Laserfiche WebLink
.' <br />, <br />squawfish (Table 4) which were captured from the Colorado River in May 1986 <br />and held at Tiara Rado golf course pond approximately 3-4 months before they <br />died in July and August, 1986. <br />Levels of mercury found in the two Colorado River channel catfish were <br />approximately equal to the 1980-81 NCBP mean for channel catfish #2, and <br />approximately equal to the 85th percentile for channel catfish #1. Levels of <br />mercury found in the three Colorado squawfish were all elevated, from 1.5 to <br />2.1X the NCBP 85th-percentile value. Colorado squawfish may have accumulated <br />some mercury from the golf course pond. However, because these squawfish were <br />probably much older than the channel catfish, they probably accumulated more <br />mercury from the Colorado River. <br />Colorado squawfish #7 contained a high level of selenium at 6.3 ug/g <br />dry weight. Channel catfish from the Colorado River both had selenium levels <br />below the 1980-81 NCBP mean value of 1.88 ug/g dry weight. It is possible <br />that the squawfish #7 may have accumulated selenium from the golf course pond. <br />Lemly (1982) noted a significant bioaccumulation of waterborne selenium by <br />juvenile bluegills and largemouth bass within 120 days (exposed to 10 ug/1). <br />Also, as in the case of mercury, squawfish may also have accumulated selenium <br />from the Colorado River. Lemly (1982) also demonstrated a 50% excretion rate <br />of selenium from centrarchid gills and erythrocytes, though there was <br />essentially no elimination from the spleen, liver, kidney or muscle at 30 <br />days. <br />Colorado squawfish #7 also had a higher level of cadmium compared to the <br />1980-81 NCBP 85th-percentile level. Cadmium levels were low in the other two <br />squawfish and the two catfish collected from the Colorado River. Uptake of <br />cadmium is highly variable, depending on physiological, chemical and <br />biological factors. Body burdens generally increase with size-and age of fish