Meeting Abstract
Changes in aquatic environments associated with mining activities (e.g., historic iron mining) may have tremendous impacts on aquatic organisms, ecosystems, and natural resources. Currently, mining companies are working to develop open-pit copper-nickel mining operations in Minnesota. Although not yet operational, environmental risks would be predicted. Lakes and rivers in Minnesota linked to waters that have previously been influenced by mining (e.g., iron ore pits) may already have direct or indirect impacts on the vertebrae in fishes. Using the material testing system (the TA.XT Plus Texture Analyzer), I evaluated a series of force-bearing capacities (strength, Young’s modulus of elasticity, and yield strength) of the vertebrae from four body regions of yellow perch (Perca flavescens), which have been exposed for years to mining-influenced water, as well as from yellow perch from water free from mining influence. The vertebrae of P. flavescens from a mining-influenced lake produced much more elevated level of strength than those from a spring-fed lake. However, the vertebrae of P. flavescens from the mining-influenced lake had substantially reduced Young’s modulus, as well as yield strength. The degree of deformation that the vertebrae could resist and recoil back from was greatly reduced in P. flavescens from the mining-influenced lake. These results suggest that the vertebrae might mineralize differently and contribute differently to locomotor function, particularly in varying environmental contexts.
