Mining affects the food chain in the biodiversity

Jade Aydaon

According to Kuchapski (2013) Physical and chemical influences downstream of

surface coal mines, including selenium (Se) release, water quality shifts, and habitat

alterations can affect aquatic organisms. To evaluate these influences at the community

level of organization, fish and macroinvertebrates were studied in mine-affected and

reference streams.

Environmental factors potentially affecting the distribution of submerged

vegetation (cover and species richness) in a number of nearshore areas of the Bay of

Quinte, Lake Ontario, were investigated during 1987 to 1988 to determine possible

causes for the slow recovery of macrophytes following the reduction of cultural hyper-

eutrophication in the 1970's. Factors including sediment enrichment by potentially toxic

elements (largely from mining sources), nutrients, sediment composition, site

characteristics, and light climate were surveyed and compared with data from deeper

areas (Dushenko, W. 1990)

Simulations that link physical and biological processes may guide research on

ecological effects of massive changes to rivers and floodplains. An approach using

hydraulic food-chain models to study food-web dynamics in large rivers is described

(Power, M. 1995)
 According to Shadid et. al (2014) The numerous anthropogenic activities cause

emission of a significant amount of pollutants to the soil compartment every year.

Among different potential pollutants, heavy-metal pollution has gained considerable

attention worldwide owing to their environmental persistence, potential threat to food

safety, human health risks, and detrimental effects on ecosystems (Ciszewski et al. 2012;

Foucault et al. 2013). Heavy-metal uptake by vegetables is one of the major pathways for

foodchain contamination and human exposure (Schreck et al. 2012; Austruy et al. 2013).

Lead (Pb), being a non-essential element to living organisms, negatively affects various

physiological, morphological, and biochemical processes in living organisms even at low

concentrations (Pourrut et al. 2011a; Shahid et al. 2012a; Leveque et al. 2013). Zinc (Zn)

is an essential element for living organisms but when the concentration is higher than a

critical limit, toxic effect can be observed in living organisms (Parlak and Yilmaz 2012)

Groundwater-related discharges in the San Diego Creek/Newport Bay watershed

in Orange County, California have the potential to adversely affect the surface waters

within the watershed and would likely not comply with the established total maximum

daily loads (TMDLs) for the watershed (Santolo, G. 2016)

According to Wayland (2000) Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories,

Canada, differs regionally in trophic status and local and regional inputs of

contaminants. Spatial and temporal trends in contaminant levels in bioindicator species

such as colonial waterbirds could offer insights into the potential for contaminant

bioaccumulation in Great Slave Lake. Persistent chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants,

mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se) were examined in herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs

and livers collected from various locations on Great Slave Lake in 1995.