Predictive Modeling Reveals Elevated Conductivity Relative to Background Levels in Freshwater Tributaries within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA.

ABSTRACT: Elevated conductivity (i.e., specific conductance or SC) causes osmotic stress in freshwater aquatic organisms and may increase the toxicity of some contaminants. Indices of benthic macroinvertebrate integrity have declined in urban areas across the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW), and more information is needed about whether these declines may be due to elevated conductivity. A predictive SC model for the CBW was developed using monitoring data from the National Water Quality Portal. Predictor variables representing SC sources were compiled for nontidal reaches across the CBW. Random forests modeling was conducted to predict SC at four time periods (1999-2001, 2004-2006, 2009-2011, and 2014-2016), which were then compared to a national data set of background SC to quantify departures from

SUBMITTER: Fanelli RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11555677 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature