical‐grade pesticides were similar to the toxicity of pesticide formulations. Median effective concentrations for chlorpyrifos were 0.43 mg/L for glochidia at 48 h, 0.25 mg/L for juveniles at 96 h, and 0.06 mg/L for juveniles at 21 d. Atrazine and permethrin as well as their formulations did not cause significant acute toxicity in glochidia or juveniles at exposure concentrations approaching water‐solubility limits. Additional research is needed on other pesticides with different modes of action, on the role of different routes of exposure, and with other species of unionid mussels to evaluate similarities of toxic response.}, number={10}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Bringolf, Robert B. and Cope, W. Gregory and Barnhart, M. Chris and Mosher, Shad and Lazaro, Peter R. and Shea, Damian}, year={2007}, month={Oct}, pages={2101–2107} } @article{bringolf_cope_eads_lazaro_barnhart_shea_2007, title={Acute and chronic toxicity of technical-grade pesticides to glochidia and juveniles of freshwater mussels (Unionidae)}, volume={26}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-35348863633&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1897/06-522R.1}, abstractNote={AbstractChemical contaminants are among many potential factors involved in the decline of freshwater mussel populations in North America, and the effects of pesticides on early life stages of unionid mussels are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the toxicity of technical‐grade current‐use pesticides to glochidia and juvenile life stages of freshwater mussels. We performed acute toxicity tests with glochidia (five species) and juveniles (two species) exposed to a suite of current‐use pesticides including herbicides (atrazine and pendimethalin), insecticides (fipronil and permethrin), and a reference toxicant (NaCl). Because of limited availability of test organisms, not all species were tested with all pesticides. Toxicity tests with fungicides (chlorothalonil, propiconazole, and pyraclostrobin) were performed with one species (Lampsilis siliquoidea). Lampsilis siliquoidea glochidia and juveniles were highly sensitive to the fungicides tested but the technical‐grade herbicides and insecticides, at concentrations approaching water solubility, were not acutely toxic to this or the other unionid species. In a 21‐d chronic test with four‐month‐old juvenile L. siliquoidea, the 21‐d median effective concentration (EC50) with atrazine was 4.3 mg/L and in atrazine treatments ≥3.8 mg/L mussel growth was significantly less than controls. The relatively high sensitivity of L. siliquoidea to chlorothalonil, propiconazole, and pyraclostrobin is similar to that reported for other aquatic organisms commonly used for toxicity testing. The relative risk associated with acute exposure of early life stages of mussels to technical‐grade atrazine, pendimethalin, fipronil, and permethrin is likely low; however, survival and growth results with juvenile L. siliquoidea indicate that chronic exposure to high concentrations (≥3.8 mg/L) of atrazine may have the potential to impact mussel populations and warrants further investigation.}, number={10}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Bringolf, Robert B. and Cope, W. Gregory and Eads, Chris B. and Lazaro, Peter R. and Barnhart, M. Christopher and Shea, Damian}, year={2007}, month={Oct}, pages={2086–2093} } @article{chaves_shea_cope_2007, title={Environmental fate of chlorothalonil in a Costa Rican banana plantation}, volume={69}, ISSN={["1879-1298"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-34548803918&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.03.048}, abstractNote={The environmental fate of chlorothalonil (CHT) and its metabolites were studied under field-variable conditions in a commercial banana plantation in Costa Rica. Weather conditions were representative of a tropical environment and the fungicide applications were typical of those in banana production. The test plots were treated with Bravo 720 at 1.2 l ha(-1) of formulated product. Field persistence of CHT in soil and on banana leaves was measured during five consecutive months and after three aerial applications of the fungicide. Residues were analyzed in soil, sediment, water, banana leaves and drift cards by gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. In soil and on the surface of banana leaves, CHT dissipated rapidly with half-lives of 2.2 and 3.9 d, respectively. Soil residues persisted and were detected 85 d after application. The main metabolite found in soil, 4-hydroxy-chlorothalonil, accounted for approximately 65% of residues detected and was measured up to 6d after application.}, number={7}, journal={CHEMOSPHERE}, author={Chaves, Alicia and Shea, Damian and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2007}, month={Oct}, pages={1166–1174} } @article{holliman_kwak_cope_levine_2007, title={Exposure of Unionid Mussels to Electric Current: Assessing Risks Associated with Electrofishing}, volume={136}, ISSN={0002-8487 1548-8659}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/T07-006.1}, DOI={10.1577/T07-006.1}, abstractNote={AbstractElectric current is routinely applied in freshwater for scientific sampling of fish populations (i.e., electrofishing). Freshwater mussels (families Margaritiferidae and Unionidae) are distributed worldwide, but their recent declines in diversity and abundance constitute an imperilment of global significance. Freshwater mussels are not targeted for capture by electrofishing, and any exposure to electric current is unintentional. The effects of electric shock are not fully understood for mussels but could disrupt vital physiological processes and represent an additional threat to their survival. In a controlled laboratory environment, we examined the consequences of exposure to two typical electrofishing currents, 60‐Hz pulsed DC and 60‐Hz AC, for the survival of adult and early life stages of three unionid species; we included fish as a quality control measure. The outcomes suggest that electrical exposure associated with typical electrofishing poses little direct risk to freshwater mussels. That is, adult mussel survival and righting behaviors (indicators of sublethal stress) were not adversely affected by electrical exposure. Glochidia (larvae that attach to and become parasites on fish gills or fins) showed minimal immediate reduction in viability after exposure. Metamorphosis from glochidia to free‐living juvenile mussels was not impaired after electric current simulated capture‐prone behaviors (stunning) in infested host fish. In addition, the short‐term survival of juvenile mussels was not adversely influenced by exposure to electric current. Any minimal risk to imperiled mussels must be weighed at the population level against the benefits gained by using the gear for scientific sampling of fish in the same waters. However, scientists sampling fish by electrofishing should be aware of mussel reproductive periods and processes in order to minimize the harmful effects to host fish, especially in areas where mussel conservation is a concern.}, number={6}, journal={Transactions of the American Fisheries Society}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Holliman, F. Michael and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Levine, Jay F.}, year={2007}, month={Nov}, pages={1593–1606} } @article{wang_augspurger_barnhart_bidwell_cope_dwyer_geis_greer_ingersoll_kane_et al._2007, title={Intra- and interlaboratory variability in acute toxicity tests with glochidia and juveniles of freshwater mussels (Unionidae)}, volume={26}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1897/06-520R.1}, abstractNote={AbstractThe present study evaluated the performance and variability in acute toxicity tests with glochidia and newly transformed juvenile mussels using the standard methods outlined in American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Multiple 48‐h toxicity tests with glochidia and 96‐h tests with juvenile mussels were conducted within a single laboratory and among five laboratories. All tests met the test acceptability requirements (e.g., ≥90% control survival). Intralaboratory tests were conducted over two consecutive mussel‐spawning seasons with mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) or fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) using copper, ammonia, or chlorine as a toxicant. For the glochidia of both species, the variability of intralaboratory median effective concentrations (EC50s) for the three toxicants, expressed as the coefficient of variation (CV), ranged from 14 to 27% in 24‐h exposures and from 13 to 36% in 48‐h exposures. The intralaboratory CV of copper EC50s for juvenile fatmucket was 24% in 48‐h exposures and 13% in 96‐h exposures. Interlaboratory tests were conducted with fatmucket glochidia and juveniles by five laboratories using copper as a toxicant. The interlaboratory CV of copper EC50s for glochidia was 13% in 24‐h exposures and 24% in 48‐h exposures, and the interlaboratory CV for juveniles was 22% in 48‐h exposures and 42% in 96‐h exposures. The high completion success and the overall low variability in test results indicate that the test methods have acceptable precision and can be performed routinely.}, number={10}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Wang, Ning and Augspurger, Tom and Barnhart, M. Chris and Bidwell, Joseph R. and Cope, W. Gregory and Dwyer, F. James and Geis, Steve and Greer, I. Eugene and Ingersoll, Chris G. and Kane, Cynthia M. and et al.}, year={2007}, month={Oct}, pages={2029–2035} } @inbook{newton_cope_2006, place={Boca Raton, FL}, title={Biomarker Responses of Unionid Mussels to Environmental Contaminants}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781420042856.ch10}, DOI={10.1201/9781420042856.ch10}, booktitle={Freshwater Bivalve Ecotoxicology}, publisher={CRC Press}, author={Newton, Teresa and Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2006}, month={Nov}, pages={257–284} } @article{moody_turner_shea_levine_cope_2006, title={Clam gape sensing equipment for water monitoring}, volume={3}, journal={Sea Technology}, author={Moody, R. and Turner, P. and Shea, D. and Levine, J.F. and Cope, W.G.}, year={2006}, pages={28–32} } @book{barwick_cope_barwick_mchenry_mcrae_mitchell_2006, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Enhancing your waterfront property and aquatic resources}, institution={North Carolina State University Press}, author={Barwick, R.D. and Cope, W.G. and Barwick, D.H. and McHenry, D. and McRae, S. and Mitchell, W.A.}, year={2006} } @article{hewitt_cope_kwak_augspurger_lazaro_shea_2006, title={Influence of water quality and associated contaminants on survival and growth of the endangered Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas)}, volume={25}, ISSN={["0730-7268"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-33750596805&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1897/05-569r.1}, abstractNote={AbstractThe Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas) is a recently described cyprinid species endemic to the Cape Fear River Basin of North Carolina, USA. Only five populations of the fish remain; thus, it is listed as endangered by the U.S. Government. Determining habitat requirements of the Cape Fear shiner, including water quality and physical habitat, is critical to the survival and future restoration of the species. To assess water quality in the best remaining and in the historical habitats, we conducted a 28‐d in situ bioassay with captively propagated Cape Fear shiners. Fish were deployed at 10 sites in three rivers, with three cages per site and 20 fish per cage. Water and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for selected metals and organic contaminants. Passive sampling devices also were deployed at each site and analyzed for organic contaminants at test termination. Fish survival, growth (as measured by an increase in total length), and contaminant accumulation were measured on completion of the bioassay. Survival of caged fish averaged 76% (range, 53–100%) and varied significantly among sites and rivers. Caged fish accumulated quantities of cadmium, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and other persistent contaminants over the test duration and grew significantly at only four sites. No apparent relations were observed between exposure to or accumulation of a specific contaminant and reduced growth or survival of fish among all the sites. However, a generalized hazard assessment showed that certain sites exhibited trends in cumulative contaminant presence with reduced fish survival and growth, thereby enabling the identification of the existing riverine habitat most suitable for reintroduction or population augmentation of this endangered fish.}, number={9}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Hewitt, Amanda H. and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J. and Augspurger, Tom and Lazaro, Peter R. and Shea, Damian}, year={2006}, month={Sep}, pages={2288–2298} } @article{mccarthy_bales_cope_shea_2007, title={Modeling pesticide fate in a small tidal estuary}, volume={200}, ISSN={["0304-3800"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-36248954131&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.07.013}, abstractNote={Abstract The exposure analysis modeling system (EXAMS), a pesticide fate model developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was modified to model the fate of the herbicides atrazine and metolachlor in a small tidally dominated estuary (Bath Creek) in North Carolina, USA where freshwater inflow accounts for only 3% of the total flow. The modifications simulated the changes that occur during the tidal cycle in the estuary, scenarios that are not possible with the original EXAMS model. Two models were created within EXAMS, a steady-state model and a time-variant tidally driven model. The steady-state model accounted for tidal flushing by simply altering freshwater input to yield an estuary residence time equal to that measured in Bath Creek. The tidal EXAMS model explicitly incorporated tidal flushing by modifying the EXAMS code to allow for temporal changes in estuary physical attributes (e.g., volume). The models were validated with empirical measurements of atrazine and metolachlor concentrations in the estuary shortly after herbicide application in nearby fields and immediately following a rain event. Both models provided excellent agreement with measured concentrations. The steady-state EXAMS model accurately predicted atrazine concentrations in the middle of the estuary over the first 3 days and under-predicted metolachlor by a factor of 2–3. The time-variant, tidally driven EXAMS model accurately predicted the rise and plateau of both herbicides over the 6-day measurement period. We have demonstrated the ability of these modified EXAMS models to be useful in predicting pesticide fate and exposure in small tidal estuaries. This is a significant improvement and expansion of the application of EXAMS, and given the wide use of EXAMS for surface water quality modeling by both researchers and regulators and the ability of EXAMS to interface with terrestrial models (e.g., pesticide root zone model) and bioaccumulation models, we now have an easily-accessible and widely accepted means of modeling chemical fate in estuaries.}, number={1-2}, journal={ECOLOGICAL MODELLING}, author={McCarthy, Annette M. and Bales, Jerad D. and Cope, W. Gregory and Shea, Damian}, year={2007}, month={Jan}, pages={149–159} } @book{ingersoll_augspurger_barnhart_bidwell_black_cope_bringolf_dwyer_greer_keller_2006, place={Conshohocken, PA}, series={ASTM Annual Book of Standards}, title={Standard guide for conducting laboratory toxicity tests with freshwater mussels}, number={ASTM E2455-05}, publisher={American Society for Testing and materials (ASTM)}, author={Ingersoll, C.G. and Augspurger, T. and Barnhart, C. and Bidwell, J. and Black, M. and Cope, W.G. and Bringolf, R.B. and Dwyer, F.J. and Greer, I.E. and Keller, A.}, year={2006}, collection={ASTM Annual Book of Standards} } @inbook{shea_cope_thorsen_2006, place={Boca Raton, FL}, title={Toxicokinetics of Environmental Contaminants in Freshwater Bivalves}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781420042856.ch8}, DOI={10.1201/9781420042856.ch8}, booktitle={Freshwater Bivalve Ecotoxicology}, publisher={CRC Press}, author={Shea, Damian and Cope, W. Gregory and Thorsen, Waverly}, year={2006}, month={Nov}, pages={169–213} } @article{heltsley_cope_shea_bringolf_kwak_malindzak_2005, title={Assessing organic contaminants in fish: Comparison of a nonlethal tissue sampling technique to mobile and stationary passive sampling devices}, volume={39}, ISSN={["1520-5851"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-26044466979&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1021/es051037s}, abstractNote={As concerns mount over the human health risks associated with consumption of fish contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, there exists a need to better evaluate fish body burdens without lethally sampling many of the important commercial and sport species of interest. The aim of this study was to investigate two novel methods for estimating organic contaminants in fish that are a concern for both fish and human health. The removal of fish adipose fins, commonly done in mark-recapture studies with salmonid species, was evaluated as a nonlethal sampling technique to estimate concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), relative to those found in muscle fillets of the same fish. We also assessed the efficacy of using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as a mobile passive sampling device (PSD) attached directly to wild flathead catfish for assessing location-specific exposure of the fish to waterborne contaminants. The results of this study have demonstrated for the first time that organic contaminant concentrations in adipose fin were highly correlated (R2 = 0.87) with muscle fillet concentrations, indicating that the adipose fin of certain fishes may be used to accurately estimate tissue concentrations without the need for lethal sampling. Moreover, mobile PSDs attached directly to fish and used here for the first time accurately estimated ultratrace concentrations of waterborne PCBs and OCPs without any apparent harm to the fish, indicating that there are no practical or physical barriers to the use of mobile passive samplers attached to aquatic organisms. Among the many practical implications of this research, two potential priority items include the analysis of organic contaminants in farm-raised and sport fish intended for human consumption, without the economic and population losses associated with lethally sampling fish to obtain tissues, and identifying specific areas where fish may be accumulating large portions of their contaminant burden.}, number={19}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY}, author={Heltsley, RM and Cope, WG and Shea, D and Bringolf, RB and Kwak, TJ and Malindzak, EG}, year={2005}, month={Oct}, pages={7601–7608} } @article{allen_green_bolton_jaykus_cope_2005, title={Detection and identification of histamine-producing bacteria associated with harvesting and processing mahimahi and yellowfin tuna}, volume={68}, ISSN={["1944-9097"]}, DOI={10.4315/0362-028X-68.8.1676}, abstractNote={Histamine poisoning is one of the most common chemically induced seafoodborne illnesses reported in the United States today. The causative agents are biogenic amines, commonly produced by gram-negative bacteria. The purpose of this study was to detect and identify histamine-producing bacteria associated with standard industry practices during the harvesting, receiving, and processing of mahimahi and yellowfin tuna in North Carolina. Twenty-nine composite samples were obtained from 18 mahimahi and 11 yellowfin tuna and analyzed for their histamine content. No sample analyzed exceeded 2 ppm histamine, the lower detection limit. Composite fish muscle and environmental samples were screened (n = 386) for the presence of histamine-producing bacteria. Twenty-six percent (145) of 549 isolates selected on the basis of their morphological characteristics tested positive on Niven's media. Sixty-three Niven-positive isolates were gram negative, and 58 were gram positive. Of the 43 isolates tested further, 5 were confirmed as histamine producers, and all 5 produced at low levels (< 250 ppm in 48 h at > 15 degrees C). Three gram-negative and two gram-positive isolates were identified as Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus kloosii, respectively. This study revealed that gram-negative bacteria might not be solely responsible for histamine production in at-risk fish. The confirmation of histamine-producing bacteria demonstrates the potential risk for histamine production. However, no detectable levels were found in the composite fish muscle samples analyzed even though 60% of the yellowfin tuna harvested did not meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulatory hazard analysis critical control point guidelines for temperature reduction. Therefore, no seafood safety risks were found under the standard industry practices observed in this study.}, number={8}, journal={JOURNAL OF FOOD PROTECTION}, author={Allen, DG and Green, DP and Bolton, GE and Jaykus, LA and Cope, WG}, year={2005}, month={Aug}, pages={1676–1682} } @book{bernhardt_buhler_cope_langley_mcginnis_meggs_norton_storm_sumner_branigan_2005, place={Greenville, NC}, title={Pesticide Related Illness and Health Issues}, institution={Eastern Area Health Education Center, Office of Continuing Medical Education, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University}, author={Bernhardt, J.H. and Buhler, W.G. and Cope, W.G. and Langley, R.L. and McGinnis, K. and Meggs, W. and Norton, D. and Storm, J.F. and Sumner, D. and Branigan, A.}, year={2005} } @article{cope_bartsch_hightower_2006, title={Population dynamics of zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) during the initial invasion of the Upper Mississippi River, USA}, volume={72}, ISSN={["1464-3766"]}, DOI={10.1093/mollus/eyi063}, abstractNote={The aim of this study was to document and model the population dynamics of zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) in Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR), USA, for five consecutive years (1992–1996) following their initial discovery in September 1991. Artificial substrates (concrete blocks, 0.49 m 2 surface area) were deployed on or around the first of May at two sites within each of two habitat types (main channel border and contiguous backwater). Blocks were removed monthly (30 + 10 d) from the end of May to the end of October to obtain density and growth information. Some blocks deployed in May 1995 were retrieved in April 1996 to obtain information about overwinter growth and survival. The annual density of zebra mussels in Pool 8 of the UMR increased from 3.5/m 2 in 1992 to 14,956/m 2 in 1996. The average May – October growth rate of newly recruited individuals, based on a von Bertalanffy growth model fitted to monthly shell-length composition data, was 0.11 mm/d. Model estimates of the average survival rate varied from 21 to 100% per month. Estimated recruitment varied substantially among months, with highest levels occurring in September – October of 1994 and 1996, and in July of 1995. Recruitment and density in both habitat types increased by two orders of magnitude in 1996. Follow-up studies will be necessary to assess the long-term stability of zebra mussel populations in the UMR; this study provides the critical baseline information needed for those future comparisons.}, journal={JOURNAL OF MOLLUSCAN STUDIES}, author={Cope, WG and Bartsch, MR and Hightower, JE}, year={2006}, month={May}, pages={179–188} } @article{gustafson_stoskopf_showers_cope_eads_linnehan_kwak_andersen_levine_2005, title={Reference ranges for hemolymph chemistries from Elliptio complanata of North Carolina}, volume={65}, ISSN={["1616-1580"]}, DOI={10.3354/dao065167}, abstractNote={Hemolymph chemistries may be useful nonlethal measures of bivalve health. The prognostic value of hemolymph, however, depends on a comparison of chemistry results to reference ranges from healthy individuals. Currently, knowledge of expected hemolymph values in healthy and unhealthy freshwater mussels is extremely limited. The purpose of this study was to develop a set of reference ranges for clinical evaluation of hemolymph from a freshwater mussel species common to southeastern USA. We collected hemolymph from 380 Elliptio complanata from 19 apparently healthy populations from northwest of Raleigh, North Carolina, during May through July 2001. We present reference ranges for hemolymph parameters ammonia, glucose, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bicarbonate, protein and cell count, and for tissue glycogen. We compare the subpopulations of mussels from regions with an agricultural riparian buffer to those surrounded predominantly by forested lands. We further present correlations noted between hemolymph chemistries and physical or physiologic parameters. The only statistically significant differences between populations contiguous to agricultural and forested lands were in hemolymph calcium and glucose concentrations. Other statistically significant correlations identified were between gravidity and hemolymph protein concentration and tissue glycogen content, as well as between gravidity and parasite burden, and between shell length and hemolymph glucose, AST, calcium and bicarbonate concentrations. The results of this study will aid the interpretation of health measures from populations of E. complanata of similar geographic and seasonal origin.}, number={2}, journal={DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS}, author={Gustafson, LL and Stoskopf, MK and Showers, W and Cope, G and Eads, C and Linnehan, R and Kwak, TJ and Andersen, B and Levine, JF}, year={2005}, month={Jun}, pages={167–176} } @article{bringolf_kwak_cope_larimore_2005, title={Salinity tolerance of flathead catfish: Implications for dispersal of introduced populations}, volume={134}, ISSN={["0002-8487"]}, DOI={10.1577/T04-195.1}, abstractNote={AbstractThe flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris is a large predatory fish that has been introduced widely beyond its indigenous range to the detriment of many native fish communities. It disperses rapidly within and among river systems, but its potential to use saltwater or brackish waters for migration and exploitation of marine prey resources is unknown. We evaluated the salinity tolerance of juvenile flathead catfish exposed to NaCl and synthetic seawater (0–34‰) in direct‐transfer acute toxicity tests. The 96‐h median lethal concentration (LC50) for fish exposed to NaCl at 18°C was a salinity of 10.0‰ with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 9.0–11.1‰, whereas the 96‐h LC50 for fish in synthetic seawater (Instant Ocean) at 18°C was 14.5‰ (95% CI, 13.7–15.5‰). To determine whether fish could survive the transition from freshwater to brackish water and then back to freshwater, fish were transferred from freshwater at 18°C to water with a salinity of 8, 11, or 14‰ for 24 h and then returned to freshwater for 48 h. Fish exposed to synthetic seawater with a salinity of 8 or 11‰ for 24 h had more than 95% survival for 48 h after transfer to freshwater; however, no fish transferred directly to synthetic seawater with a salinity of 14‰ survived the 24‐h exposure period. Additional acclimation tests with fish that were exposed to synthetic seawater in which salinity was increased daily by 4‰ yielded an LC50 of 15.8‰. Our results provide evidence that flathead catfish could tolerate exposure to many brackish waters along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States and that the dispersal of introduced flathead catfish populations among rivers may not be limited by estuarine salinities.}, number={4}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Bringolf, RB and Kwak, TJ and Cope, WG and Larimore, MS}, year={2005}, month={Jul}, pages={927–936} } @article{neal_bacheler_noble_shea_cope_2005, title={The mystery of Dos Bocas Reservoir, Puerto Rico: Explaining extreme spatial heterogeneity in largemouth bass distribution}, volume={41}, number={4}, journal={Caribbean Journal of Science}, author={Neal, J. W. and Bacheler, N. M. and Noble, R. L. and Shea, D. and Cope, W. G.}, year={2005}, pages={804–814} } @book{storm_cope_buhler_mcginnis_2005, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Understanding the Agricultural Health Study. An accredited online course for private pesticide applicator certification training in North Carolina}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service and North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services}, author={Storm, J.F. and Cope, W.G. and Buhler, W.G. and McGinnis, K.}, year={2005} } @article{thorsen_cope_shea_2004, title={Bioavailability of PAHs: Effects of soot carbon and PAH source}, volume={38}, ISSN={["1520-5851"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-1842728707&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1021/es0306056}, abstractNote={The bioavailability of 38 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds was determined through calculation of biota-sediment-accumulation factors (BSAF). BSAF values were calculated from individual PAH concentrations in freshwater mussel, marine clam, and sediment obtained from field and laboratory bioaccumulation studies. Sediment that was amended with different types of soot carbon (SC) was used in some of the bioaccumulation experiments. BSAF values for petrogenic PAH were greater than those for pyrogenic PAH (e.g., 1.57 +/- 0.53 vs 0.25 +/- 0.23, respectively), indicating that petrogenic PAH are more bioavailable than pyrogenic PAH (p < 0.05). This trend was consistent among marine and freshwater sites. Increased SC content of sediment resulted in a linear decrease in the bioavailability of pyrogenic PAHs (r2 = 0.85). The effect of increasing SC content on petrogenic PAH was negligible. SC was considered as an additional sorptive phase when calculating BSAF values, and using PAH-SC partition coefficients from the literature, we obtained unreasonably large BSAF values for all petrogenic PAH and some pyrogenic PAH. This led us to conclude that a quantitative model to assess bioavailability through a combination of organic carbon and soot carbon sorption is not applicable among field sites with a wide range of soot carbon fractions and PAH sources, at least given our current knowledge of PAH-SC partitioning. Our data offer evidence that many factors including analysis of a full suite of PAH analytes, PAH hydrophobicity, sediment organic carbon content, sediment soot carbon content, and PAH source are importantto adequately assess PAH bioavailability in the environment.}, number={7}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY}, author={Thorsen, WA and Cope, WG and Shea, D}, year={2004}, month={Apr}, pages={2029–2037} } @article{thorsen_forestier_sandifer_lazaro_cope_shea_2004, title={Elimination rate constants of 46 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the unionid mussel, Elliptio complanata}, volume={47}, ISSN={["0090-4341"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-4644281509&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1007/s00244-004-3186-y}, abstractNote={Elimination rate constants (k2), biological half-lives (t(1/2)), and the time required to reach 95% of steady-state (t95) are reported for 46 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including both parent and alkyl homologues, for the freshwater unionid mussel, Elliptio complanata. Elimination rate constants generally follow first-order kinetics and range from 0.04/day (d) for perylene to 0.26/d for 2,6-dimethylnapthalene, half-lives range from 2.6 to 16.5 d, and t95 values range from 11.3 to 71.3 d. These values compare well with other k2, t(1/2), and t95 values reported in the literature for PAHs and other classes of hydrophobic organic contaminants. A linear regression of k2 versus log Kow demonstrates dependence of PAH elimination on hydrophobicity, as measured by an r2 value of 0.83, and produces the following regression equation: k2 = -0.06 (log Kow) + 0.44. This study provides evidence that mussels experiencing different forms of physiological stress (e.g., handling stress and fungal or bacterial growth) can exhibit large variation in toxicokinetic parameters. These results are particularly relevant to the extrapolation of laboratory results to field situations.}, number={3}, journal={ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY}, author={Thorsen, WA and Forestier, D and Sandifer, T and Lazaro, PR and Cope, WG and Shea, D}, year={2004}, month={Oct}, pages={332–340} } @misc{cope_2004, title={Exposure Classes, Toxicants in Air, Water, Soil, Domestic and Occupational Settings}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/0471646776.ch4}, DOI={10.1002/0471646776.ch4}, abstractNote={Air, water and soil are addressed as the primary media for human exposure to various classes of chemical toxicants in environmental, domestic, and occupational settings. The historic and present status of air pollution and air quality are summarized, followed by an introduction to the major classes of soil and water pollutants, including their sources, exposure routes, and potential adverse health effects. Classes of occupational toxicants are addressed by their route of exposure and permissible levels, followed by specific examples of concern.}, journal={A Textbook of Modern Toxicology}, publisher={John Wiley & Sons, Inc.}, author={Cope, W. Gregory}, year={2004}, month={Mar}, pages={31–48} } @book{storm_cope_buhler_mcginnis_2004, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Understanding the Agricultural Health Study, Part 1: Overview}, number={AG-MED-24}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Storm, J.F. and Cope, W.G. and Buhler, W.G. and McGinnis, K.}, year={2004} } @book{storm_cope_buhler_mcginnis_2004, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Understanding the Agricultural Health Study, Part 2: Pesticide Exposure}, number={AG-MED-25}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Storm, J.F. and Cope, W.G. and Buhler, W.G. and McGinnis, K.}, year={2004} } @book{storm_cope_buhler_mcginnis_2004, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Understanding the Agricultural Health Study, Part 3: Health Findings}, number={AG-MED-26}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Storm, J.F. and Cope, W.G. and Buhler, W.G. and McGinnis, K.}, year={2004} } @inbook{cope_leidy_hodgson_2004, place={Hoboken, NJ}, edition={3rd}, title={Use classes: metals, agricultural chemicals, food additives and contaminants, toxins, solvents, therapeutic drugs, drugs of abuse, combustion products, and cosmetics}, booktitle={A Textbook of Modern Toxicology}, publisher={John Wiley & Sons, Inc}, author={Cope, W.G. and Leidy, R.B. and Hodgson, E.}, editor={Hodgson, E.Editor}, year={2004}, pages={49–74} } @article{greseth_cope_rada_waller_bartsch_2003, title={Biochemical composition of three species of unionid mussels after emersion}, volume={69}, ISSN={["1464-3766"]}, DOI={10.1093/mollus/69.2.101}, abstractNote={Freshwater mussels are emersed (exposed to air) during conservation activities such as surveys and relocations. Success of these activities depends upon the ability of mussels to survive emersion and to re-burrow in the substratum. We evaluated the acute sublethal effects of emersion on three species of unionid mussels [pocketbook, Lampsilis cardium (Rafinesque, 1820); pimpleback, Quadrula pustulosa pustulosa (I. Lea, 1831); spike, Elliptio dilatata (Rafinesque, 1820)] by measuring three biochemicals (carbohydrate, lipid, protein) indicative of biochemical function and energy storage. Mussels were acclimated in water at 25°C and exposed to five air temperatures (15, 20, 25, 35 and 45°C) for 15, 30 and 60 min. After emersion, mussels were returned to water at 25°C and observed for 14 days. Samples of mantle tissue were taken after the 14-day postexposure period and analysed for carbohydrate, lipid and protein. Three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not reveal consistent trends in carbohydrate, lipid or protein concentrations due to sex of mussels, duration of emersion, air temperature or their interaction terms that indicated biological compensation to stress. Overall mean carbohydrate concentrations were greatest (range 447‐615 mg/g dry wt) among the species, followed by protein (179‐289 mg/g dry wt) and lipids (26.7‐38.1 mg/g dry wt). These results have positive implications for conducting conservation activities, because emersion over the range of temperatures (15‐35°C) and durations (15‐60 min) examined did not appear acutely harmful to mussels.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF MOLLUSCAN STUDIES}, author={Greseth, SL and Cope, WG and Rada, RG and Waller, DL and Bartsch, MR}, year={2003}, month={May}, pages={101–106} } @article{cope_hove_waller_hornbach_bartsch_cunningham_dunn_kapuscinski_2003, title={Evaluation of relocation of unionid mussels to in situ refugia}, volume={69}, ISSN={["1464-3766"]}, DOI={10.1093/mollus/69.1.27}, abstractNote={The aim of this study was to evaluate the recovery and survival of four species of unionid mussles [pimpleback, Quadrula pustulosa pustulosa (I. Lea, 1831); spike, Elliptio dilatata (Rafinesque, 1820); Higgins eye, Lampsilis higginsii (I. Lea, 1857); and pocketbook, Lampsilis cardium (Rafinesque, 1820)] that were experimentally relocated to in situ refugia in the St Croix River of Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA. In 1996, 150 mussels of each of the first three species (450 total) were relocated to three 5 � 5 m study grids (Site A), one near Lakeland, Minnesota, which served as a source-site control, and two in the experimental refuge 48 km upstream, near Franconia, Minnesota. In a second relocation in 1997, L. cardium was substituted for L. higginsii and 150 mussels of this and each of the other two species (450 total), were relocated to two study grids (Site B). The source site control was near Sunrise, Minnesota and the experimental refuge was 14 km downstream near Almelund, Minnesota. Mussel recovery, survival and substratum characteristics were evaluated annually at Site A for 2 years and for 3 years at Site B. Mean annual recovery of all three species ranged from 90 to 100% at Site A, and from 34 to 70% at site B. The mean annual survival of recaptured mussels ranged from 85 to 100% at Site A, and from 88 to 100% at Site B. The textural characteristics of the substratum differed significantly between the control and the two refuge locations at the beginning of the study, but did not differ from this initial status among subsequent years at Site A. At Site B, there was a significant shift in textural characteristics from large to smaller fractions over the four years. The relatively high survival of mussels during this study demonstrates the importance of proper handling and transport protocols when relocating mussels and the selection of suitable relocation habitat with stable substratum. When established correctly, in situ refugia may be a viable tool for preserving unionid mussels.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF MOLLUSCAN STUDIES}, author={Cope, WG and Hove, MC and Waller, DL and Hornbach, DJ and Bartsch, MR and Cunningham, LA and Dunn, HL and Kapuscinski, AR}, year={2003}, month={Feb}, pages={27–34} } @book{cope_rice_bryant_harris_2003, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Help protect our waters: stop the invaders! A full-color educational poster on aquatic nuisance species in North Carolina}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Rice, J.A. and Bryant, S.L. and Harris, F.A.}, year={2003} } @book{cope_allen_sutton_chaves_stern_storm_buhler_2003, place={Raleigh, NC}, edition={6pp each}, title={Pesticides and human health: grapes}, number={AG-MED-20 and AG-MED-21}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Allen, R.A. and Sutton, T.B. and Chaves, A. and Stern, J.D. and Storm, J.F. and Buhler, W.G.}, year={2003} } @book{cope_sanders_louws_walgenbach_chaves_stern_storm_buhler_2003, place={Raleigh, NC}, edition={6pp each}, title={Pesticides and human health: tomatoes}, number={AG-MED-22 and AG-MED-23}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Sanders, D.C. and Louws, F.J. and Walgenbach, J.F. and Chaves, A. and Stern, J.D. and Storm, J.F. and Buhler, W.G.}, year={2003} } @article{cope_newton_gatenby_2003, title={Review of techniques to prevent introduction of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) during native mussel (Unionoidea) conservation activities}, volume={22}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Shellfish Research}, author={Cope, W. G. and Newton, T. J. and Gatenby, C. M.}, year={2003}, pages={177–184} } @article{augspurger_keller_black_cope_dwyer_2003, title={Water quality guidance for protection of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) from ammonia exposure}, volume={22}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1897/02-339}, abstractNote={AbstractAmmonia toxicity data for freshwater mussels (Unionidae), a significantly imperiled taxa, were used to derive estimates of concentrations that would not likely be harmful in acute and chronic exposures and to assess the protectiveness of current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) water quality criteria to this family of organisms. Thirty acute (24–96‐h) median lethal concentrations (LC50s), covering 10 species in eight unionid genera, were used to calculate genus mean acute values (GMAVs) ranging from 2.56 to 8.97 mg/L total ammonia as N at pH 8. Freshwater mussels are at the sensitive end of the range when added to the GMAVs from the database used to derive the U.S. EPA criteria maximum concentration (CMC). We derived two estimates of acute exposure water quality guidance for the protection of freshwater mussels (CMCFM) by a recalculation of the CMC after adding freshwater mussel GMAVs to the U.S. EPA data set. The CMCFMs of 1.75 and 2.50 mg/L total ammonia as N at pH 8 average 60% less than the U.S. EPA CMC of 5.62 mg/L total ammonia as N at pH 8 for application when salmonids are present. These values average about 75% less than the CMC for application when salmonids are absent. No chronic ammonia exposure data existed for unionids. Thus, we applied a range of estimated acute:chronic ratios to the acute toxicity data set, expanded with the freshwater mussel GMAVs, to estimate continuous ammonia concentrations that may be protective of freshwater mussels. These estimates ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 mg/L total ammonia as N at pH 8, about 20 to 75% less than the U.S. EPA criteria continuous concentration (CCC) of 1.24 mg/L total ammonia as N at pH 8 and 25°C. The current numeric criteria for ammonia may not be protective of mussels, more than half of whose nearly 300 species are in decline in North America. While the CMCFM and CCCFM are not equivalent to revised U.S. EPA criteria, they are offered as interim guidance for the protection of freshwater mussels.}, number={11}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Augspurger, T and Keller, AE and Black, MC and Cope, WG and Dwyer, FJ}, year={2003}, month={Nov}, pages={2569–2575} } @book{bogan_cope_alderman_savidge_2002, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={A workbook and key to the freshwater bivalves of North Carolina}, institution={North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University}, author={Bogan, A.E. and Cope, W.G. and Alderman, J. and Savidge, T.}, year={2002} } @article{doran_cope_rada_sandheinrich_2001, title={Acetylcholinesterase inhibition in the threeridge mussel (Amblema plicata) by chlorpyrifos: Implications for biomonitoring}, volume={49}, ISSN={["0147-6513"]}, DOI={10.1006/eesa.2000.2036}, abstractNote={The effects of chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorus insecticide, were examined on the activity of the nervous system enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the threeridge mussel Amblema plicata in a 24-day laboratory test. Thirty-six mussels in each of seven treatments (18 mussels per duplicate) were exposed to chlorpyrifos (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 mg/L), a solvent (acetone), and a solvent-free (well water) control for 12, 24, or 96 h. The activity of AChE was measured in the anterior adductor muscle of eight mussels from each treatment after exposure. To assess potential latent effects, six mussels from each treatment were removed after 24 h of exposure and transferred to untreated water for a 21-day holding period; AChE activity was measured on three mussels from each treatment at 7 and 21 days of the holding period. The activity of AChE in chlorpyrifos-exposed mussels did not differ from controls after 12 or 24 h of exposure (t- test, P>0.05), but was significantly less than controls after 96 h (t- test, P=0.01). AChE activity did not vary among mussels at 24 h of exposure (i.e., Day 0 of holding period) and those at Day 7 and Day 21 of the holding period. Overall changes in AChE activity of mussels during the test were unrelated to individual chlorpyrifos concentrations and exposure times (repeated measure ANOVA; (P=0.06). A power analysis revealed that the sample size must be increased from 2 to 5 replicates (8 to 20 mussels per time interval and test concentration) to increase the probability of detecting significant differences in AChE activity. This calculated increase in sample size has potential implications for future biomonitoring studies with chlorpyrifos and unionid mussels.}, number={1}, journal={ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY}, author={Doran, WJ and Cope, WG and Rada, RG and Sandheinrich, MB}, year={2001}, month={May}, pages={91–98} } @article{naimo_wiener_cope_bloom_2000, title={Bioavailability of sediment-associated mercury to Hexagenia mayflies in a contaminated floodplain river}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1205-7533"]}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-57-5-1092}, abstractNote={We examined the bioavailability of mercury in sediments from the contaminated Sudbury River (Massachu- setts, U.S.A.). Mayfly nymphs (Hexagenia) were exposed in four 21-day bioaccumulation tests to contaminated and ref- erence sediments (treatments) from reservoirs, flowing reaches, palustrine wetlands, and a riverine lake. Mean total mercury (SHg) ranged from 880 to 22 059 ng·g dry weight -1 in contaminated sediments and from 90 to 272 ng·g -1 in reference sediments. Mean final concentrations of methyl mercury (MeHg) in test water were greatest (8-47 ng Hg·L -1 ) in treatments with contaminated wetland sediments, which had mean SHg ranging from 1200 to 2562 ng·g -1 .I n may- flies, final mean concentrations of MeHg were highest in treatments with contaminated wetland sediments (122-183 ng Hg·g -1 ), intermediate in treatments with contaminated sediments from reservoirs, flowing reaches, and a riverine lake (75-127 ng Hg·g -1 ), and lowest in treatments with reference sediments (32-41 ng Hg·g -1 ). We conclude that the poten- tial entry of MeHg into the benthic food chain was greater in contaminated palustrine wetlands than in the contami-}, number={5}, journal={CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES}, author={Naimo, TJ and Wiener, JG and Cope, WG and Bloom, NS}, year={2000}, month={May}, pages={1092–1102} } @inbook{cope_2000, place={Philadelphia, PA}, title={Contaminants in Wildlife}, booktitle={Environmental Health Secrets}, publisher={Hanley & Belfus, Inc}, author={Cope, W.G.}, editor={Williams, L.K. and Langley, R.L.Editors}, year={2000}, pages={130–133} } @article{bartsch_waller_cope_gutreuter_2000, title={Emersion and thermal tolerances of three species of unionid mussels: Survival and behavioral effects}, volume={19}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Shellfish Research}, author={Bartsch, M. R. and Waller, D. L. and Cope, W. G. and Gutreuter, S.}, year={2000}, pages={233–240} } @article{naimo_cope_monroe_farris_milam_2000, title={Influence of diet on survival, growth, and physiological condition of fingernail clams Musculium transversum}, volume={19}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Shellfish Research}, author={Naimo, T. J. and Cope, W. G. and Monroe, E. M. and Farris, J. L. and Milam, C. D.}, year={2000}, pages={23–28} } @book{doll_cope_burkholder_2000, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Recreational water quality: a fact sheet for coastal vacationers and water_dependent businesses}, institution={North Carolina Sea Grant Press}, author={Doll, B.A. and Cope, W.G. and Burkholder, J.M.}, year={2000} } @article{naimo_cope_bartsch_2000, title={Sediment-contact and survival of fingernail clams: Implications for conducting short-term laboratory tests}, volume={15}, ISSN={1520-4081 1522-7278}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1522-7278(2000)15:1<23::aid-tox4>3.0.co;2-5}, DOI={10.1002/(sici)1522-7278(2000)15:1<23::aid-tox4>3.0.co;2-5}, abstractNote={Porewater toxicity tests have been used as indicators of whole sediment toxicity. However, many species commonly tested in porewater predominately reside in the water column and otherwise have little to no direct contact with sediment and associated porewater. We assessed the feasibility of porewater toxicity tests with fingernail clams Musculium transversum, a benthic macroinvertebrate that inhabits soft bottom sediments and feeds by filtering surface and porewater. Fingernail clams were exposed to water or sediment in a 96 h laboratory test with a 5×2 factorial experimental design. The five treatments included sediments from four sites in the Mississippi River and one sediment‐free control (well water). In all treatments, clams were exposed to the sediments or water either directly (no enclosure) or indirectly (enclosure, suspended above the sediment surface). There were three replicates for each of the ten treatment combinations. Overall, survival of fingernail clams did not vary among the five treatments (p=0.36). In treatments without enclosures, survival of clams in the sediment‐free control was not significantly different (p=0.34) from the sediment‐containing treatments. Survival of clams in the sediment‐free control averaged 85%—suggesting that direct sediment contact is not necessary for survival in short‐term tests. In contrast, survival of clams in the sediment‐containing treatments differed significantly (p=0.03) between exposures with (mean, 77%) and without (mean, 89%) enclosures. Thus, fingernail clams may provide an alternative species for evaluating benthic macroinvertebrates in short‐term laboratory porewater tests. However, more information on their physiological requirements and the development of sublethal endpoints is recommended before their use in tests of longer duration. ©2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 15: 23–27, 2000}, number={1}, journal={Environmental Toxicology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Naimo, Teresa J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Bartsch, Michelle R.}, year={2000}, pages={23–27} } @article{cope_bartsch_rada_balogh_rupprecht_young_johnson_1999, title={Bioassessment of mercury, cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyls, and pesticides in the upper Mississippi river with zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)}, volume={33}, ISSN={["1520-5851"]}, DOI={10.1021/es9902165}, abstractNote={Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were sampled from artificial substrates deployed from May 30 to October 19, 1995, at 19 locks and dams from Minneapolis, MN, to Muscatine, IA. Analyses of composite tissue samples of zebra mussels (10−20-mm length) revealed accumulation of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during a 143-d exposure period. Concentrations of total Hg ranged from 2.6 to 6.1 ng/g wet weight and methylmercury (CH3Hg) from 1.0 to 3.3 ng/g wet weight. About 50% (range 30−70%) of the mean total Hg in zebra mussels was CH3Hg. Cadmium ranged from 76 to 213 ng/g wet weight. Concentrations of total PCBs (Aroclor 1254) in zebra mussels varied longitudinally (range 1000−7330 ng/g lipid weight), but the composition of PCB congeners (total of 21 measured) was similar throughout the river. Chlordane and dieldrin were the only two pesticides detected of the 15 analyzed. Zebra mussels are sentinels of contaminant bioavailability in the Upper Mississippi River and may be an i...}, number={24}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY}, author={Cope, WG and Bartsch, MR and Rada, RG and Balogh, SJ and Rupprecht, JE and Young, RD and Johnson, DK}, year={1999}, month={Dec}, pages={4385–4390} } @article{bartsch_cope_rada_1999, title={Effects of cadmium-spiked sediment on cadmium accumulation and bioturbation by nymphs of the burrowing mayfly Hexagenia bilineata}, volume={109}, ISSN={["0049-6979"]}, DOI={10.1023/A:1005089601201}, number={1-4}, journal={WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION}, author={Bartsch, MR and Cope, WG and Rada, RG}, year={1999}, month={Jan}, pages={277–292} } @book{cope_avery_storm_luginbuhl_1999, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and human health: Christmas trees}, number={AG-MED-16 and AG-MED-17}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Avery, R.C. and Storm, J.F. and Luginbuhl, R.C.}, year={1999} } @book{cope_avery_storm_luginbuhl_1999, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and human health: apples}, number={AG-MED-18 and AG-MED-19}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Avery, R.C. and Storm, J.F. and Luginbuhl, R.C.}, year={1999} } @book{cope_avery_storm_luginbuhl_1999, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and human health: tobacco}, number={AG-MED-15}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Avery, R.C. and Storm, J.F. and Luginbuhl, R.C.}, year={1999} } @book{cope_avery_storm_luginbuhl_1998, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and human health: cucumbers}, number={AG-MED-13 and AG-MED-14}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Avery, R.C. and Storm, J.F. and Luginbuhl, R.C.}, year={1998} } @book{cope_avery_storm_luginbuhl_1998, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and human health: green peppers}, number={AG-MED-11 and AG-MED 12}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Avery, R.C. and Storm, J.F. and Luginbuhl, R.C.}, year={1998} } @book{cope_avery_storm_luginbuhl_1998, place={Raleigh, NC}, title={Pesticides and human health: sweet potatoes}, number={AG-MED-9 and AG-MED-10}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Avery, R.C. and Storm, J.F. and Luginbuhl, R.C.}, year={1998} } @book{cope_avery_storm_luginbuhl_1998, place={Raleigh, NC}, edition={6pp each}, title={Pesticides and human health: tobacco}, number={AG-MED-7 and AG-MED-8}, institution={North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service Press}, author={Cope, W.G. and Avery, R.C. and Storm, J.F. and Luginbuhl, R.C.}, year={1998} } @article{cope_bartsch_marking_1997, title={Efficacy of candidate chemicals for preventing attachment of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1552-8618"]}, DOI={10.1897/1551-5028(1997)016<1930:EOCCFP>2.3.CO;2}, number={9}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY}, author={Cope, WG and Bartsch, MR and Marking, LL}, year={1997}, month={Sep}, pages={1930–1934} } @article{cope_bartsch_hayden_1997, title={Longitudinal Patterns in Abundance of the Zebra Mussel(Dreissena polymorpha)in the Upper Mississippi River}, volume={12}, ISSN={0270-5060 2156-6941}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02705060.1997.9663531}, DOI={10.1080/02705060.1997.9663531}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT We assessed the abundance of zebra mussels in the upper Mississippi River during 1995, four years after they were first found in the river. Samplers were deployed from May 30 to October 19, 1995, at 19 lock and dam facilities in the upper Mississippi River from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Muscatine, Iowa. Zebra mussels were found at every lock and dam except the two sites farthest upstream (Minneapolis). Generally, densities of zebra mussels were greatest at sites 161 km and farther downstream of the Minneapolis area. The greatest mean mussel density was 11,432/m2 at Fulton, Illinois.}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Freshwater Ecology}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Cope, W. Gregory and Bartsch, Michelle R. and Hayden, Ronald R.}, year={1997}, month={Jun}, pages={235–238} } @article{cope_wiener_steingraeber_1996, title={Test system for exposing fish to resuspended, contaminated sediment}, volume={91}, ISSN={0269-7491}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0269-7491(95)00054-2}, DOI={10.1016/0269-7491(95)00054-2}, abstractNote={We describe a new test system for exposing fish to resuspended sediments and associated contaminants. Test sediments were resuspended by revolving test chambers on rotating shafts driven by an electric motor. The timing, speed, and duration of test-chamber revolution were controlled by a rheostat and electronic timer. Each chamber held 45 litres of water and accommodated about 49 g of test fish. The system described had three water baths, each holding six test chambers. We illustrate the performance of this system with results from a 28-day test in which juvenile bluegills Lepomis macrochirus were exposed to resuspended, riverine sediments differing in texture and cadmium content. The test had one sediment-free control and five sediment treatments, with three replicates (chambers) per treatment and 25 fish per replicate. Two-thirds (30 litres) of the test water and sediment in each chamber was renewed weekly. The mean concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) did not vary among treatments; the grand-mean TSS in the five sediment treatments was 975 mg litre(-1), similar to the target TSS of 1000 mg litre(-1). At the end of the test, an average of 50% of the introduced cadmium was associated with the suspended sediment compartment, whereas the filtered (0.45 microm) water contained 0.4% and bluegills 1.8% of the cadmium.}, number={2}, journal={Environmental Pollution}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Cope, W.Gregory and Wiener, James G. and Steingraeber, Mark T.}, year={1996}, pages={177–182} } @article{waller_rach_cope_miller_1995, title={Effects of Handling and Aerial Exposure on the Survival of Unionid Mussels}, volume={10}, ISSN={0270-5060 2156-6941}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02705060.1995.9663439}, DOI={10.1080/02705060.1995.9663439}, abstractNote={Abstract We conducted a relocation study of unionid mussels in Navigation Pool 7 of the upper Mississippi River (river mile 713.2) to evaluate survival after handling and aerial exposure. Two separate studies were conducted to compare seasonal differences in mussel survival; the first was initiated in June and the second in October. Amblema plicata plicata (subfamily Ambleminae) and Obliquaria reflexa (subfamily Lampsilinae) were studied. Mussels were marked, held out of water for either 0, 1, 4, or 8 h, and then placed into a 3 × 3 m grid (divided into nine 1-m2 units). The mussels were re-examined after four-five months to measure mortality in the control and treatment groups. Mussels of both species had >90% survival after aerial exposure up to 4 h in both studies. However, survival (number recaptured live/number recaptured live and dead) of mussels showed a decreasing trend with duration of exposure in the first study, but not in the second study. The overall recovery of marked mussels (number recaptu...}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Freshwater Ecology}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Waller, Diane L. and Rach, Jeffrey J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Miller, Glenn A.}, year={1995}, month={Sep}, pages={199–207} } @article{cope_waller_1995, title={Evaluation of freshwater mussel relocation as a conservation and management strategy}, volume={11}, ISSN={0886-9375 1099-1646}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rrr.3450110204}, DOI={10.1002/rrr.3450110204}, abstractNote={AbstractThe relocation of unionacean mussels is commonly used as a conservation and management tool in large rivers and streams. Relocation has been used to recolonize areas where mussel populations have been eliminated by prior pollution events, to remove mussels from construction zones and to re‐establish populations of endangered species. More recently, relocation has been used to protect native freshwater mussels from colonization by the exotic zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha. We conducted a literature review of mussel relocations and evaluated their relative success as a conservation and management strategy. We found that 43% of all relocations were conducted because of construction projects that were forced to comply with the Endangered Species Act 1973 and that only 16% were monitored for five or more consecutive years. Most (43%) relocation projects were conducted from July to September, presumably a period when reproductive stress is relatively low for most species and the metabolic rate is sufficient for reburrowing in the substrate. The mortality of relocated mussels was unreported in 27% of projects; reported mortality varied widely among projects and species and was difficult to assess. The mean mortality of relocated mussels was 49% based on an average recovery rate of 43%. There is little guidance on the methods for relocation or for monitoring the subsequent long‐term status of relocated mussels. Based on this evaluation, research is needed to develop criteria for selecting a suitable relocation site and to establish appropriate methods and guidelines for conducting relocation projects.}, number={2}, journal={Regulated Rivers: Research & Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Cope, W. Gregory and Waller, Diane L.}, year={1995}, month={Oct}, pages={147–155} } @article{cope_wiener_steingraeber_atchison_1994, title={Cadmium, Metal-binding Proteins, and Growth in Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Exposed to Contaminated Sediments from the Upper Mississippi River Basin}, volume={51}, DOI={10.1139/f94-135}, abstractNote={ We exposed juvenile bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) to ~1000 mg∙L−1 of continuously suspended river sediment in a 28-d test with six treatments (randomized block with one sediment-free control and five sediments ranging from 1.3 to 21.4 μg Cd∙g dry weight−1). Each treatment had three replicates, each with 25 fish. Growth was reduced by exposure to suspended sediment, probably due to physical effects of sediment on feeding and to toxicity in the treatment with the greatest concentrations of metals. Mean whole-body concentrations of cadmium (0.04–0.14 μg∙g wet weight−1) were correlated with cadmium concentration in filtered water (8–72 ng∙L−1), suspended sediment (0.61–16.8 μg∙L−1), and bulk sediment. The concentration of hepatic nonthionein cytosolic cadmium (cadmium not bound by metal-binding proteins, MBP) in fish exposed to the two most contaminated sediments exceeded that in controls. The mean concentration of hepatic MBP was correlated with cadmium concentration in filtered water, suspended sediment, bulk sediment, and whole fish. Whole-body cadmium concentration was the most sensitive indicator of cadmium exposure, with lowest observed effect concentrations of 1.9 μg Cd∙L−1 for suspended sediment and 13 ng Cd∙L−1 for filtered water. Sediment-associated cadmium was less available than waterborne cadmium for uptake by fish. }, number={6}, journal={Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, author={Cope, W.G. and Wiener, J.G. and Steingraeber, M. T. and Atchison, G.J.}, year={1994}, month={Jun}, pages={1356–1367} } @article{cope_atchison_wiener_1994, title={Hepatic cadmium, metal-binding proteins and bioaccumulation in bluegills exposed to aqueous cadmium}, volume={13}, ISSN={0730-7268 1552-8618}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620130403}, DOI={10.1002/etc.5620130403}, abstractNote={AbstractWe examined sublethal responses of juvenile bluegills Lepomis macrochirus to aqueous cadmium in two 28‐d tests (test I, 0.0‐8.4 μg Cd per liter; test II, 0.0‐32.3 μg Cd per liter) in an intermittent‐flow diluter. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two replicates in each of eight treatments (seven Cd exposures and one water control with 25 fish per replicate). Cadmium did not affect the growth of test fish. The mean whole‐body concentrations of Cd in exposed fish were 1.8‐ to 44‐fold those in controls in the two tests. Mean concentrations of hepatic nonthionein cytosolic Cd (not bound by metal‐binding proteins, MBP) in all Cd treatments greatly exceeded those in controls, and mean concentrations of hepatic MBP in all treatments except one (0.8 μg Cd per liter in test I) exceeded those in controls. Nonthionein cytosolic Cd, hepatic MBP, and whole‐body Cd in bluegills were linearly related to exposure concentrations within the range 0 to 20 μg Cd per liter. Much of the total Cd‐binding capacity of hepatic MBP per fish was occupied by Cd after the 28‐d exposures, although additional Cd‐binding capacity remained unoccupied by Cd in fish in all treatments. The mean total Cd‐binding capacity of hepatic MBP per fish, which ranged from 1.7 to 14 nmol Cd in test I and from 0.8 to 24 nmol Cd in test II, increased in a concentration‐response manner at exposure concentrations below 13 μg/L. Nonthionein cytosolic Cd was the most sensitive indicator of Cd exposure, based on an LOEC of 0.8 μg Cd per liter.}, number={4}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Cope, W. Gregory and Atchison, Gary J. and Wiener, James G.}, year={1994}, month={Apr}, pages={553–562} } @article{waller_rach_cope_luoma_1993, title={A Sampling Method for Conducting Relocation Studies with Freshwater Mussels}, volume={8}, ISSN={0270-5060 2156-6941}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02705060.1993.9664878}, DOI={10.1080/02705060.1993.9664878}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Low recovery of transplanted mussels often prevents accurate estimates of survival. We developed a method that provided a high recovery of transplanted mussels and allowed for a reliable assessment of mortality. A 3 × 3 m polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe grid was secured to the sediment with iron reinforcing bars. The grid was divided into nine 1-m2 segments and each treatment segment, was stocked with 100 marked mussels. The recovery of mussels after six months exceeded 80% in all but one treatment group.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Freshwater Ecology}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Waller, D. L. and Rach, J. J. and Cope, W. G. and Luoma, J. A.}, year={1993}, month={Dec}, pages={397–399} } @article{waller_rach_cope_marking_fisher_dabrowska_1993, title={Toxicity of Candidate Molluscicides to Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and Selected Nontarget Organisms}, volume={19}, ISSN={0380-1330}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0380-1330(93)71257-5}, DOI={10.1016/s0380-1330(93)71257-5}, abstractNote={Many compounds have been marketed for control of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), but most compounds lack comparable toxicity data and have not been tested on nontarget organisms. We tested the toxicity of 18 chemicals to two sizes of zebra mussels, two nontarget fish (rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss and channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus), and a unionid mussel (threehorn wartyback, Obliquaria reflexa) under standard conditions. Organisms were exposed to the chemicals for 48 h in “soft” reference water (pH 7.7, alkalinity 6 × 10−4 m/L (30 mg/L) as CaCO3, and total hardness 40 mg/L as CaCOj) at 17° C. Zebra mussels and unionid mussels were held in untreated reference water for another 48 h after exposure to measure delayed mortality. The LC50 values and 95% confidence intervals were compared among test organisms. Potassium chloride, Bayluscide (a registered molluscicide), and Clamtrol CT-1 (a poly quaternary ammonium compound) were the most selective chemicals tested against zebra mussels. They were two to three times more toxic to zebra mussels than to the nontarget species. Most of the remaining chemicals lacked the desired toxicity or were more toxic to fish than to zebra mussels.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Great Lakes Research}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Waller, Diane L. and Rach, Jeffrey J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Marking, Leif L. and Fisher, Susan W. and Dabrowska, Henrycka}, year={1993}, month={Jan}, pages={695–702} } @article{cope_rada_1992, title={Accumulation of mercury by aufwuchs in Wisconsin seepage lakes: Implications for monitoring}, volume={23}, ISSN={0090-4341 1432-0703}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf00212271}, DOI={10.1007/bf00212271}, number={2}, journal={Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Cope, W. Gregory and Rada, Ronald G.}, year={1992}, month={Aug}, pages={172–178} } @phdthesis{cope_1991, title={Metallothionein and bioaccumulation of cadmium in juvenile bluegills exposed to aqueous and sediment-associated cadmium}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-11997}, DOI={10.31274/rtd-180813-11997}, abstractNote={I evaluated metallothionein (MT), free (unbound) hepatic cadmium, and whole-body concentration of cadmium as indicators of cadmium exposure in juvenile bluegills Lepomis macrochirus. Fish were exposed to aqueous cadmium in two 28-d bioassays (bioassay I, 0.0 to 8.4 ng Cd/L; bioassay II, 0.0 to 32.3 ng Cd/L) in an intermittent-flow diluter. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two replicates in each of eight treatments (seven cadmium exposures and one water control; 25 juvenile bluegills per replicate). Total cadmium concentrations were measured in various bluegill liver fractions and in whole bluegills to assess the partitioning of cadmium after the 28-d exposure. Concentrations of free cadmium and MT in bluegill livers and cadmium concentration in whole bluegills were positively correlated with aqueous cadmium concentration and were suitable as indicators of exposure. Free cadmium concentration in bluegill liver was a more sensitive indicator than MT or whole-body concentration during both bioassays, based on the lowest observed effect concentration of cadmium.}, school={Iowa State University}, author={Cope, William Gregory}, year={1991} } @article{wiener_cope_rada_1990, title={Mercury accumulation in yellow perch in wisconsin seepage lakes: Relation to lake characteristics}, volume={9}, ISSN={0730-7268 1552-8618}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620090711}, DOI={10.1002/etc.5620090711}, abstractNote={AbstractWe studied relations between lacustrine characteristics and the total mercury (Hg) content of calendar age‐2 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in 10 seepage lakes in north‐central Wisconsin. Mean concentrations and burdens (masses) of Hg in whole perch varied widely among lakes, were negatively correlated with lake pH and were positively correlated with total Hg concentration in surficial profundal sediment. Approximately 80 to 90% of the variation in Hg concentration and burden in whole perch was explained with multiple regressions containing two independent variables: either lake pH or alkalinity, and Hg concentration in surficial sediment. Variation among lakes in the Hg concentration in yellow perch was unrelated to their relative rates of growth. The mean concentration of Hg in axial muscle tissue of age‐5 walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) from five of the study lakes was highly correlated with the mean concentration in whole age‐2 perch in the same lakes. We hypothesized that the high Hg concentrations often seen in piscivorous fish in low‐alkalinity lakes (relative to high‐alkalinity lakes) is at least partly due to a greater dietary intake of Hg in such waters. Furthermore, the analysis of small yellow perch—the preferred prey of adult walleyes and an important forage species for many predatory fishes in the north‐central United States—may be an effective approach to assessing Hg bioavailability in the region's lakes.}, number={7}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Wiener, James G. and Cope, W. Gregory and Rada, Ronald G.}, year={1990}, month={Jul}, pages={931–940} } @phdthesis{cope_1988, place={La Crosse, WI}, title={Factors influencing mercury accumulation in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and aufwuchs in selected north-central Wisconsin lakes}, school={University of Wisconsin-La Crosse}, author={Cope, W.G.}, year={1988} } @article{eads_bogan_cope_levine, title={Summary of ongoing research: assessment of effects of road crossings; road runoff on freshwater mussels in North Carolina streams}, volume={3}, number={3}, journal={Ellipsaria}, author={Eads, C. B. and Bogan, A. E. and Cope, W. G. and Levine, J. F.}, pages={10} }