Scott D. George Barry P. Baldigo Brian T. Duffy 2019 spreadsheet Troy, NY U.S. Geological Survey https://doi.org/10.5066/P9RUUR4L Data from 10-day sediment toxicity tests of bed sediments from the Buffalo River Area of Concern (AOC) and reference reaches on the Buffalo River upstream of the AOC, Erie County, New York, respectively. Specifically, the data was used to compare the survival and growth of two macroinvertebrate species in sediments from study sites and laboratory controls. Results are from 10-day sediment exposures of two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca. Sediment samples were collected from 8 sites within the AOC and from 6 reference sites upstream of the AOC. Bed-sediments were collected from depositional areas using a petite Ponar (0.03 square meter) dredge. At each site, approximately five grabs were composited into a bucket, mixed, and a 4-liter (L) subsample was stored in a polyethylene container. Sediment toxicity testing were then conducted by a contract laboratory to quantify toxicity with the dipteran, Chironomus dilutus, and the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, during 10-day survival and growth bioassays following USEPA test methods 100.2 and 100.1, respectively. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000, Methods for measuring the toxicity and bioaccumulation of sediment associated contaminants with freshwater invertebrates. Second edition: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development EPA 600/R-99/064.) This spreadsheet contains 16 columns. The first 8 columns describe the sample collection information, the remaining 8 columns provide the survival and growth results of two test species used in sediment toxicity tests. The data include the stream name, site ID, National Water Information System (NWIS) ID, latitude and longitude, replicate number, and site type. The following eight columns present results from 10-day sediment exposures of two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca. The following endpoints were measured for each species following the 10-day exposure: number of surviving organisms, percentage of organisms surviving (hereafter survival), average ash-free dry weight of the surviving organisms (hereafter growth), and ash-free dry weight of the surviving organisms divided by the initial number of organisms (hereafter biomass). Data were collected to assess toxicity of bed sediments in the Buffalo River Area of Concern and upstream reference areas. Specifically, the data was used to compare the survival and growth of two macroinvertebrate species in sediments from study sites, reference sites, and laboratory controls. 20170731 20170801 observed Complete None planned -78.89082416230679 -78.80917598742606 42.881562036614284 42.85063279537462 USGS Thesaurus benthic ecosystems contamination and pollution USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:5c5f19d3e4b0fe48cb32eef4 Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names New York Buffalo River Erie County none none Scott George U.S. Geological Survey Biologist mailing and physical

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Troy New York 12180 USA 518-285-5639 sgeorge@usgs.gov https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5c5f19d3e4b0fe48cb32eef4?f=__disk__98%2F5d%2Fa8%2F985da899593149bec984bc8ee308cf11a326a3ab USGS biologist lowers a petit ponar dredge into the Buffalo River. JPG U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted No formal logical accuracy tests were conducted Data set is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details. No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted The final dataset was created by reorganizing survival, growth, and biomass data provided by the contract laboratory into tabular form. 20180205 The Buffalo River is a tributary to the eastern end of Lake Erie (Erie County, NY). The Buffalo River AOC is defined as the downstream-most section of the river - a distance of approximately 6.2 miles. Point 1.0E-5 1.0E-5 Decimal degrees NAD 83 GRS80 6378137.0 298.257222 BuffaloRiverToxicityData This spreadsheet contains 16 columns. The first 8 describe the data and the remaining 8 provide the survival and growth results of two test species used in sediment toxicity tests. Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc., Traverse City, Michigan, conducted the laboratory toxicity testing that generated these data. The U.S. Geological Survey organized those data into this spreadsheet. Stream Name Name of stream/river from which sediments were collected. Producer defined Buffalo River a data point collected from the Buffalo River Producer-defined Laboratory Control a data point used by the laboratory for quality control purposes Producer-defined Site ID Site Identification Code Producer defined Four letter identifier followed by a dash and a number designating the rivermiles upstream from Lake Erie from which the sampling point is located. Site ID for a Laboratory Control sample contains the number of the control sample and whether the sample consisted of sediment and water or water only. NWIS ID National Water Information System (NWIS) site identification number which can be used to obtain more information on site characteristics at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis. NWIS ID is not applicable ("na") for Laboratory Control samples. National Water Information System National Water Information System https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis Latitude (decimal degrees) Latitude provided in decimal degrees. Latitude is not applicable ("na") for Laboratory Control samples. Producer defined 42.85640 42.877789 Decimal degrees Longitude (decimal degrees) Longitude provided in decimal degrees. Longitude is not applicable ("na") for Laboratory Control samples. Producer defined -78.88699 -78.85359 Decimal degrees Date sampled Date on which sediment samples were collected. Date sampled is not applicable ("na") for Laboratory Control samples. Producer defined 7/31/2017 8/1/2017 Replicate number Laboratory replicate chamber number from sediment toxicity tests. Producer defined 1 8 Site Type Site type or classification related to whether it was located within the Area of Concern. Producer defined AOC A site was located with the Area of Concern (AOC) Producer-defined Reference A site was located in the reference area upstream of the Area of Concern (AOC) Producer-defined Lab Control A laboratory control using clean water and/or sediments from the laboratory to confirm the health of test organisms. Producer-defined Number C. dilutus Surviving Number of midges surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments. 10 midges are placed in each replicate at the start of the test. Producer defined 3 10 Number of organisms Percent C. dilutus Surviving Percent of midges surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments. Calculated by multiplying the value in column I (the number of surviving organisms) by 10. Producer defined 30 100 Percent Growth C. dilutus (mg) Average ash-free dry weight in milligrams of midges surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments. 10 midges are placed in each replicate at the start of the test. Producer defined Growth is calculated using only the individuals that survived the 10-day exposure which differentiates this endpoint from biomass. Biomass C. dilutus (mg) Ash-free dry weight in milligrams of midges surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments divided by the starting number of organisms in the test (10). Producer defined This endpoint differs from growth because the ash-free dry weight of the surviving organisms are divided by the starting number of organisms. If all organisms survive the 10-day exposure in a given replicate, then the growth and biomass endpoints will be the same. Number H. azteca Surviving Number of amphipods surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments. 10 amphipods are placed in each replicate at the start of the test. Producer defined 6 10 Number of organisms Percent H. azteca Surviving Percent of amphipods surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments. Calculated by multiplying the value in column M (the number of surviving organisms) by 10. Producer defined 60 100 Percent Growth H. azteca (mg) Average ash-free dry weight in milligrams of amphipods surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments. 10 amphipods are placed in each replicate at the start of the test. Producer defined Growth is calculated using only the individuals that survived the 10-day exposure which differentiates this endpoint from biomass. Biomass H. azteca (mg) Ash-free dry weight in milligrams of amphipods surviving a 10-day exposure to sediments divided by the starting number of organisms in the test (10). Producer defined This endpoint differs from growth because the ash-free dry weight of the surviving organisms are divided by the starting number of organisms. If all organisms survive the 10-day exposure in a given replicate, then the growth and biomass endpoints will be the same. ScienceBase U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical

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Denver CO 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 20200825 Scott George U.S. Geological Survey Biologist mailing and physical

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Troy New York 12180 USA 518-285-5639 sgeorge@usgs.gov Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998