Assessment and Characterization of Salt Marshes in the Arthur Kill

232 Pages·2007·3.43 MB·English

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-167
Assessment and Characterization
of Salt Marshes in the Arthur Kill
(New York and New Jersey)
Replanted after a Severe Oil Spill
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northeast Region
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
December 2001
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NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-167
This series represents a secondary level of scientifiic publishing. All issues employ thorough internal
scientific review; some issues employ external scientific review. Reviews are -- by design -- transparent
collegial reviews, not anonymous peer reviews. All issues may be cited in formal scientific communi-
cations.
Assessment and Characterization
of Salt Marshes in the Arthur Kill
(New York and New Jersey)
Replanted after a Severe Oil Spill
David B. Packer, Editor
National Marine Fisheries Serv., 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands, NJ 07732
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Donald L. Evans, Secretary
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Administrator
National Marine Fisheries Service
William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
Northeast Region
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
December 2001
Editorial Notes
Species Names: The NEFSC Editorial Office’s policy on the use of species names in all technical communications is
generally to follow the American Fisheries Society’s lists of scientific and common names for fishes (i.e., Robins et al.
1991aa,bb) mollusks (i.e., Turgeon et al. 1998c), and decapod crustaceans (i.e., Williams et al. 1989d), and to follow the
Society for Marine Mammalogy's guidance on scientific and common names for marine mammals (i.e., Rice 1998e).
Exceptions to this policy occur when there are subsequent compelling revisions in the classifications of species, resulting
in changes in the names of species (e.g., Cooper and Chapleau 1998f, McEachran and Dunn 1998g).
Statistical Terms: The NEFSC Editorial Office’s policy on the use of statistical terms in all technical communications is
generally to follow the International Standards Organization’s handbook of statistical methods (i.e., ISO 1981h).
Internet Availability: This issue of the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE series is being copublished, i.e., as
both a paper and Web document. The Web document, which will be in HTML (and thus searchable) and PDF formats,
can be accessed at: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/.
aRobins, C.R. (chair); Bailey, R.M.; Bond, C.E.; Brooker, J.R.; Lachner, E.A.; Lea, R.N.; Scott, W.B. 1991. Common and scientific names
of fishes from the United States and Canada. 5th ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 20; 183 p.
bRobins, C.R. (chair); Bailey, R.M.; Bond, C.E.; Brooker, J.R.; Lachner, E.A.; Lea, R.N.; Scott, W.B. 1991. World fishes important to
North Americans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 21; 243 p.
cTurgeon, D.D. (chair); Quinn, J.F., Jr.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.E.;
Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J.D. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic
invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 26; 526 p.
dWilliams, A.B. (chair); Abele, L.G.; Felder, D.L.; Hobbs, H.H., Jr.; Manning, R.B.; McLaughlin, P.A.; Pérez Farfante, I. 1989. Common
and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: decapod crustaceans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 17;
77 p.
eRice, D.W. 1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Soc. Mar. Mammal. Spec. Publ. 4; 231 p.
fCooper, J.A.; Chapleau, F. 1998. Monophyly and interrelationships of the family Pleuronectidae (Pleuronectiformes), with a revised
classification. Fish. Bull. (Washington, DC) 96:686-726.
gMcEachran, J.D.; Dunn, K.A. 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs
(Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2):271-290.
hISO [International Organization for Standardization]. 1981. ISO standards handbook 3: statistical methods. 2nd ed. Geneva, Switzerland:
ISO; 449 p.
Page iii
Contents
Preface ................................................................................................................................................................................vii
Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................i x
I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................1
II. Trace Metal Contaminants in Sediments and Ribbed-Mussels (Geukensia demissa).................................................7
Anthony J. Paulson, Vincent S. Zdanowicz, Beth L. Sharack, Elizabeth A. Leimburg, and David B. Packer
III. Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Sediments and Ribbed-Mussels (Geukensia demissa)..................................................33
Ashok D. Deshpande, Bruce W. Dockum, and Amy M. Tesolin
IV. Sediment Biogeochemistry.........................................................................................................................................65
Vincent G. Guida and Andrew F. J. Draxler
V. Age, Growth, and Allometric Relationships of Ribbed-Mussels (Geukensiademissa).............................................89
Joseph J. Vitaliano and Allen J. Bejda
VI. Benthic Invertebrates.................................................................................................................................................97
Joseph J. Vitaliano, Robert N. Reid, Ann B. Frame, David B. Packer, Linda Arlen, and John N. Sacco
VII. Food Habits of the Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus).......................................................................................101
Frank W. Steimle, Jr.
VIII. Conclusions .............................................................................................................................................................111
Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................................................................113
Appendices
Appendix A. Principal Component Analysis of Trace Metals ....................................................................................... 115
Appendix B. Sample Characteristics for Analysis of Petroleum Hydrocarbons ............................................................ 117
Appendix C. Quality Control for Analysis of Petroleum Hydrocarbons........................................................................ 125
Appendix D. Individual and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Concentrations ................................................................. 149
Appendix E. Chromatograms for Analysis of Petroleum Hydrocarbons ....................................................................... 197
Appendix F. Redox Values .............................................................................................................................................215
Figures
Figure 1. Map showing the general location of the Arthur Kill within the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, and the location of the
Sandy Hook reference site on Sandy Hook, New Jersey....................................................................................4
Figure 2. Map of the Arthur Kill showing station locations and the point of origin of the 1990 oil spill...........................5
Figure 3. Concentration of major phases of sediments collected in September 1996 and May 1997: A) fines (<0.063 mm),
B) OC, C) Fe, and D) Mn...................................................................................................................................13
Figure 4. Trace metal concentrations in sediments collected in September 1996 and May 1997: A) Zn, B) Cu, C) Cr, and D)
Pb......................................................................................................................................................................14
Figure 5. Trace metal:Fe ratios in sediments collected in September 1996 and May 1997: A) Zn, B) Cu, C) Cr, and D)
Pb......................................................................................................................................................................15
Figure 6. Concentrations in mussels collected in September 1996 and May 1997 for the metals exhibiting the greatest
seasonal differences: A) Ni, B) Cr, C) Hg, and D) Ag......................................................................................16
Figure 7. Concentrations in mussels collected in September 1996 and May 1997 for the metals exhibiting the least seasonal
differences: A) Cu, B) Fe, C) Zn, and D) Cd.....................................................................................................17
Figure 8. Principal component analysis of data for Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn, Pb, and OC data for sediments collected in
September 1996 and May 1997..........................................................................................................................18
Figure 9. Principal component analysis of data for Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn, Pb, and grain size for sediments collected in
September 1996.................................................................................................................................................19
Figure 10. Principal component analysis of data for Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Hg, and Fe for mussels collected in September
1996 and May 1997 ...........................................................................................................................................20
Figure 11. Sediment core sectioning device ......................................................................................................................48
Figure 12. Mussel length distribution for each site for the Arthur Kill September 1996 collection and for the Sandy Hook
Bay February 1997 collection............................................................................................................................49
Figure 13. Mussel length distribution for each site for the Arthur Kill May 1997 collection ............................................50
Page iv
Figure 14. Full GC-FID calibration chromatogram of all individual hydrocarbons and internal standards........................51
Figure 15. Chromatogram of a solution of the Restek diesel fuel oil #2 standard in methylene chloride with internal
standards added...............................................................................................................................................52
Figure 16. Chromatograms of Sandy Hook ribbed-mussel homogenate spiked with 1000 μg of Restek diesel fuel oil #2
standard............................................................................................................................................................53
Figure 17. TPH concentrations for Old Place Creek and Mill Creek sediment samples .....................................................54
Figure 18. TPH concentrations for Con Ed Tower sediment samples................................................................................55
Figure 19. Average TPH concentrations in surface sediments by site..............................................................................56
Figure 20. Average TPH concentrations in ribbed-mussels by site ..................................................................................57
Figure 21. Box plot of the TPH concentrations in surface sediments................................................................................58
Figure 22. Correlation between TPH concentrations and TOC concentrations in Arthur Kill surface sediments from Old
Place Creek, Con Ed Tower, and Mill Creek marshes........................................................................................59
Figure 23. Correlation between TPH concentrations, mussel length, and percent lipid for Tufts Point ribbed-mussels.........60
Figure 24. Correlation between TPH concentrations and percent lipid in Saw Mill Creek North ribbed-mussels, correlation
between mussel length and percent lipid in Saw Mill Creek South ribbed-mussels, and correlation between
mussel length and percent lipid in Mill Creek ribbed-mussels..........................................................................61
Figure 25. Diagramatic view of DIW equilibration device in soil.......................................................................................76
Figure 26. Depth profiles of redox potential for stations at replanted marsh sites in fall 1996 and spring 1997, including
duplicate profiles for each station ....................................................................................................................77
Figure 27. Depth profiles of redox potential for stations at reference marsh sites in fall 1996 and spring 1997, including
duplicate profiles for each station ....................................................................................................................78
Figure 28. Depth profiles of redox potential for stations at unplanted marsh sites in fall 1996 and spring 1997, including
duplicate profiles for each station ....................................................................................................................79
Figure 29. Seasonal patterns in interstitial soluble sulfide from replanted marsh stations................................................80
Figure 30. Seasonal patterns in interstitial soluble sulfide from unplanted marsh stations...............................................81
Figure 31. Seasonal patterns in interstitial soluble sulfide from reference marsh stations ................................................82
Figure 32. Seasonal values of TOC in surface sediments arranged by station, site, and replanting treatment.................83
Figure 33. Mean LC in surface sediments taken from two stations per site in May 1998..................................................84
Figure 34. Log soluble sulfide plotted against mean redox potential for all nonzero sulfide values grouped by marsh
10
replanting status...............................................................................................................................................85
Figure 35. Relationship between sediment surface TOC and silt/clay content .................................................................86
Figure 36. Age-frequency distribution of ribbed-mussels collected at Old Place Creek and Saw Mill Creek North, Saw Mill
Creek South and Con Ed Tower, and Tufts Point and Mill Creek in September 1996 .......................................92
Figure 37. Length-frequency distribution of ribbed-mussels collected at Old Place Creek and Saw Mill Creek North, Saw
Mill Creek South and Con Ed Tower, and Tufts Point and Mill Creek in September 1996................................93
Figure 38. Growth of 2-, 3-, and 4-yr-old ribbed-mussels collected at the six Arthur Kill sites during September 1996...........94
Tables
Table 1. Trace metal quality assurance data...................................................................................................................21
Table 2. Metal concentrations in sediments in September 1996.....................................................................................22
Table 3. Metal concentrations in sediments in May 1997..............................................................................................24
Table 4. Trace metal statistics for sediments from the Arthur Kill and other areas in the region...................................26
Table 5. Metal concentrations in ribbed-mussels in September 1996.............................................................................27
Table 6. Metal concentrations in ribbed-mussels in May 1997......................................................................................29
Table 7. Trace metal statistics for ribbed-mussels from the Arthur Kill and other areas in the region...........................31
Table 8. Correlations between metals and sediment characteristics, and among metals, in ribbed-mussels, where r
>0.80 .................................................................................................................................................................32
Table 9. Concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons and of the total of the individual petroleum hydrocarbons for
surface sediments.............................................................................................................................................62
Table 10. Concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons and of the total of the individual petroleum hydrocarbons for
sediment core sections .....................................................................................................................................63
Table 11. Concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons and of the total of the individual petroleum hydrocarbons for
ribbed-mussels..................................................................................................................................................64
Page v
Table 12. Arthur Kill marsh biogeochemistry by treatment, site, station, and season.....................................................87
Table 13. Average shell dimensions, shell dry weight, meat dry weight, and shell shape and body size relationships for
2-, 3-, and 4-yr-old ribbed-mussels collected at the six Arthur Kill sites during September 1996......................95
Table 14. Invertebrate taxa collected at the six study sites in the Arthur Kill ..................................................................99
Table 15. Means/7-cm2 core for the abundances of all benthic invertebrates, oligochaetes, nematodes, and Manayunkia
aestuarina at each of the six study sites and two sampling dates in the Arthur Kill .....................................100
Table 16. Percent frequency of occurrence of items or prey in mummichog stomachs from the six Arthur Kill sites during
September 1996...............................................................................................................................................106
Table 17. Mean percent stomach volume estimates of items or prey in mummichog stomachs from the six Arthur Kill sites
during September 1996....................................................................................................................................107
Table 18. Percent frequency of occurrence of items or prey in mummichog stomachs from the six Arthur Kill sites during
May-August 1997...........................................................................................................................................108
Table 19. Mean percent stomach volume estimates of items or prey in mummichog stomachs from the six Arthur Kill sites
during May-August 1997 ...............................................................................................................................109
Acronyms
AAS = atomic absorption spectrophotometry
ANOVA = analysis of variance
BOD = biological oxygen demand
CPI = carbon preference index
DARP = (NOAA) Damage Assessment and Restoration Program
DDI = double de-ionized
DIW = de-ionized water
FID = flame ionization detection (detector)
GC = gas chromatography (chromatogram)
GC-FID = gas chromatography - flame ionization detection
GC/MS = gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
HDPE = high-density polyethylene
HP = Hewlett-Packard
LC = labile carbon
MDL = method detection limit
MS = mass spectrometry
nd = not detected
NIST = (U.S. Department of Commerce) National Institute of Standards and Technology
NJDEP = New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
NMFS = (U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service
NRC = National Research Council
NYCDEP = New York City Department of Environmental Protection
OC = organic carbon
PAH = polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
PCA = principal component analysis
PD = percent difference
QA = quality assurance
RPD = relative percentage difference
RSD = relative standard deviation
SMRT = (New York City Department of Parks and Recreation) Salt Marsh Restoration Team
SRM = standard reference material
TIPH = total of individual petroleum hydrocarbons
TOC = total organic carbon
TPH = total petroleum hydrocarbons
WI = weathering index
Page vi
Page vii
PREFACE
For further information on the oil spill in the Arthur Kill, as well as pictures of the marsh sites and plantings, see the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (DARP), Exxon
Bayway Wetland Acquisition and Restoration webpage (http://www.darp.noaa.gov/neregion/exbw.htm). DARP is a col-
laborative effort among NOAA’s National Ocean Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Office of General
Counsel. DARP’s mission is to restore coastal and marine resources that have been injured by releases of oil or hazardous
substances and to obtain compensation for the public’s lost use and enjoyment of these resources.
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