106 37th Annual Undergraduate Research Exhibition Sponsored by Sigma Gamma Epsilon (Posters)

All students are encouraged to submit research to this poster session. Investigations from ANY geological subdiscipline are welcome. Presenters who are SGE members are eligible to compete for monetary awards distributed at the meeting.

Monday, 20 October 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, Hall 1

The Impact of Agricultural and Urban Development on Spatio-Temporal Trace Metal Sediment Concentration and Aquatic Organism Bioaccumulation in Chincoteague Bay, USA

Paper number: 106-24
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

This study evaluates trace metal loading in Chincoteague Bay, a 72.4 square mile lagoon off the coastline of Virginia and Maryland adjacent to progressively increasing urbanization. Thirty (30) surface and six (6) core sediments were used to analyze spatio-temporal trace metal distribution; dagger blade grass shrimp (Palaemon pugio), mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus), and banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) were used to assess bioaccumulation. All samples were analyzed with Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn, Li, and Ni. Geo Accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), Pollution load index (PLI), Geographic Information System (GIS) based Hot Spot Analysis, and Pearson Correlation (PC) statistical analysis were used to identify potential pollution sources. 

Surface sediment data indicates metals concentrations increase near mainland agricultural and urban areas with exception to As and Cu. Pollution indices shows agricultural areas having the highest contamination values, Igeo ranging from 1.45 (Li) to -1.16 (Pb) and EF from 10.73 (Zn) to 1.76 (Pb). Sites adjacent to undeveloped areas show modest metal accumulation, implying universal trace metal loading in the Bay. Sediment core data showed contemporary enrichment near urban areas and near surface declines adjacent to agricultural areas where farmlands are progressively being abandoned. Bioaccumulation of metals was relatively high near urban areas and wallops flight facility. The results suggests that mainland agriculture and urbanization are plausible contaminant sources. Future eDNA results will provide further insight to the ecological impact of trace metals in Chincoteague Bay. 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-412369

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