2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

5/22/2019 | 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM | CAN TREATED WASTEWATER SERVE AS HABITAT FOR DESERT FISHES? | 150 DEF

CAN TREATED WASTEWATER SERVE AS HABITAT FOR DESERT FISHES?

Discharge of treated wastewater has been instrumental in returning aquatic biodiversity to the Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona. The endangered Gila Topminnow has recently recolonized effluent-dependent reaches of the river, but the implications of living in this treated wastewater are unknown. Using Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in the lower Santa Cruz River (Tucson, AZ) as a proxy for native topminnow, we explore the challenges of living in effluent-dominated streams: (1) fluctuating water levels, (2) the effects of emerging contaminants on sexual maturation, and (3) the potential for altered diets, including consumption of microplastics. Diurnal fluctuations in discharge of effluent create daily drying events in lower reaches of the river, which sometimes results in fish mortality. Furthermore, estrogen compounds in effluent can alter sex ratios in fish. However, we were unable to detect any trends. Finally, diet analysis on a subset of 200 mosquitofish revealed differences in preferred prey and documented 3 ingested plastic microfibers. Faced with increasing human population growth and uncertainties of climate change, effluent systems will become increasingly important sources of aquatic habitat, but further studies are needed to assess their ability to support native fishes.

Urban
Pollution
Restoration

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Presenters/Authors

Drew Eppehimer (), University of Arizona, deppehimer@gmail.com;