Event Type
Research Presentation
Location
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Start Date
25-4-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 2:30 PM
Description
Under the direction of Dr. Mary Jane Carmichael, Dr. Daniel Derringer, Dr. Molly Lynch, Dr. Kaila Thorn Freshwater mussels like Medionidus conradicus (the Cumberland Moccasinshell) are essential to the health of aquatic ecosystems in Southwest Virginia and serve as bioindicators of ecosystem health due to their sensitivity to pollution (Jones, 2015). This study aims to examine the effects of iron (Fe) pollution from coal mining runoff on the physiological state of M. condradicus. Approximately 60 mussels will be divided into control and experimental groups and raised in lab-based aquatic microcosms. Test groups will be exposed to Fe concentrations found in the Clinch River (Echols, 2011), with incremental increases in Fe exposure over eight weeks. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels will be measured before and after exposure to Fe to assess respiratory function, following methods adapted from Chen, Heath, and Neves (2001). I hypothesize that increasing Fe levels will impair respiration, indicating declining mussel health (Naimo, 1995; Vuori, 1995; Khan et al., 2018). Results will enhance our understanding of the ecological impacts of coal mining (Bernhardt et al., 2012; Acharya & Kharel, 2020) and help guide conservation efforts for threatened mussel species (Freshwater Mussels, n.d.; Zipper & Skousen, 2020).
The effects Iron pollution has on the health of Medionidus conradicus
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Under the direction of Dr. Mary Jane Carmichael, Dr. Daniel Derringer, Dr. Molly Lynch, Dr. Kaila Thorn Freshwater mussels like Medionidus conradicus (the Cumberland Moccasinshell) are essential to the health of aquatic ecosystems in Southwest Virginia and serve as bioindicators of ecosystem health due to their sensitivity to pollution (Jones, 2015). This study aims to examine the effects of iron (Fe) pollution from coal mining runoff on the physiological state of M. condradicus. Approximately 60 mussels will be divided into control and experimental groups and raised in lab-based aquatic microcosms. Test groups will be exposed to Fe concentrations found in the Clinch River (Echols, 2011), with incremental increases in Fe exposure over eight weeks. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels will be measured before and after exposure to Fe to assess respiratory function, following methods adapted from Chen, Heath, and Neves (2001). I hypothesize that increasing Fe levels will impair respiration, indicating declining mussel health (Naimo, 1995; Vuori, 1995; Khan et al., 2018). Results will enhance our understanding of the ecological impacts of coal mining (Bernhardt et al., 2012; Acharya & Kharel, 2020) and help guide conservation efforts for threatened mussel species (Freshwater Mussels, n.d.; Zipper & Skousen, 2020).