Exposure & Effects Pilot Study (EEPS)

1. Exposure & Effects Pilot Study (EEPS) • RMP Objective #4 • Measure pollution exposure and effects on selected parts of the Estuary ecosystem (including humans) • EEPS goals: • Develop a suite of indicators for S&T • Conduct short-term studies to assess SF Bay E&E

2. 2003 Program Review:Recommendation for EEPS Great chemical characterization of the Bay but what does it mean? • Recommendation: need to understand biological impacts of chemicals detected In response, TRC/SC allocated $200K/yr for EEPS thru2008

3. EEPS: Selection of Indicators Cormorants Rationale presented in Conceptual Framework (Hunt et al., 2004) Clapper rails Fish Terns Benthos/ sediment

4. EEPS Projects – 2005 Avian • Se Analysis of Diving Ducks $20K • Hg Analysis of Tern Eggs $ 4K Fish • Analysis of Hg in Small Fish (3 Yr) $50K • E&E on Shiner Surfperch (2 Yr) $60K Benthos • Sediment Assessment $15K • Benthic Archive $ 6K

5. EEPS 2005 & 2006 Avian 2005: Se in diving ducks • Report early 2006 (2005 and 2002 data) 2005: Hg in Forster, Least, and Caspian tern eggs • Report early 2006 2006: Egg injection study?

6. EEPS Fish 2005, 2006 & 2008: Small Fish Mercury Project Understanding impact of management actions Small fish – an ideal monitoring tool • Accumulate MeHg • Integrate over fixed time (1-yr) • Indicate spatial variation • Indicate risk to piscivorous wildlife Activities coordinated with SBSP, IEP and CalFed FMP

7. EEPS: Small Fish Hg Project Study Design • Pelagic species: • Topsmelt and Inland silversides • Benthic species: • Arrow goby, Cheekspot goby, • and Shimofuri goby, • Bay goby from deep water Study Design 4 near restoration projects 4 near existing marshes 2 additional sites (IEP)

8. EEPS Fish 2006: Small Fish Hg Project Plans for 2006 • Sample 8 sites • Obtain additional funding Bay goby Shimofuri goby Inland silversides

9. EEPS 2005 & 2006: Shiner Surf Perch Study Goal: • Determine if shiner surfperch show effects of contamination on some aspect of their fitness, growth or reproduction. • Difficult to demonstrate effects • Work undertaken by AMS and UC-Davis

10. EEPS 2005 & 2006: Shiner Surf Perch Strategy: • Yr 1: Field study measuring growth and reproduction • Yr 2: Lab study on effects of mixtures on growth and fitness • Yr 2: Develop population models explaining role of contaminants

11. EEPS – 2005 Shiner Surf Perch Collection of Fish • 3 contaminated sites in Bay (Oakland Middle Harbor, Candlestick, and IEP station) • 1 reference site (Big River Mendocino) Fish measured, weighed, dissected, sexed, young counted and weighed, and tissues stored. Initiated evaluation of biomarkers (P-450 induction, histopathology, and vitellogenin).

12. EEPS – 2005 Shiner Surf Perch Study Preliminary results: • Skewed sex ratios toward females. • All fish livers positive for vitelloginen antibodies. • All fish positive for P-450 induction. Results suggest need to identify new reference site

13. EEPS – 2006 Shiner Surf Perch Study For 2006: • Identify new reference site • Develop laboratory culture • Continue to evaluate biomarkers • Develop anti-body tests for EDC • Continue to examine fish for effects and sex ratios

14. Additional EEPS Projects 2006 Benthos • Sediment effects $40K

15. EEPS: Incorporation of Indicators into S&T Cormorants • Biannual (e.g., 2002 and 2004) • Presentation at March TRC for 2006 S&T Benthos • Baseline for SQO • Presentation today for 2007 S&T