Silver and copper accumulation in two estuarine bivalves,the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and the hooked mussel (Ischadium recurvum) in the Patuxent River estuary,Maryland

In order to assess the source of trace elements and to compare uptake between different bivalve species, oysters and mussels were transplanted to five sites in the upper Patuxent River estuary during 1988. Transplant sites were located above and below the discharge of Chalk Point Steam Electric Station (CPSES)—a historic point source for copper. Organisms were sampled approximately monthly for 1 yr and analyzed for copper and silver. During spring and summer, concentrations of silver and copper increased in oysters at the upstream stations. There was very little change in silver and copper concentrations in the mussels with either time or among stations. Copper concentrations accumulated by oysters approached those found during previous periods when CPSES used Cu?Ni alloy condenser tubes (1966–1987), suggesting that corrosion from the Cu?Ni condenser tubes was only a minor contributor to the copper burdens of oysters in the river nearby. The lack of accumulation by mussels at the same sites suggests that part of the reason for the accumulation by oysters may be a taxonomically specific physiological effect caused by the salinity regime in the upper Patuxent.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in oyster (Crassostrea virginica) tissue and shell

Oysters and sediment have been collected from most major US Gulf of Mexico bays and estuaries each year since 1986. Selected samples of oyster soft tissue, shell and sediments were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn for this study. Concentrations varied considerably from place to place but ratios of metals remained relatively constant. Cu and Zn are greatly enriched in oyster tissues, which is related to their physiological function. Cd is enriched in oyster shell because of the easy substitution between Cd and Ca. The concentrations of Pb and Cr in oysters are significantly lower than that in sediment, suggesting a good discrimination against these metals by oysters. Metal variations are a result of both nature and human activity. Received: 13 September 1999 · Accepted: 8 December 1999     

Temporal and spatial patterns of trace elements in the Patuxent River: A whole watershed approach

Trace element distributions, partitioning, and speciation were examined at 15 sites in the Patuxent River watershed from May 1995 through October 1997 to determine possible sources of trace elements to the river and estuary, to examine the relationship of the trace element discharges to freshwater discharges as well as to land use and geographic region, to validate previous estimates of loadings to the river, and to provide baseline data for trace elements in the Patuxent River watershed and estuary. Six freshwater sites were examined, representing different basins and geographic provinces, and nine sites along the estuarine salinity gradient. Subregions within the watershed varied considerably in concentrations and areal yields for some elements. Concentrations of As, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn were elevated in the Coastal Plain sites compared to the Piedmont sites, while Cu and Hg were more evenly distributed. Cadmium, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn showed overall positive correlations with river flow while As and methylHg (meHg) showed negative correlations with river flow. Concentrations of trace elements in the estuarine portion of the river were generally low, and consistent with mixing between Patuxent River water with elevated concentrations and the lower concentrations of the Chesapeake Bay. Interesting features included a local Cd maximum in the low salinity region of the estuary, probably caused by desorption from suspended sediments, and a significant input of water containing high As concentrations from the Chesapeake Bay and from As being released from bottom sediments in summer. Comparisons between the estimated annual flux of trace elements and the estimates of suspected source terms (atmospheric deposition, urban runoff, and known point sources) suggest that, except for Hg, direct atmospheric deposition is small compared to fluvial loads. Current estimates of trace element inputs from point sources or from urban runoff are inadequate for comparison with other sources, because of inappropriate techniques and/or unacceptably high detection limits. A complete examination of trace element dynamics in the Patuxent River (and in other coastal systems) will require better data for these potential sources.     

A framework for estimating ecological risks posed by nutrients and trace elements in the Patuxent River

The continued urbanization of coastal watersheds can influence the quality of water that enters rivers and estuaries. Intelligent management of aquatic resources will require the capability to quantitatively assess and evaluate the impacts of alterations in surface waters that result from changes in patterns of land use. An aquatic ecosystem model was developed and linked to an empirical landscape model to estimate ecological risks posed by nutrients and potentially toxic trace elements (copper [Cu], cadmium [Cd], arsenic [As]) in the Patuxent River, Maryland. The empirical landscape model translated reductions in croplands within the Patuxent River watershed into corresponding changes in nitrate estimated to enter the river. Trace element concentrations were increased in relation to urbanization associated with the loss of agricultural lands in the watershed. The aquatic ecosystem model used the altered inputs of nutrients and trace elements to estimate changes in the annual production dynamics of selected producer and consumer populations within the Patuxent River. The models were implemented for four mainstem locations that defined a transect from the upper freshwater portion of the river to downstream estuarine locations. Ecological impacts were estimated for 4 hypothetical changes in land use that consisted of 10%, 7.5%, 5%, and 2.5% watershed coverage by cropland. Impacts were estimated as the probability (risk) of different magnitudes of increases or decreases in total annual production of populations representative of freshwater and estuarine food webs in the Patuxent River.     

Oyster-sea nettle interdependence and altered control within the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem

Research on the effects of declining abundances of the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries has primarily focused on the role of oysters in filtration and nutrient dynamics, and as habitat for fish or fish prey. Oysters also play a key role in providing substrate for the overwintering polyp stage of the scyphomedusa sea nettle,Chrysaora quinquecirrha, which is an important consumer of zooplankton, ctenophores, and icthyoplankton. Temporal trends in sea nettle abundances in visual counts from the dock at Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, trawls conducted in the mesohaline portion of the Patuxent River, and published data from the mainstem Chesapeake Bay indicate that sea nettles declined in the mid 1980s when overfishing and increased disease mortality led to sharp decreases in oyster landings and abundance. Climate trends, previously associated with interannual variation in sea nettle abundances, do not explain the sharp decline. A potentially important consequence of declining sea nettle abundances may be an increase in their ctenophore prey (Mnemiopsis leidyi), and a resultant increase in predation on icthyoplankton and oyster larvae. Increased predation on oyster larvae by ctenophores may inhibit recovery of oyster populations and reinforce the current low abundance of oysters in Chesapeake Bay.     

Effect of nutrient loading on Atlantic menhaden (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevoortia tyrannus</Emphasis>) growth rate potential in the Patuxent River

We linked a 2-dimensional water quality model of the Patuxent River with a spatially-explicit model of fish growth to simulate how changes in land use in the Patuxent River Basin would affect the growth rate potential (GRP) of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus). Simulations of three land-use patterns that reflected current nutrient loadings, increased nutrient loadings, and decreased nutrient loadings were used to drive the water quality model. Changes in nutrient loadings caused changes in the timing and intensity of phytoplankton concentrations and the region of hypoxia increased during summer with increased nutrient loading. The spatial distribution of menhaden GRP was highly correlated with phytoplankton concentrations and localized in the middle on third of the Patuxent River. Menhaden growth rate was highest in early June and late summer. During June, menhaden GRP (and phytoplankton concentration) was lowest at the lower nutrient loading simulation. During late summer, mean menhaden growth rates were inversely proportional to nutrient loading rates and menhaden grew best when nutrient loadings were the lowest. Upriver to mid-river phytoplankton patches drove overall mean calculations. Model results suggest that more research is needed on water quality model predictions of phytoplankton levels at a high level of spatial and temporal resolution, menhaden foraging, and menhaden habitat selection.     

The pattern and influence of low dissolved oxygen in the Patuxent River,a seasonally hypoxic estuary

Increased nutrient loadings have resulted in low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in bottom waters of the Patuxent River, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. We synthesize existing and newly collected data to examine spatial and temporal variation in bottom DO, the prevalence of hypoxia-induced mortality of fishes, the tolerance of Patuxent River biota to low DO, and the influence of bottom DO on the vertical distributions and spatial overlap of larval fish and fish eggs with their gelatinous predators and zooplankton prey. We use this information, as well as output from watershed-quality and water-quality models, to configure a spatially-explicit individual-based model to predict how changing land use within the Patuxent watershed may affect survival of early life stages of summer breeding fishes through its effect on DO. Bottom waters in much of the mesohaline Patuxent River are below 50% DO saturation during summer. The system is characterized by high spatial and temporal variation in DO concentrations, and the current severity and extent of hypoxia are sufficient to alter distributions of organisms and trophic interactions in the river. Gelatinous zooplankton are among the most tolerant species of hypoxia, while several of the ecologically and economically important finfish are among the most sensitive. This variation in DO tolerances may make the Patuxent River, and similar estuaries, particularly susceptible to hypoxia-induced alterations in food web dynamics. Model simulations consistently predict high mortality of planktonic bay anchovy eggs (Anchoa mitchilli) under current DO, and increasing survival of fish eggs with increasing DO. Changes in land use that reduce nutrient loadings may either increase or decrease predation mortality of larval fish depending on the baseline DO conditions at any point in space and time. A precautionary approach towards fisheries and ecosystem management would recommend reducing nutrients to levels at which low oxygen effects on estuarine habitat are reduced and, where possible, eliminated.     

Galveston Bay: Temporal changes in the concentrations of trace organic contaminants in national status and trends oysters (1986–1994)

The temporal distributions for six classes of trace organic contaminants (chlordanes, DDTs, dieldrin, PAHs, PCBs, and butyltins) in oysters from six Galveston Bay sites from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Status and Trends (NS&T) Mussel Watch Program are compared with other NS&T sites from the Gulf of Mexico as well as all NS&T sites of the United States (East Coast, West Coast, and Gulf of Mexico). Decreases in the median for the Gulf-wide concentration of chlordanes, dieldrin, and butyltins occurred during 1986–1994. The Gulfwide median concentrations of DDTs, PAHs, and PCBs exhibited a strong cyclic distribution with time. For Galveston Bay oysters, “high” concentration is defined as the concentration greater than the median plus one standard deviation for all Gulf of Mexico sites. The percentage of sites having high concentrations during 1986–1994 for Galveston Bay oysters are 49% for dieldrin, 45% for butyltins, 40% for chlordanes, 38% for PCBs, 30% for PAHs, and 21% for DDTs. For PCBs, 43% of Galveston Bay oyster samples analyzed over the first 9 yr have concentrations high enough for potential biological effects to be observed in oysters. The percentages in other agents were chlordanes (22%), butyltins (22%), dieldrin (5%), and PAHs (4%). National Academy of Science-proposed regulatory limits for oysters were exceeded in only 2% of Galveston Bay samples for DDTs and 1% for PCBs. All other contaminants were below proposed NAS limits.     

Hydrological and biogeochemical dynamics of the minor and trace elements in the St. Lawrence River

Surface water samples from the St. Lawrence River were collected in order to study the processes controlling minor and trace elements concentrations (Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn), and to construct mass balances allowing estimates of the relative importance of their natural and anthropogenic sources. The two major water inputs, the upper St. Lawrence River, which drains waters originating from the Lake Ontario, and the Ottawa River were collected fortnightly over 18 months. In addition, other tributaries were sampled during the spring floods. The output was monitored near Quebec City at the river mouth weekly between 1995 and 1999. Dissolved metal concentrations in the upper St. Lawrence River carbonated waters were lower than in the acidic waters of the tributaries draining the crystalline rocks of the Canadian shield and the forest cover. Biogeochemical and hydrodynamic processes occurring in Lake Ontario drive the seasonal variations observed in the upper St. Lawrence River. Biogeochemical processes relate to biological uptake, regeneration of organic matter (for Cd and Zn) and oxyhydroxide formation (for Mn and Fe), while hydrodynamic processes mainly concern the seasonal change in vertical stratification (for Cd, Mn, and Zn). In the Ottawa River, the main tributary, oxyhydroxide formation in summer governs seasonal patterns of Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co and Zn. The downstream section of the St. Lawrence River is a transit zone in which seasonal variations are mainly driven by the mixing of the different water masses and the large input of suspended particulate matter from erosion. The budget of all dissolved elements, except Fe and Zn, was balanced, as the budget of particulate elements (except Cd and Zn). The main sources of metals to the St. Lawrence River are erosion and inputs from tributaries and Lake Ontario. Direct anthropogenic discharges into the river accounted for less than 5% of the load, except for Cd (10%) and Zn (21%). The fluxes in transfer of dissolved Cd, Co, Cu and Zn species from the river to the lower St. Lawrence estuary were equal to corresponding fluxes calculated for Quebec City since the distributions of dissolved concentrations of these metals versus salinity were conservative. For Fe, the curvature of the dilution line obtained suggests that dissolved species were removed during early mixing.     

Large-scale distribution of metal contamination in the fine-grained sediments of the Clark Fork River,Montana, U.S.A.

Historic discharges from the mining and smelting complex at the head-waters of the Clark Fork River have resulted in elevated Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in the <60 μm fraction of both bed and flood-plain sediments of the river. Processes affecting the trends in longitudinal distributions of these metals were investigated by repeated sampling over a 380 km river reach between August 1986 and July 1989. At the most upstream site, bed-sediment metal concentrations were enriched 18–115 times above least enriched tributaries, depending on the metal. All metals decreased exponentially with distance downstream away from mining. The exponential model predicts that elevated metal concentrations should occur over 550 km downstream, in Lake Pend Oreille. Longitudinal trends, obvious on a scale of hundreds of kilometers, were obscured by small-scale spatial variability when shorter stretches of the river were considered. Longitudinal dispersion appeared to be controlled largely by physical dilution with less-contaminated sediments.Evidence suggests that erosion of contaminated flood-plains contributes to metal contamination in the bed sediments. Tributary input appeared to have little influence on the large-scale, downstream distribution of metals; however, it did contribute to local variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations. Association of metals with specific mineral grains, as well as variability in total organic C and Fe concentration, appeared also to contribute to variability.Some year-to-year variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations was observed, however, trends in longitudinal dispersion were not significantly different between at least two of the years sampled.     

The annual cycle of arsenic in a temperate estuary

Dissolved concentrations of four forms of arsenic: arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsenic, and dimethylarsenic, were measured in the Patuxent River Estuary near Benedict, Maryland, over two annual cycles. In each year, total arsenic concentrations peaked in the summer, in late July and August, while minimum concentrations occurred in winter. Except in late winter, aresenate was a predominant form of arsenic present. In late winter and spring, dimethylarsenic was also a predominant form. A period of monomethylarsenic abundance occurred in summer, following the predominance of dimethylarsenic. Arsenite occurred irregularly in spring. Concurrent temperature and salinity measurements in indicate that total arsenic concentrations rose before the summer increase in salinity, suggesting an arsenic source other than the end members, the Patuxent River or Chesapeake Bay.     

Kepone®: Toxicity and bioaccumulation in blue crabs

Two long-term studies were conducted to determine toxicity, uptake and depuration of Kepone in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). In the first, Kepone was administered to crabs in seawater (0.03 or 0.3 μg Kepone/I) or food (eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica, containing 0.25 μg/g Kepone). Uptake of Kepone in 28 days was primarily through the contaminated oysters. When these crabs were held in Kepone-free seawater and fed Kepone-free oysters for 28 days, no loss of the insecticide was evident. There were adverse effects on molting and survival in crabs fed oysters that contained 0.25 μg/g Kepone. A second study was conducted to determine: (1) the depuration of Kepone over a 90-day period in blue crabs fed oysters from the James River, Virginia (containing 0.15 μg/g Kepone); and (2) the effects of Kepone on molting and survival of blue crabs fed James River oysters or laboratory-contaminated oysters that contained 0.15 or 1.9 μg/g Kepone. Crabs fed Kepone-contaminated oysters followed by a diet of Kepone-free oysters for 90 days had detectable concentrations of the insecticide in tissues. Also, blue crabs that ate oysters containing Kepone in concentrations similar to those found in oysters from the James River, died or molted less frequently than crabs fed Kepone-free oysters meats.     

Historical pollution variability from abandoned mine sites,Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area,New South Wales,Australia

Core and surface sediments from the Tonalli River, a tributary of the artificial lake, Lake Burragorang, in the Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales, Australia, were studied to evaluate the spatio-temporal distribution of pollutants from the Yerranderie silver-lead-zinc mine site, abandoned in the late 1920s. A sediment core was collected in the mouth of the Tonalli River, at its junction with Lake Burragorang, and surface sediment samples were collected in the Tonalli River and its tributaries. The concentrations of Pb, As, Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg and Ag in the sediments were determined by ICP-MS and ICP-AES techniques. Temporal variability of metal concentrations was established through ²¹⁰Pb dating of the core sediments and compared with published historical records, rainfall records and bushfire data. Metal concentrations in core sediments showed an overall increase around the year 1950 as well as increases coincident with heavy rainfall. Spatially, metal concentrations were up to 400 times the guideline limit around mine sites but decreased rapidly with distance downstream of the mines.     

A watershed perspective on nutrient enrichment,science, and policy in the Patuxent River,Maryland: 1960–2000

The Patuxent River, Maryland, is a nutrient-overenriched tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Nutrient inputs from sewage outfalls and nonpoint sources (NPS) have grown substantially during the last four decades, and chlorophylla levels have increased markedly with concomitant reductions in water quality and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The Patuxent has gained national attention because it was one of the first river basins in the U.S. for which basin-wide nutrient control standards were developed. These included a reduction in NPS inputs and a limit on both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loadings in sewage discharges intended to return the river to 1950s conditions. Full implementation of point source controls occurred by 1994, but population growth and land-use changes continue to increase total nutrient loadings to the river. The present paper provides the perspectives of scientists who participated in studies of the Patuxent River and its estuary over the last three decades, and who interacted with policy makers as decisions were made to develop a dual nutrient control strategy. Although nutrient control measures have not yet resulted in dramatic increases in water quality, we believe that without them, more extensive declines in water quality would have occurred. Future reductions will have to come from more effective NPS controls since future point source loading will be difficult to further reduce with present technology. Changing land use will present a challenge to policy makers faced with sprawling population growth and accelerated deforestation.     

Estimation of net physical transport and hydraulic residence times for a coastal plain estuary using box models

A box model based on salinity distributions and freshwater inflow measurements was developed and used to estimate net non-tidal physical circulation and hydraulic residence times for Patuxent River estuary, Maryland, a tributary estuary of Chesapeake Bay. The box model relaxes the usual assumption that salinity is at steady-state, an important improvement over previous box model studies, yet it remains simple enough to have broad appeal. Average monthly 2-dimensional net non-tidal circulation and residence times for 1986–1995 are estimated and related to river flow and salt water inflow as estimated by the box model. An important result is that advective exchange at the estuary mouth was not correlated with Patuxent River flow, most likely due to effects of offshore salinity changes in Chesapeake Bay. The median residence time for freshwater entering at the head of the estuary was 68 d and decreased hyperbolically with increasing river flow to 30 d during high flow. Estimates of residence times for down-estuary points of origin showed that, from the head of the estuary to its mouth, control of flushing changed from primarily river flow to other factors regulating the intensity of gravitational circulation.     

Seasonal and Spatial Effects of Wastewater Effluent on Growth,Survival, and Accumulation of Microbial Contaminants by Oysters in Mobile Bay,Alabama

We measured seasonal effects of wastewater treatment plant (WTP) effluent on growth, survival, and accumulation of microbes in oysters near a major WTP in Mobile Bay, AL. Despite higher nutrients near the WTP, seasonal conditions rather than distance affected chlorophyll a concentration and oyster growth. In summer and fall, when oyster growth was higher, δ¹⁵N‰ in oysters near the WTP changed through time to reflect δ¹⁵N‰ in effluent (approx. −4‰). Microbial indicators (male-specific coliphage, fecal coliforms) were highest in oysters near the WTP in all seasons and correlated with δ¹⁵N‰ in fall and summer. Increased riverine discharge and slower acquisition of δ¹⁵N‰ likely confounded correlations in winter/spring. Although we did not detect gross ecological effects of wastewater exposure for oysters, data indicated wastewater-derived particles entered the local food web and accumulated in oysters. These data highlight the importance of using multiple indicators of wastewater exposure and considering both seasonal and spatial effects when defining wastewater influence on a system or species.     

Standing crops of marsh vegetation of two tributaries of Chesapeake Bay

A comparative study of the standing crop of marsh vegetation was made of the Patuxent River and Parker Creek, two tributaries of Chesapeake Bay. The biomass of marsh vegetation in the tidal freshwater and brackish regions of the Patuxent was relatively uniform with regard to salinity, seasonally high concentrations of dissolved nitrogen, and phosphorus and nutrient gradient. Maximum values of biomass occurred in the tidal freshwater and slightly brackish water region of Parker Creek, a system whose nutrient concentrations approximated 20% of those of Patuxent River. Biomass values for the Patuxent River and Parker Creek averaged about 1417 and 895 g m^?2 dry weight, respectively. Estimates of total annual marsh production based on the maximum standing crop was 27×10³ and 519 metric tons, respectively, for the Patuxent River and Parker Creek.     

Influence of Temporal Variations in River Discharge, pH, Alkalinity and Ca on the Speciation and Concentration of Heavy Metals in Some Mining Polluted Rivers

Dissolved (dialysis in situ) and total concentrations ofCu, Zn, Cd and Al in eight mining polluted rivers in the Røros area, central Norway, were determinedby atomic absorption spectrometry (flame and graphite furnace) and compared to pH, Caconcentration and alkalinity through seasonal variations in river discharge. Totalconcentrations of the metals were highest during early spring flood and during summer andautumn rain episodes. Dissolved concentrations also increased as the spring floodproceeded, but small discharge peaks within this 2 month period as well as a considerableautumn flood episode appeared to lower rather than to raise the dissolved metal concentrations.Consequently the dissolved fractions of Zn, Cd and Al showed a significant negative correlationwith river discharge, and were low at the discharge peaks. Possibly high sediment concentrationsoccurring at high flood conditions more than counteracted desorption induced by pHdecrease, and led to decreased dissolved fractions through adsorption. Cu speciationon the other hand seemed to be more closely linked to pH. Alkalinity and Ca concentration,both assumed to protect aquatic life from metal pollution, were significantly lowerduring episodes with high Cu and Al total concentrations.     

Multivariate statistical techniques for evaluating and identifying the environmental significance of heavy metal contamination in sediments of the Yangtze River, China

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Fe) in sediments of the Yangtze River, China, were investigated to evaluate levels of contamination and their potential sources. The lowest heavy metal concentrations were found in the source regions of the river basin. Relatively high concentrations of metals, except Cr, were found in the Sichuan Basin, and the highest concentrations were in the Xiangjiang and Shun’anhe rivers. All concentrations, except Ni, were higher than global averages. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that Zn, Pb, As, Hg, and Cd were derived mainly from the exploitation of various multi-metal minerals, industrial wastewater, and domestic sewage. Cu, Co, and Fe were derived mainly from natural weathering (erosion). Cr and Ni were derived mainly from agricultural activities, municipal and industrial wastewater. Sediment pollution was assessed using the geoaccumulation index (I _geo) and enrichment factor (EF). Among the ten heavy metals assessed, Cd and Pb had the highest I _geo values, followed by Cu, As, Zn, and Hg. The I _geo values of Fe, Cr, Co, and Ni were <0 in all sediments. EF provided similar information to I _geo: no enrichment was found for Cr, Co, and Ni. Cu, Zn, As, and Hg were relatively enriched at some sites while Cd and Pb showed significant enrichment.     

Variations in trace metal concentrations in American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) collected from Galveston Bay, Texas

Nearly one thousand oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were collected at 15 sites on four sampling trips to Galveston Bay during 1992–1993. Iron, silver, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were determined in the whole soft part of the individual oysters. Trace metal concentrations were found to vary among individuals within a site on a given trip, and spatially and temporally around the Galveston Bay estuarine system. Differences in metal concentrations from site to site were a factor of 5 or more for some metals, and similar differences were found from time to time at a given site. Zinc was found in anomalously high concentrations at several sites, mainly along the west side of Galveston Bay. Isolated high values of other metals were found scattered throughout the bay; however, only one site (GBSL, near Swan Lake in lower Galveston Bay) was found to have significantly higher than average concentrations for several metals (Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn). One obvious trend found in this study was that metal concentrations, except for As, were highest in the summer, followed by the fall, and lowest in the winter and spring. The temporal changes in metal concentrations in oysters cannot be explained by changes in body weight in different seasons, and are apparently caused by changes in environmental conditions (e.g., metal input, salinity) or biological activity (e.g., metabolism, depuration).