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Selenium concentrations in food webs of Lake Koocanusa in the vicinity of Libby Dam (MT) and the Elk River (BC) as the basis for applying ecosystem-scale modeling, 2008-2018

This Data Release presents multi-agency data for selenium concentrations in ecosystem media that includes water column, suspended particulate material, zooplankton, invertebrates, and fish. Because the data are compiled from multiple sources, the significant figures used to report contaminant concentrations and other metrics may not be internally consistent. These data will serve as the basis for ecosystem-scale modeling of Lake Koocanusa, a bi-national reservoir in Montana and British Columbia. Spreadsheets are ordered in a food-web format to facilitate modeling that emphasizes spatially and temporally paired data. Selenium concentrations are species-specific for fish and taxa-specific for invertebrates to address required specificity for biodynamic dietary modeling. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, and invertebrate densities or biomass are compiled, in addition to fish catches, to help elucidate productivity and identify which groups, taxa, or species are abundant on a seasonal basis. For water quality context, the historical record of selenium concentrations is given, with emphasis on the primary selenium loading site near where the Elk River enters Lake Koocanusa. Spreadsheets with the term "annex" in their file name address a competing toxin, mercury, for fish. Recent high frequency monitoring of selenium concentrations at the international border and at a gaging station below Libby Dam provide a perspective on future selenium data availability. Methodologies are described as federal, provincial, and state agencies transition to a consistent set of protocols to ensure consistency in monitoring for locations on both sides of the border.

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Author(s) Theresa S Presser orcid, David L Naftz
Publication Date 2020-08-11
Beginning Date of Data 2008
Ending Date of Data 2018
Data Contact
DOI https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VXYSNZ
Citation Presser, T.S., and Naftz, D.L., 2020, Selenium concentrations in food webs of Lake Koocanusa in the vicinity of Libby Dam (MT) and the Elk River (BC) as the basis for applying ecosystem-scale modeling, 2008-2018: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VXYSNZ.
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Metadata Date 2020-08-18
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License http://www.usa.gov/publicdomain/label/1.0/
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Harvest Source: ScienceBase
Harvest Date: 2021-11-19T04:42:53.907Z