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Eastern Illinois University The Keep Faculty Research Creative Activity Biological Sciences 1-2014 Trophic dynamics of U, Ni, Hg and other contaminants of potential concern on the Department of Energy ’s Savannah River Site Paul G. Edwards Eastern Illinois University Karen F. Gaines Eastern Illinois University, kfgaines@ A. L awrence Bryan Jr. University of Ge org ia’s Savannah River Ecology L aboratory J ames M. Novak Eastern Illinois University, jmnovak@ Susan A. Blas Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Follow this and additional works at : /bio_fac art of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Edwards, aul G.; Gaines, Karen F.; Bryan, A. Lawrence Jr.; Novak, James M.; and Blas, Susan A., Trophic dynamics of U, Ni, Hg and other contaminants of potential concern on the Department of Energy ’s Savannah River Site (2014). Faculty R esearch Creative Ac tivity. aper 251. /bio_fac/251 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Research Creative Activity by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact tabruns@. Trophic dynamics of U, Ni, Hg and other contaminants of potential concern on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site Paul G. Edwards, Karen F. Gaines, A. Lawrence Bryan Jr., James M. Novak, Susan A. Blas Abstract: The Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site is a former nuclear weapon material production and current research facility located in South Carolina, USA. Wastewater discharges from a fuel and nuclear reactor target manufacturing facility released depleted and natural U, as well as other metals into the Tims Branch-Steed Pond water system. We investigated the current dynamics of this system for the purposes of environmental monitoring and assessment by examining metal concentrations, bioavailability,