Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP)

Toxic Contaminants in Puget Sound’s Nearshore Biota: A Large-Scale Synoptic Survey Using Transplanted Mussels (Mytilus trossulus) Final Report September 4, 2014 Jennifer A. Lanksbury, Laurie A. Niewolny, Andrea J. Carey and James E. West

WDFW Report Number FPT 14-08

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................................... i LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 1 1

2

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1

Project Goals ............................................................................................................................................ 4

1.2

Background .............................................................................................................................................. 5

1.2.1

Mussels as Biomonitors .................................................................................................................... 5

1.2.2

Other Mussel Monitoring Programs ................................................................................................. 7

MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................................................................................. 10 2.1

Study Area and Site Selection ................................................................................................................ 10

2.2

Transplanted (i.e. Caged) Mussels ......................................................................................................... 13

2.3

Study specimen: Mytilus trossulus ......................................................................................................... 13

2.4

Exposure Timing .................................................................................................................................... 14

2.4.1

Spawning......................................................................................................................................... 14

2.4.2

Rainfall ............................................................................................................................................ 15

2.5

Length of Exposure ................................................................................................................................ 16

2.6

Sample Units - Mussel Cages ................................................................................................................ 16

2.6.1

Preparation ...................................................................................................................................... 16

2.6.2

Deployment and Retrieval .............................................................................................................. 18

2.7

Biological Endpoints .............................................................................................................................. 18

2.7.1

Mortality Assessment..................................................