Spatial and trophic biomonitoring of trace metals in aquatic environments following the Mt. Polley Mine tailings spill

Summary

Abstract	Abstract A large (~25 M m3) copper-gold tailing spill occurred in 2014 at the Mt. Polley Mine, which released solid and liquid waste and caused a debris flow into nearby Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake. This study examined the spatial and trophic patterns of trace elements in water bodies impacted by the spill between April and November 2016. Concentrations of trace metals in biofilm, invertebrates, sediments, and water were measured and analyzed using DGT and ICP-MS. Trophic positioning of sampled organisms was established using invertebrate functional feeding groups, and stable isotope ratios. Spatial results indicated that copper and vanadium concentrations in biofilm and invertebrates at impacted environments regress significantly with distance to the spill. Trophic results show evidence of copper bioaccumulation and selenium trophic magnification in biofilm and invertebrates from impacted waters. These effects appear to have seasonal variations, with stronger trophic and spatial relationships during spring overturn of Quesnel Lake.
Persons	Persons Author (aut): Zwiebel, Aaron B. Thesis advisor (ths): Petticrew, Ellen L. Thesis advisor (ths): Owens, Philip N. Degree committee member (dgc): Albers, Samuel J.
Degree Name	Degree Name Master of Science (MSc)
Department	Department NRES-Environmental Science
DOI	DOI 10.24124/2019/58949
Collection(s)	Collection(s) Dissertations and Theses

Origin Information

Date Created/Date Issued	2019
Publisher	University of Northern British Columbia
Issuance	monographic

Organizations

Degree Level

Subjects and Classifications

Subject Topic	Subject Topic Tailings (Metallurgy)--Environmental aspects Quesnel Lake (B.C.) Mount Polley mine
Geographic Subject	Geographic Subject Polley Lake (B.C.)
Keywords	Keywords spatial biofilm trophic bioaccumulation Quesnel lake

Resource Description

Extent	Extent 1 online resource (127 pages)
Physical Form	Physical Form electronic
Content type	Content type Digital Document
Resource Type	Resource Type Text
Genre	Genre thesis
Language	Language English

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Language	English
Name	Spatial and trophic biomonitoring of trace metals in aquatic environments following the Mt. Polley Mine tailings spill
Authored on	2025-03-20
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File size	3394487
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