Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID IN_2023_Latimer

Crayfish as Bioindicators of Water Quality in Freshwater Ecosystems in Indiana

Institute: Indiana
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $25,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $25,000

Principal Investigators: Jennifer Latimer

Project Summary: Indiana has many polluted waterways that have been impacted by agricultural and industrial wastes. Pollution that can be taken up by organisms and move through the food web are of particular concern because of the potential impact on the human diet. One such pollutant is mercury. Mercury is a toxic metal, and exposure to mercury can lead to neurological conditions in mammals. To study mercury pollution in streams, we will collect and analyze crayfish, water, and sediments in northern Indiana for mercury concentrations. Crayfish are important keystone species in the macroinvertebrate environment and serve as a food source for many aquatic and terrestrial animals and birds. Crayfish are in constant contact with sediments and are a unique link between metals stored in sediments and the food web. By studying mercury in sediments, water, and crayfish tissues, we hope to better understand mercury pollution and cycling in aquatic environments.