A Freshwater Mussel Watch for Biomonitoring in the Columbia River Basin proposal 200717600

FY07-09 proposal 200717600

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	A Freshwater Mussel Watch for Biomonitoring in the Columbia River Basin
Proposal ID	200717600
Organization	Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Short description	We propose to establish a long-term, basinwide ecosystem biomonitoring program in the Columbia River Basin using freshwater mussels as bioindicators – The Freshwater Mussel Watch.
Information transfer	Development of an ecologically based biomonitoring program using freshwater mussels as a sentinel bioindicator would represent a significant advance for environmental programs throughout the Columbia River Basin. Data collected from the project will be provided through an online database and will be analyzed and published in peer reviewed journals.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Contacts

Contact	Organization	Email
Form submitter
Jeanette Howard	Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reserva	jeanettehoward@ctuir.com
All assigned contacts
Jeanette Howard	Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reserva	jeanettehoward@ctuir.com

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Mainstem/Systemwide / None Selected

Latitude	Longitude	Waterbody	Description
			Sites will be selected in three subbasins (Wenatchee, Salmon and John Day)
		stream	Sites will be selected in three subbasins (Wenatchee, Salmon and John Day)
		stream	Sites will be selected for experiments in three subbasins

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Other Resident
Additional: Freshwater mussels: Margaritifera falcata (western pearly shell); Gonidea angulata (western ridged mussel) Anodonta spp. (floater)

Section 4. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding source	Related ID	Related title	Relationship
BPA	199402600	Pacific Lamprey Population Sta	The project leader of the CTUIR's lamprey project is the principal investigator of the proposed project.
BPA	200203700	Freshwater Mussels In River	Key personnel of the CTUIR's freshwater mussel project are the proposed co-principal investigators for this proposed project. Data, equipment, supplies and methods will be shared between projects.
BPA	200301700	Integrated Status/Effect Progr	The proposed project will use status and trend monitoring sites established under the Integrated Status/Effect Program.
BPA	200301600	Pilot Study Land Use/Cover	This proposed research will utilize established Tier 1 and Tier 2 monitoring sites in representative subbasins.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectives	Full description	Associated subbasin plan	Strategy

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element name	Work element title	Description	Start date	End date	Est budget
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation	Provide Environmental Compliance documentation	We will provide all environmental compliance documentation required to conduct our proposed work including all state, and federal permits.	1/1/2007	12/31/2009	$2,500
Biological objectives			Metrics
Coordination	Coordinate with established CRB programs and other agencies to develop candidate list of index sites.	The FMW will require extensive coordination with ongoing research and monitoring programs in the pilot priority subbasins (Wenatchee, John Day and Salmon) to develop a list of candidate index sites. We will coordinate with other Columbia River Basin agencies/entities through the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA), and the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership (PNAMP) to identify ongoing efforts in the priority subbasins, and will subsequently develop a list of candidate index sites to perform a broad initial assessment of the distribution and status of freshwater mussels in those systems. As mentioned in Section C, the development of systemwide monitoring programs is in a formative stage with three new initiatives: the Collaborative Systemwide Monitoring and Evaluation Project (CSMEP), (a Fish and Wildlife Program project administered by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA); the “Research, Monitoring & Evaluation For the NMFS 2000 FCRPS Biological Opinion” (2000 BiOp, Action Agencies 2003) developed by Federal Action Agencies; and the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership (PNAMP). The proposed FMW monitoring program will incorporate these initiatives and other ongoing status and trend monitoring plans in the Columbia River Basin, such as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Project # 200301700 (“Develop and Implement a Pilot Status and Trend Monitoring Program for Salmonids and their Habitat in the Wenatchee and Grande Ronde River Basins. ”) These initiatives and plans have implemented the EPA’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) probabilistic selection of aquatic sites for status and trend monitoring in the three pilot subbasins (Wenatchee, John Day and Salmon). Because of the depth of information available and an established network of Tier 2 monitoring sites, we will focus our pilot project efforts in these subbasins.	1/1/2007	12/31/2009	$20,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	Manage Freshwater Mussel Watch	All aspects of the Freshwater Mussel Watch program will be managed by the CTUIR staff.	1/1/2007	12/31/2009	$90,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Outreach and Education	Disseminate findings	Results will be presented at scientific meetings, to tribal members and regional managers, and published in peer-reviewed journals and in a final report to the granting agency.	1/1/2007	12/31/2009	$20,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Produce Inventory or Assessment	Conduct mussel surveys at candidate index sites	Well-established methods developed by CTUIR staff will be used to conduct mussel surveys in candidate index sites to identify the presence and relative abundance of the three mussel genera found in the Columbia Basin (Anodonta, Margaritifera, and Gonidea). At each candidate index site, mussel density will be assessed qualitatively by snorkeling or scuba (depending on depth) using timed searches for a minimum of one person-hour.	4/1/2007	9/30/2007	$50,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Produce Plan	Initiate pilot Freshwater Mussel Watch program.	Based on results of field and lab experiments, the Freshwater Mussel Watch will be developed as a formal long-term monitoring plan in the three subbasins. This plan will ensure that the FMW is widely applicable, powerful, and is offered as a service to strengthen the capacity for environmental monitoring and ecosystem management in the Columbia River Basin. Pilot index siteswill be chosen in the subbasins for longer-term monitoring. Candidate sites chosen, surveyed and investigated in previously will be ranked (good, fair, poor) by integrating information on in situ mussel condition, in situ mussel population data, in situ water quality parameter monitoring, and (conditional and functional ) responses of mussels to water quality parameter variables in the lab (bioassays) and field (transplant studies). Permanent index sites will then be selected from these rankings for following the status and trends of freshwater mussel populations over time: 1) The status and abundance of mussel populations; 2) The organism-level health of mussels in these populations/species relative to their environment/habitats; and 3) The variance of populations and mussel health through time. Task 5.b. Develop standard operating protocols (SOP). Standard operating protocols will be drafted in Year 3 for alll biomonitoring metrics that prove most useful, including both physiological and population metrics, as well as bioassays and transplant procedures. SOP’s will be reproducible by other groups that wish to build on the FMW in other areas.	1/1/2009	12/31/2009	$45,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Produce/Submit Scientific Findings Report	Submit findings to peer-reviewed journals.	We expect to publish multiple manuscripts from the proposed work.	1/1/2007	12/31/2009	$20,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data	Estimate organismal growth based on physiological rate functions.	In this task we will use physiological rate functions measured as part of this project to calculate three indicator metrics associated with physiological and metabolic status: scope for growth (SFG), oxygen consumption rate, and O:N ratio (e.g., Kreeger and Langdon 1993). SFG is a measure of an organism’s growth potential and is widely regarded as a highly sensitive bioindicator metric for chronic stress (Widdows and Donkin 1992). These methods have been successfully applied to freshwater mussels in the Atlantic and Mississippi drainages (D. Kreeger, unpublished) and in Oregon by the CTUIR team. SFG represents the net energy remaining for reproduction after all maintenance demands are satisfied, and since SFG is closely correlated to actual growth rates (Bayne et al. 1976; Beiras et al. 1994). Using parameters measured in Task 2.c.1, SFG will be calculated as the net energy ingested that is available for growth and reproduction, based on the standard energy balance equation for a heterotrophic organism (Widdows and Donkin 1992): C = P + R + E + F where C = energy consumed, P = energy used for animal productivity, R = energy lost in respiratory processes, E = energy excreted in dissolved by products, and F = energy lost in defecation. C will be calculated by multiplying measured seston clearance rates by seston concentration. Respiration (R) will be measured directly as oxygen consumption rate. The excretion term (E) will be calculated similarly, by relating measured ammonia excretion rates. Defecated energy will be calculated as the difference between the product of clearance rate and absorption efficiency (absorption rate). For all components, units will be converted to energy using established C:energy and oxycaloric conversion factors.By difference, we estimate P, the energy available for growth and reproduction; i.e., the scope-for-growth. This approach also yields oxygen consumption rates and the ratios of oxygen consumption to ammonia excretion (a.k.a. the O:N ratio), both of which are metabolic status indicators that can indicate stress when atypical.	6/1/2008	12/31/2009	$30,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data	Extrapolate ecosystem level functioning	We will use a mass balance approach to scale organism-based physiological processing rates to estimate population-level processing rates at the index sites. Seasonal and spatial variation will be considered, drawing on mussel survey results (Task 1.b), population size class structure (Task 1.c) This approach will allow us to estimate population-level processing rates for suspended matter and will help assess the large-scale environmental fates and forms of ingested energy and nutrients. By also examining the prevalence of key classes of contaminants in water, seston and mussel tissue, we will also begin to deduce how contaminants may affect ecosystem functioning. These estimates of population-level processing rates for river seston by different mussel species at the index sites will be increasingly refined as the seasonal and inter-annual database of physiological rates grows.	6/1/2008	12/31/2009	$15,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data	Synthesize of experimental results.	We will relate the experimental results in this objective to results from in situ experiments as they relate to particular issues and mussel species in the different sub-basins studied..	10/1/2007	12/31/2009	$15,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Characterize in situ physiological conditions and metabolic rates for freshwater mussels at subset of candidate index sites.	Physiological metrics of mussel health can be broadly considered as any that can be assessed at the organismal or biochemical levels. These include “tissue composition” indices that relate to either fitness, environmental interactions (e.g., stable isotope ratios), and also body burdens of contaminants that can inform about toxic impacts. There are metabolic and enzymatic “biomarkers” that can provide information about certain types of stress responses (we will consider the appropriateness of these during this study but current technology is relatively limited and untested). This work element will address “functional” metrics at the organismal level, such as feeding rates, absorption efficiencies, and respiration rates. These provide information about whether animals are operating within normal functional bounds. Lastly, there are measures of actual growth that integrate at the organismal level, such as determination of scope-for-growth, and mass-balance calculations that predict functional processing at the population level.	6/1/2007	12/31/2009	$86,163
Biological objectives			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Conduct caged transplant tests.	Transplanted mussels of representative species will be taken from the same standard source populations and deployed into low and high quality reachesin the various index sub-basins. Controls will consist of mussels that are subjected to the same handling but are transplanted back to their source location. Additional controls will consist of indigenous mussels in the that were never caged sampled periodically For each mussel species, transplants will only be performed within the same phylogeographical range to ensure appropriate conservation of intraspecific genetic variability. Different designs and construction approaches for mussel cages will be considered. ANS staff have developed and utilized a variety of caging techniques over the past 25 years (ANSP 1983) (ANSP 2005). One approach that may be used and that has proven successful uses cages constructed of commercial bread trays which are covered in 1.5 cm gauge plastic mesh to ensure mussels don’t escape (Kreeger et al. 2002). These cages are deployed in streams where the substrate is partially cleared, the cages are affixed to the river bottom with rebar, and the cage bottoms covered with suitable substrate. Mussels deployed in cages will be numbered with permanent tags and their shell lengths, widths and depths measured to the nearest 0.01 mm using digital calipers. Where apparent, sexes will be noted and an attempt will be made to deploy similar proportions of sexes to different cages. Stocking and repeated sampling of cages will be accomplished by wading and/or snorkeling. Between 15-25 mussels will be deployed in each cage. Representative transplant mussels will be sacrificially harvested at various times following deployment (and at the start, time 0) to monitor physiological status and trends. Biomonitoring metrics tested in Tasks 1.d and 2.c (e.g., condition index, scope-for-growth) will then be quantified in a subset of mussels from each of the transplanted groups. The physiological status of transplants will then be compared between animals monitored in source streams (i.e., high quality reference index sites from where standard mussels are derived) versus animals monitored in indicator streams (i.e., suspected impaired). By monitoring the physiological status of reciprocal transplants moved from a healthy-appearing natal river to a healthy-appearing reference river will test whether the transplant method imparts any handling stress. Likewise, handling stress will be examined and contrasted between the two approaches by monitoring mussels that are self-transplanted back into their natal rivers, as compared to new mussels collected during each sampling that were never transplanted. If these various handling stress tests are found to be inconsequential, then physiological metrics for appropriate species/populations will be directly compared between reference and indicator rivers to gauge their relative “health.”	6/1/2008	12/31/2009	$65,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Determine age distribution of mussels at candidate index sites	The age distribution of mussels in particular locations can serve as an indication of demographic changes in population history over time. These changes can be considered long-term population-level responses to a variety of habitat variables, including water quality variables. In this task, large mussel aggregations identified at candidate index sites will be randomly sampled to obtain estimates of length/age distribution of population. At those sites , a representative subsample of mussels will be sampled by randomly placing 0.5-m2 quadrats within them. L engths of all mussels within the quadrats will be measured to the nearest 0.5 mm and weighed to the nearest 0.5 mg. A sufficient number of quadrats will be used to ensure that >10 % of the aggregation is included. For aggregations that contain < 300 individuals, >50% of the aggregation will be measured. All mussels visible within the quadrat will be measured and weighed. In addition the top 10 cm of substrate within the quadrats will be excavated and examined using a 2-mm mesh sieve to uncover small individuals (<10 mm) not visible from the surface. Ages will be estimated from shell length-age regressions developed from previous research (Howard et al. unpublished data). From individual age estimates, histograms will be constructed for each mussel aggregation measured at the candidate index sites.	6/1/2007	9/30/2007	$15,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Ensure genetic diversity of mussels at selected test sites.	Genetic diversity within populations of freshwater mussels has been shown to vary widely in western systems (Mock et al. 2004 ). When genetic diversity is low, natural populations are at risk for inbreeding depression (Crnokrak & Roff 1999; Keller & Waller 2002 ), which could impact conditional metrics and physiological rates. To minimize the potential effects of inbreeding on these measurements, we will assess population-level genetic diversity for the test sites. For this purpose we will use a nuclear marker system; either amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis (as in Mock et al. 2004) or a panel of microsatellites (development proposed in the continuation of BPA funded Project # 200203780). Diversity indices appropriate to the marker system will be employed; e.g. number of polymorphic loci for AFLPs, heterozygosity for microsatellite loci. Mussel populations with relatively low genetic diversity will be excluded from the physiological rate function tests.	6/1/2007	12/31/2009	$45,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Evaluate organism-level health of mussels at candidate index sites.	Individual mussels can serve as short-term indicators of habitat conditions, particularly water quality variables. In this task, foundational data on mussel physiological status will be collected and compared among candidate index sites in each of two different seasons, spring and late summer. Up to 10 individuals, representing the full size range present for each species, will be collected and analyzed from index sites chosen during Task 1.a. Physiological status will be assessed using the following measures: 1. Condition index - i.e., tissue fullness within the shell, will be calculated using the gravimetric approach that determines the internal shell volume that is occupied by soft tissue (Crosby and Gale 1990, Kreeger 1993, Kreeger et al. 2002; Raksany et al. 2003). 2. Ratio of shell height to dry tissue weight. 3. Biochemical composition the relative dry weight percentage of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and ash in tissues that are freeze-dried and pulverized (e.g., as described by Kreeger and Langdon 1994, Kreeger et al. 1997). 4. Base level nitrogen and carbon stable isotopic signatures will be analyzed using standard methods.	6/1/2007	12/31/2009	$157,879
Biological objectives			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Examine physiological rate function responses to water quality parameter variation using controlled laboratory experiments.	Mussels from the standard test populations will be used to estimate changes in functional rates under varying water quality conditions (e.g., water sources, variable seston quantity and quality, contaminant type and concentration). As noted above, the actual treatment conditions will depend on the nature of the question (e.g., whether broad or compound-specific), and the actual water quality parameter if interest (e.g. nutrients, metals, and organic compounds in either dissolved or particulate forms). Selection of particular water quality parameters and the appropriate experimental design will vary considerably, and we intend to adaptively manage this component based on monitoring needs in the different sub-basins that we will study. For all tests, variation in water quality conditions will be based on the range of natural variation. Measured responses in standardized mussel populations will include the rates of clearance, ingestion, and deposition. Appropriate control groups of mussels will be included in these bioassays, consisting of standard mussels held in water from high quality reference sites, and additional controls.	6/1/2008	12/31/2009	$65,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Measure seston characteristics and water quality at candidate index sites.	In general, seston quality and quantity will vary seasonally and with local environmental conditions. Since mussel condition can depend in part on the quantity and quality of food (seston or particulate matter) available, we will collect and analyze this important element of water quality at candidate index sites where mussel condition is evaluated. Concurrently, we will measure various additional water quality parameters to begin to identify specific differences among the studied sub-basins. The actual parameters measured will depend on the nature of the various questions that might be of greatest monitoring interest in different sub-basins (e.g., whether broad or compound-specific). Examples of issue- and compound-specific metrics of interest include nutrients, metals, and organic compounds in either dissolved or particulate forms. Selection of particular water quality parameters and the appropriate sampling design will therefore vary considerably, and we intend to adaptively manage this component based on monitoring needs in the different sub-basins that we will study. Baseline seston metrics examined in all water samples will include the following (as per Kreeger et al. 1997): concentration of particulate material, concentration of particulate organic material, and particle concentration and size distribution in the 2-63 µm diameter range. Depending on the situation and question, additional seston metrics may include chlorophyll-a and proximate biochemical composition (Kreeger et al. 1997), N and C stable isotopic composition, and the particle-associated contaminants (e.g. metals, organics). Some physical and chemical aspects of water quality will also be routinely measured (e.g. temperature, pH, dissolved nutrients), and others will be measured where appropriate (e.g., metal and organic contaminants). It is possible that many types of water quality data exist for some candidate index sites, and in those cases we will incorporate previously collected data into this analysis.	6/1/2007	12/31/2009	$96,163
Biological objectives			Metrics
Create/Manage/Maintain Database	Maintain database of candidate index sites	The CTUIR will maintain a database of all variables measured at each index site. These data will be made available to interested agencies and projects.	1/1/2007	12/31/2009	$25,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Develop RM&E Methods and Designs	Develop list of candidate status and trend monitoring sites	The Freshwater Mussel Watch will require extensive coordination with ongoing research and monitoring programs in the pilot priority subbasins (Wenatchee, John Day and Salmon) to develop a list of candidate index sites. We will coordinate with other Columbia River Basin agencies/entities through the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA), and the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership (PNAMP) to identify ongoing efforts in the priority subbasins, and will subsequently develop a list of candidate index sites to perform a broad initial assessment of the distribution and status of freshwater mussels in those systems.	1/1/2007	4/1/2007	$15,000
Biological objectives			Metrics
Develop RM&E Methods and Designs	Establish reference sites beyond pilot subbasins.	This task will consist of collaboration with other agencies to develop list of candidate index sites in other subbasins, which will form the basis of a geographically broad expansion of the FMW beyond this particular project timeline.	1/1/2009	12/31/2009	$15,000
Biological objectives			Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget

Item	Note	FY07	FY08	FY09
Personnel	Academy of Natural Sciences	$46,644	$63,084	$61,951
Fringe Benefits	Academy of Natural Sciences (22.25%)	$7,813	$10,824	$10,880
Travel	Academy of Natural Sciences	$12,083	$18,020	$8,354
Supplies	Academy of Natural Sciences	$8,400	$8,165	$9,775
Overhead	Academy of Natural Sciences Indirect (35%)	$25,939	$34,734	$31,546
Personnel	CTUIR	$72,958	$75,918	$77,815
Fringe Benefits	CTUIR (27%)	$19,699	$20,498	$21,010
Travel	CTUIR	$11,600	$8,740	$9,865
Supplies	CTUIR supplies	$4,500	$4,000	$7,475
Overhead	CTUIR Indirect (39%)	$42,415	$42,570	$36,252
Personnel	Utah State University (genetics)	$9,800	$10,100	$12,200
Travel	Utah State University (genetics)	$2,500	$2,700	$2,900
Supplies	Utah State University (genetics)	$3,000	$3,500	$2,700
Overhead	Utah State University (genetics)	$6,120	$6,520	$7,120
Capital Equipment	CTUIR	$3,500	$4,318	$2,200
Totals		$276,971	$313,691	$302,043

Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets

Total itemized budget:	$892,705
Total work element budget:	$892,705

Cost sharing

Funding source/org	Item or service provided	FY 07 est value ($)	FY 08 est value ($)	FY 09 est value ($)	Cash or in-kind?	Status
Totals		$0	$0	$0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $0
FY 2011 estimated budget: $0

Comments:

Future O&M costs:

Termination date:
Comments:

Final deliverables:

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget	FY08 budget	FY09 budget	Total budget	Type	Category	Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0	$0	$0	$0	Expense	Basinwide	Do Not Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0	$0	$0	$0		Basinwide

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Not fundable

NPCC comments: The technical and scientific background information was generally well presented. The use of mussels as bioindicators has a long history in the biomonitoring literature. However, the proposal does not adequately address its limitations. Mussels in the Pacific Northwest usually do not occur in high gradient headwater streams, particularly those prone to frequent bedload movement. Thus, the distribution alone makes the mussel group less suitable for use in monitoring than other taxa. Furthermore, numerous other proposed projects have discussed the fact that the mussel group is in jeopardy. In addition, the areas selected for study (Upper Columbia, John Day, Upper Salmon, and estuary) are all within the anadromous fish zone. It would seem that mussels could provide biomonitoring value to resident fish areas as well, but none were chosen. In addition, a filter feeder will not have high concentrations of most contaminants, even if they are present. Other ephemeral contaminants will depend upon the time of the year the sample was collected (spray season), and can be more easily completed with a semi-permeable membrane device (SPMD) placed in the water. The Mussel Watch Program along the coast came into existence before the advent SPMDs, which can now be used for monitoring purposes (independent of mussel distribution). SPMDs collect contaminants from water just like the filter-feeding mussels. The ISRP was surprised that no contaminants were scheduled for analyses, although some samples were going to be archived for possible analyses. It would seem like the condition of the mussels will be so dependent upon local conditions that it would be very difficult to compare locations and associated habitats in a meaningful way to obtain overall patterns and to understand what is responsible for them, i.e., age ratios, growth rates, other body measurements, etc. No single approach is best for monitoring contaminants in the Columbia River Basin, but a combination of SPMDs, selected fish species and top predators (mammalian or avian) may be effective. Top predators should be evaluated if there is concern about contaminants that biomagnify up the food chain. With certain contaminants, the timing of collections (e.g., related to spray season for non-persistent pesticides) is very important. Relationships to other projects is clearly articulated. However, some of the proposed work in the John Day River may duplicate John Day mussel research in the ongoing BPA-funded study. A weakness of the proposal is a lack of detail on how contaminant levels in mussel tissues will be related to pollution sources. As described in the proposal, there does not seem to be a strong connection with water quality monitoring agencies such as EPA, Oregon DEQ, and Washington DOE. Such a partnership would help this project. A couple of the tasks (e.g., 2.d) call for physiological studies conducted in the lab, where it will be very hard to duplicate typical diurnal and seasonal variability in basic parameters such as temperature. For contaminants, this issue becomes even more difficult because many contaminants are pulsed into the drainage system. One approach the investigators might consider is devising a mobile laboratory that can travel to the sites and utilize flow-through water supplies, making it much easier to simulate natural conditions. Such a setup can provide a more controlled environment than the mussel caging studies without sacrificing some of the natural environmental variability.

ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Not fundable