HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (14) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Paul, J. F. Articles by Copeland, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Paul, J. F. Articles by Copeland, J. GeoRef GeoRef Citation Agricola Articles by Paul, J. F. Articles by Copeland, J. Related Collections Water Quality Watershed and Landscape Processes Water Pollution Spatial Distribution

TECHNICAL REPORTS
Landscape and Watershed Processes

Landscape Metrics and Estuarine Sediment Contamination in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England Regions

^a USEPA, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882
^b Indus Corp., Corvallis, OR 97333
^c Computer Sciences Corp., Narragansett, RI 02882

* Corresponding author (paul.john{at}epa.gov)

Received for publication January 8, 2001. In a previously published study, quantitative relationships were developed between landscape metrics and sediment contamination for 25 small estuarine systems within Chesapeake Bay. These analyses have been extended to include 75 small estuarine systems across the mid-Atlantic and southern New England regions of the USA. Because of the different characteristics and dynamics of the estuaries across these regions, adjustment for differing hydrology, sediment characteristics, and sediment origins were included in the analysis. Multiple linear regression with stepwise selection was used to develop statistical models for sediment metals, organics, and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The landscape metrics important for explaining the variation in sediment metals levels (R² = 0.72) were the percent area of nonforested wetlands (negative contribution), percent area of urban land, and point source effluent volume and metals input (positive contributions). The metrics important for sediment organics levels (R² = 0.5) and total PAHs (R² = 0.46) were percent area of urban land (positive contribution) and percent area of nonforested wetlands (negative contribution). These models included silt–clay content (metals) or total organic C (organics, total PAHs) of sediments and grouping by estuarine hydrology, suggesting the importance of sediment characteristics and hydrology in mitigating the influence of the landscape metrics on sediment contamination levels. The overall results from this study are indicative of how statistical models can be developed relating landscape metrics to estuarine sediment contamination for distributions of land cover and point source discharges.

Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance • CV, coefficient of variation • DEM, digital elevation model • EMAP, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program • GIS, geographic information system • LUDA, land use data analysis • MLRSS, multiple linear regression with stepwise selection • NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon • PC1, first principal component • PC2, second principal component • PCA, principal component analysis • PCB, polychlorinated biphenyl • TOC, total organic carbon • USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • USGS, U.S. Geological Survey • VIF, variance inflation factor

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. W. Hollister, P. V. August, J. F. Paul, and H. A. Walker Predicting Estuarine Sediment Metal Concentrations and Inferred Ecological Conditions: An Information Theoretic Approach J. Environ. Qual., January 4, 2008; 37(1): 234 - 244. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]