Invasive species accelerate PCBs up the food chain
By Steve Carmody (2010-04-12) ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) – New University of Michigan research finds invasive species are accelerating PCBs up the food chain. Recent dredging of the Saginaw River was intended to remove PCB contaminated soil. U of M fishery biologist David Jude says tests indicate the dredging worked. But he says walleyes are showing signs of increased PCB contamination. Jude traces the problem to two invasive species, zebra mussels and round gobies. “Zebra mussels filter a liter of water a day. They are removing a large amount of the algae out of that water,” says Jude, “and as a result of that they are picking up a lot higher concentration of PCBs. There are some really outrageous high concentrations of pcbs in zebra mussels in the Saginaw River.” Jude says as other aquatic life eats the invasive mussels, the PCBs move up the food chain. He believes the data can be helpful for wildlife officials charged with managing Great Lakes fisheries.
