2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
6/08/2017 | 3:30 PM - 3:45 PM | MATERIAL INPUTS AND PRIMARY PRODUCER RESPONSES IN AN APPALACHIAN RESERVOIR RECEIVING MOUNTAINTOP COAL MINING RUNOFF: EVIDENCE FROM THE SEDIMENT RECORD | 306A
MATERIAL INPUTS AND PRIMARY PRODUCER RESPONSES IN AN APPALACHIAN RESERVOIR RECEIVING MOUNTAINTOP COAL MINING RUNOFF: EVIDENCE FROM THE SEDIMENT RECORD
Surface mining for coal extraction is a form of land use shown to impact stream ecosystems but less is known of long term impacts on reservoir systems downstream from mining operations. Here, we apply paleolimnological techniques to sediment cores collected from two different arms of Mud River Reservoir, WV. Mud River Reservoir contains two primary arms with one arm in a coal mining watershed and the other in a watershed not directly impacted by coal mining. Material inputs and storage were inferred from nutrient, organic matter, and heavy metal deposition, and primary producer community and abundance was reconstructed from photosynthetic pigment analysis (chlorophylls and carotenoids). Results show increased inputs of inorganic carbon transformed the river/reservoir into a pseudo-marl lake. Like other aquatic systems receiving coal mining materials, selenium deposition increased 500% when compared to pre-reservoir levels. Based on photosynthetic pigment measurements, the entire reservoir increased in abundance of cryptophytes and diatoms in response to dam completion with cyanobacteria and green algae also becoming more abundant in some areas. Mud River Reservoir serves as an example of the novel ecosystems being established from this extensive and intense land use practice.
- C28 Land-Water Interfaces
- S14 Stressors in linked aquatic-terrestrial ecosystems: New developments and solutions
- C27 Landuse and Non-Point source Impacts
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Presenters/Authors
Matthew Waters
(), Auburn University, mwaters@auburn.edu;
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Emily Bernhardt
(), Duke University, ebernhar@duke.edu;
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Alex Metz
(), Auburn University, apm0032@tigermail.auburn.edu;
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