INDIVIDUAL-BASED MODEL FOR DIELDRIN CONTAMINATION IN LAKE TROUT

Authored by Charles P Madenjian, Stephen R Carpenter, GE NOGUCHI

Date Published: 1993

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

An individual-based model (IBM) was applied to dieldrin contamination in the lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) population of Lake Michigan in order to determine if a model structure originally developed for contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Lake Michigan lake trout would also apply to dieldrin contamination. Many different congeners constitute PCBs, whereas dieldrin is a single chemical compound. The model accurately accounted for the variation in dieldrin concentrations exhibited within the Lake Michigan lake trout population. The degree of variability included in dieldrin concentrations of the prey fish was similar to that used for modeling total PCBs. These results supported the argument that any heterogeneity in PCB congener distribution in Lake Michigan contributed relatively little to the observed variability in lake trout total PCB concentrations. Furthermore, these results indicate that the IBM has potential to be applicable to a variety of organochlorine contaminants. The IBM should prove useful for risk assessment of contaminants in fish.

Tags

growth Diet Fish Michigan Salvelinus-namaycush Congeners Pcb