Author Description

Freshwater mussels, filamentous algae, and young forage fish have been routinely monitored on the Niagara River since 1980. The use of leeches as biomonitors for chlorinated phenols was begun in 1987. The 1987 biomonitoring study was designed to provide an update to previous surveys and to identify the potential of other sites and tributaries to contribute contaminants to the Niagara River. Mussels and leeches collected from uncontaminated inland lakes were placed in the Niagara River in cages at specific locations, and resident Cladophora and bottom sediments were collected to identify contaminant sources or source areas requiring more detailed follow-up investigations based on uptake of contaminants in selection biomonitors; to compare these results with ongoing long-term trace contaminant monitoring with indigenous species (spottail shiners, Cladophera) and identify spatial and temporal trends; and to augment ongoing upstream/downstream Niagara River toxic management plan programs by providing information on contaminant levels in the river between Fort Erie and Niagara-on- the-Lake.