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<br />SIMULATING IRRIGATION WATER TOXICITY 57 <br /> <br />TABLE VII. Mean (SE) of fish activity (grid crossings/min) and critical swimming speed (cm/s) <br />of razorback suck.r and bonytail exposed to a mixture of nine elements simulating <br />Ashley Creek, Utah, In a reconstituted water representing the Green River <br /> <br /> Activity Critical swimming speed <br />Species and treatment Day 30 Day 60 Day 90 <br />Razorback sucker <br />Control 23(8) 34.5(0.8) 33.9(1.0) <br />IX' 25(8) 32.0(1.1) 29. I( 1.6) <br />2X 29(10) 30.20.0) 28.8<.1.3) <br />4X 27(13) 33.6(0.8) 3 1.5( 1.5) <br />8X 107(12)**b 9.6( 1.5)* * 15.7<.1.7)** <br />16X 32(5) c <br />Bonytail <br />Control 90(12) 38.9(1.2) 39.4(1.2) <br />IX 40(5)* 38.8( 1.5) 38.7(1.2) <br />2X 31(8)** 38.2(0.8) 36.4(0.9) <br />4X 150(26) 36.5(1.0) 36.4(0.9) <br />8X 114(17) 30.6( 1.4)* * 32.2(1.1)** <br />16X 144(9) 20.9(1.7)** 22.6<.1.3)** <br /> <br />a IX = mixture of 2 /Lg/L As, 630 /Lg/L B, 10 /Lg/L eu, 5 /Lg/L Mo, 51 JLg/L Se +6,8 JLg/L Se..4, 33 /Lg/L U, 2 <br />/Lg/L V, and 20 /Lg/L Zn. <br />b Asterisks indicate significant difference from the control within a column (ANDV A; · P .;; 0.10, · * P .;; 0.05). <br />, No fish available. <br /> <br />that this mixture posed a high hazard to the fish and <br />probably could cause chronic effects in these fish at <br />environmental concentrations. <br />Tests with individual inorganics and the three en- <br />dangered fish have found that some inorganics may <br />pose a hazard to endangered fishes in the Green River. <br />Hamilton (1995) reported moderate hazard ratios for <br />boron, selenate, selenite, and zinc, and low hazard <br />ratios for uranium and vanadium. Buhl (1997) reported <br />low hazards for cadmium, chromium, lead, and mer- <br />cury. Buhl and Hamilton (1996) reported a high hazard <br />for copper and zinc. However, the highest reported <br />hazards to these endangered fish were from the mix- <br />tures of inorganics simulating Ashley Creek and Stew- <br />art Lake outlet (Buhl and Hamilton, 1996). <br />The toxicity of inorganic mixtures simulating condi- <br />tions in other waters receiving irrigation drainage have <br />also been found to pose hazards to fish in western <br />rivers. In tests with Colorado squawfish and razorback <br />sucker and a water simulating the San Juan River of <br />New Mexico, a high hazard was reported for copper <br />and five environmental mixtures of inorganics (Ham- <br />ilton and Buhl, 1997a). In tests with flannelmouth <br />sucker (Catostomus latipinnis), a Species of Concern <br />(formerly Category 2 species listed by the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service), and a water quality simulating the <br />San Juan River, the highest hazards were for copper <br />and four environmental mixtures of inorganics, with <br />moderate hazards for zinc and a fifth inorganic mix- <br />ture, and low for arsenic, boron, molybdenum, selenate, <br /> <br />selenite, uranium, and vanadium (Hamilton and Buhl, <br />1997b). <br /> <br />Behavior <br /> <br />A variety of behavioral tests have been used to discern <br />the effects of inorganic contaminants on fish behavior <br />including cough rate, avoidance reactions, predation <br />avoidance, feeding behavior, learning, social interac- <br />tions such as schooling, and locomotion behaviors such <br />as swimming performance (Atchison et aI., 1987; Little <br />and Finger, 1990; Little et aI., 1993). Several of these <br />altered behaviors were observed in the present study at <br />exposure concentrations similar to those reported by <br />others. Temporary feeding inhibition has been reported <br />for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to <br />100 to 300 JLg/L of copper, but feeding returned to <br />control levels in 15 days (Lett et aI., 1976). Sandhein- <br />rich and Atchison (1989) also reported reduced forag- <br />ing behavior in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirns) exposed <br />31 JLg/L of copper, which they concluded would result <br />in reduced growth of wild fish and altered prey commu- <br />nities. Reduced feeding has also been reported in At- <br />lantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr exposed to zinc con- <br />centrations as low as 420 JLg/L initially, but even at <br />1000 JLg/L, food intake returned to control levels <br />within 10 to 20 days (Farmer et a!., 1979). These <br />concentrations of copper and zinc are equal to or <br />greater than the concentrations incorporated in the <br />mixture of inorganics tested. Contaminants have been <br />