1981 - new developments in automated biossensing from remote water quality stations and satelllite...

8/13/2019 1981 - New Developments in Automated Biossensing From Remote Water Quality Stations and Satelllite Data Retrieval for Sources Management

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Journal of Hydrology, 51 (1981) 339--34 5 339Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company , Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands

N E W D E V E L O P M E N T S I N U T O M T E D B I O S E N S I N G F R O M R E M O T EW T E R Q U L I TY S T T I O N S N D S T E L L I TE D T R E T R I E V L

F O R R E S O U R C E S M N G E M E N T

E.L. MOR GAN 1 , K.W. E AGLE SON 2 , R. HERM ANN 3 and N.D. McC OLLO UGH 4

1 Envi ronmenta l Biology Research Program, Tennessee Technological University,Cookeville, TN 38501 U.S.A.)2 North Carolina Dep art ment of Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC 2 7611 U.S.A.)3National Park Service, Atlanta, GA 30349 U.S.A.)4Advanced Technology Corp., Clinton, TN 37829 U.S.A.)

(Accepted for publication October 10, 1980)

ABSTRACT

Morgan, E.L., Eagleson, K.W., Hermann, R. and McCollough, N.D., 1981. New develop-ments in automated biosensing from remote water quality stations and satellite dataretrieval for resources management. In: L.R. Beard (Guest-Editor), Water for Survival.J. Hydrol., 51: 339--345.

Maintaining adequat e w ater qu ality in a multi purpo se drainage system bec omes increas-

ingly imp ort ant as demands on resources becom e greater. Real-ti me water q uality moni-toring plays a crucial role in meeting this objective. In addition to remote automatedphysical monitoring, developments at the end of the 1970's allow simultaneous real-timemeasurements of fish breathing response to water quality changes. These advantages com-plement complex in-stream surveys typically carried out to evaluate the environmentalquality of a system. Automated biosensing units having remote capabilities are designedto aid in the evaluation of subtle water quality changes contributing to undesirable con-ditions in a drainage basin. Using microprocessor- based mo nitor s to measure fish breathingrates, the biosensing units are interfaced to a U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Ad-ministration (N.A.S.A.) rem ote data collection platform for National Oceanic and Atmo-spheric Adminis trati on ( N.O.A.A. ) GOES satelfite retrieval and transmission of data.Simultaneously, multiparamete r physical informa tion is collected from site-specific lo-cations and recove red in a similar manner. Real-tim e biological and physical data receivedat a data processing center are readily available for interpretation by resource managers.Management schemes incorporating real-time monitor ing networks into on-going pro-grams to simultaneously retrieve biological and physical data by satellite, radio and tele-phone cable give added advantages in maintaining water quality for multipurpose needs.

INTRODUCTION

I n c re a s in g d e m a n d s f o r m a i n t a in i n g t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l i n t e g r it y o f m u lt i-

p u r p o s e w a t e r r e s o u r c e s h a s s t i m u l a t e d c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t i n d e v e l o p i n gn e w m e t h o d s f o r r a p i d l y e v a l ua t in g b i o lo g ic a l a n d p h y s i c a l/ c h e m i c a lw a t e r q u a l i t y. E f f e c ti v e m e t h o d s f o r i n t e r p r e ti n g m u l ti v a r ia t e w a t e r q u a l i t y

0022- 1694/ 81/00 00-- 0000/ $02.5 0 1981 Elsevier Scientific Publishing Compa ny


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information, with the objective of meeting fishable and swimmable require-ments are major problems confronting resource managers. Questions of par-ticular concern include: (1) what water quality standards must be achievedto accomplish resource priorities?; (2) will established standards providereasonable protection for multiple-use needs?; {3) what type monitoringstrategies should be employed?, will they generate the necessary feedback?,and how extensive must these be?; and (4) is biological information neededor will physical water quality give sufficien t data for decision needs? Recog-nizing the nature of a wate r resource and the hydrological relationships,estab.lishing realistic standards that me et resource objectives and providingcost-effective monitoring efforts are all important considerations in opti-mizing multiple-use water systems. Through sound planning and manage-ment, and the implementation of monitoring programs, reasonable water

quality for multipurpose water projects may be realized.Existing moni torin g programs incorpo rating real-time site-specific stationscapable of remote transmission of an array of physical parameters haveadded advantages not found in most management plans. Typically, selectedphysical parameters may be continuously measured from remote streamstations at real-time intervals. Limitations enco unt ered in evaluating physicaldata in light of ecological requirements include how to interpret combinedfactors n ot monitored. For example, synergisms and subtle combined effectsnot measured through physical monitoring could have profound influencesthat limit a watershed's intended uses. Realizing that biological responses tonumerous interacting water quality parameters are not readily achievablethrough physical monitoring alone, and since it is generally recognized thatbiological systems act as integrators of those environmental factors whichregulate their life processes, a method for rapidly detecting or predictingundesirable imposition is needed.

Presently, one pilot stud y is on-going for remotely-sensing site-specificbiological impact of complex interactions between multivariate factorsenc oun ter ed in a watershed (E.L. Morgan et al., 1977). This real-time auto-mated biosensing unit has been designed and tested by using fish breathingrates as a measure of biological response or integration to water qualitychanges, since under stressful conditions a fish alters its typical breathing pat-terns. These responses can be continuously mo nitored, compar ed to referencebreathing rates and used as a bios enso r to help evaluate water quality con-ditions. Fish breathing rates were chosen as our method of measuring bio-logical response to water quality fluctuations because these functions havebeen fou nd to be good physiological measures of chronic levels of a broadspectrum of toxic substances and environmental stresses, as reported byCairns et al. (1974a, b, 1977), and W.S.G. Morgan and Kuhn (1974).

Our purpose in this w ork was to design, tes t and establish pilot applications

of au tom ate d fish biosensing moni tors having real-time capabilities at r emo testream stations. Through these efforts, new dimensions into proposed water-shed management schemes are realized. Specifically, regional drainages


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C oovor, ,b,ed0,a co ec, oo A,oma,p l g~ f ~ r' m ( C D C P ) I " ~ ~ - - - / Te l e m e t r y r e c e w l n g s t a t i o n

w a t e r I J ln t~sampler /

t r ' ans rn lSS lon

I cen r I

C e n t r a l c o o r d i n a t i o n a n dd a t a p r o c e s s i n g

c o m p u t e r d a t a Q cq u ls I~ IO Nr e a - t l m e d l s s e m l n a t l o n

t R ~ t ~ o ~ t p ~ t J

Fig. 1. Remote water quality monitor ing network.

p e r i o d s in th e m e m o r y o f t h e C D C P. T i m e p e r i o d s w e r e p r e s e t b y p ro g r a m

t o t h e C D C P, ra n g in g f r o m s e v er a l m i n u t e s t o h o u r s , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e p a r -t ic u la r m o n i t o r i n g n e e d s. D a t a s t o r e d in C D C P m e m o r y w e r e s u b m i t te d t ot h e o v er -p a ss in g U . S . N a t i o n a l O c e a n i c a n d A t m o s p h e r i c A d m i n i s t r a t i o nG OE S s a te l li te o n f o u r o c c a s i o n s e a c h d a y. B r o a d c a s t d a t a r e c e i v e d b y s a t-e ll it e w e r e r e t r a n s m i t t e d t o a d a t a c o o r d i n a t i n g a n d p r o c e s s i n g c e n t e r ( Fi g.1 ). S i m u l t a n e o u s t r a n s m i s s io n o f u p t o fi ve w a t e r q u a l i t y p a r a m e t e r s w e r es u b m i t te d , i n cl u di n g: t e m p e r a t u r e , d i ss o lv e d o x y g e n , h y d r o g e n i o n c o n c e n -t ra t io n , c o n d u c t a n c e a n d o x i d a t io n - - r e d u c t i o n p o t e n ti a l. T h e s e d a t a w e r ep r o v i d e d b y a m o d e l 6 D H y d r o l a b u n it , i n t e rf a c e d t o t h e C D C P. T h e se n-s o r s w e r e h o u s e d i n a s i ng l e r a c k a n d p o s i t i o n e d i n s t r e a m a l o n g s i d e t h e f is h

h o l d i n g c h a m b e r s .

Remote site-specific applications

B i o s e n s i n g c h a m b e r s h o u s i n g r a i n b o w t r o u tSalmo gairdneri) w e r e i n t e r -f a c e d t o t w o s e p a r at e C D C P p h y si c a l w a t e r q u a l i ty m o n i t o r in g s t at io n se s t a bl is h e d o n A b r a m C r e e k dr a in a g e o f C a d e s C o v e in t h e G r e a t S m o k yM o u n t a i n s N a t i o n a l P a r k . T h e s e s t a t io n s w e r e p o s i t i o n e d a l o n g t h e d r a in a g es u c h t h a t t h e u p s t r e a m C D C P s e r ve d a s a r e f e re n c e st a t i o n b y m o n i t o r i n gh e a d w a t e r r u n o f f a n d t h e s e c o n d s t a ti o n w a s l o c a t e d d o w n s t r e a m a t a p o i n tj u s t p r i o r t o t h e s t r e a m s e x i t f r o m t h e c o v e . H i s t o r ic a l l y, C a d e s C o v e h a sb e e n m a n a g e d f o r p a s t u r e a n d l i gh t a g r ic u l tu r a l p u r p o s e s , t h u s t h e d o w n -s t r e a m r e a c h e s w e r e s u b j e c t t o n o n - p o i n t - s o u r c e i n p u t s ( H e r m a n n e t a l. ,1 9 7 8 ) .


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breathing data. This sample size may not be adequate for many applicationsand the CDCP would need to be programed to take data at closer time inter-vals, i.e. each 15 min. The limiting fact or in this approach is not the interfaceunit but the available memory of the particular CDCP in use.

The second type interface module used for biosensors could be programedto monit or fish responses for whatever time intervals were desired as long asthe accumulative breaths did not exceed 999 counts. Should this level bereached, t hen the c oun ter would reset to zero and begin counting again. Thisinterface, which utilized an A/D voltage conversion, enco unte red problemswith the particular CDCP parallel buffered inputs. Apparently these were notindividually isolated as we were led to believe, creating disturbances betweenbuffers and causing the physical data to be reported as maximum and mini-mum values only. Slight modifications in these CDCP should correct this

difficulty.Aside from these problems and those typically experienced with physicalsensors, i.e. instrument drift, temperature sensitivity and fouling, the majorconcern in remote stream monitoring appears to be man-induced. Recre-ational and commercial activities within multipurpose watersheds, such asboating, fishing, scuba diving, to mention a few, subject remote stations toaccidental damage and vandalism not seen in grab sampling efforts. At thepresent state of development, long periods of una tte nde d rem ote biosensingexceeding 30--50 days have yet to be demonstrated. Additional researchneeds to be carried out in this area in order to gain insight into optimumoperating intervals.

Important questions that remain to be addressed concerning remote bio-sensing are: how often should fish be replaced?, how sensitive are remotebiosensors to developing toxic conditions?, and can the data provided bestatistically treate d with reasonable levels of conf idenc e? Once achieved, willactual stream survey studies verify warnings presented by remote stations?These and other questions must be answered before reliable biosensingstations can be established for regional managements' needs. Given theselimitations in light of present states of technological advancement, many

pressing problems will be solved in the near fu ture and new strides in remo tebiosensing will be accomplished.On-going studies are underway to test biosensing techniques in buoy con-

figurations (Fig. 2). These remote buoys could transmit data from site-specific stations to stream-side mobile units, relay stations or satellite. Com-bining these advantages with permanent stations, information could beinterpreted on a real-time basis at a regional processing center or relayed tospecific watershed centers and mobile operations.

The advantages provided by portable biosensing units linked to micro-computer, telemetry equipped mobile laboratories are far-reaching, particu-

larly in emergencies where a hazardous material spill has contaminated amultiple-use drainage. Mobile moni tori ng units di spatched to hazardous spillsituations could also be outfitted with automated time-rated bioassay


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s y s te m s . N o t o n l y c o u l d r e m o t e b i o s e n s in g b u o y s b e d e p l o y e d a l o n g t h e c o n -t a m i n a t e d r e g io n a n d t r a n s m i t p h y s i o lo g i c a l r e s p o n s e s o f o rg a n i sm s t o m o b i l eu n i t s a n d r e la y s t a t io n s , b u t w a t e r s a m p l e s f r o m r e g i o n s i d e n t i f i e d as a c u t e l yt o x i c c o u l d b e t e s t e d i n t h e a u t o m a t e d b i o as s ay s y s t e m g iv in g m i n u t e - b y -m i n u t e m o r t a l i t y o r r e s p o n s e d a t a . I n s o d o i n g , r e a l i s t i c d e c i s i o n s b a s e d o nr e a l- ti m e b i ol o gi c al i n f o r m a t i o n , c o m b i n e d w i th p h y s i c a l /c h e m i c a l d a t a m a yb e m a d e c o n c e r n i n g w h a t m i t ig a t i o n a c t io n s h o u l d b e t a k e n , i f a n y.

ACKNOWLEDGEMEN~[S

A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t is g ra te fu ll y e x te n d e d t o R a y m o n d B u rg e, R a y m o n d C .M a t h e w s , N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e f o r t h e i r a i d i n t e c h n i c a l a n d f i e l d w o r k .

A s s is ta n c e b y J a m e s S w i g e r t i n fi g u re p r e p a r a t i o n a n d b y J o a n n e A r w a y f o rt y p i n g t h e m a n u s c r i p t is a c k n o w l e d g e d . S u p p o r t p r o v i d e d f o r t h is s tu d y w a sp r o v i d e d b y t h e A q u a t ic E c o l o g y F u n d , E n v i r o n m e n t a l B io lo g y R e s e a rc hP r o g r a m , Te n n e s s e e Te c h n o l o g i c a l U n i v e r s i t y a n d U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f t h eI n t e r i o r ( U . S . D . I. ) , S o u t h e a s t R e g i o n a l O ff ic e , N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r vi c e.

REFERENCES

Cairns, Jr., J., Morgan, E.L. and Sparks, R.E., 1974a. The response of bluegills Lepomismacrochirus Raf.) to temperature change. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 103(1): 128--140.

Cairns, Jr., J., Hall, J.W., Morgan, E.L., Sparks, R.E., Waller, W.T. and Westlake, G.F.,1974b. The development of automated biological monitoring systems for water qual-ity management. In: D.D. Hemphill (Editor), Trace Substances in EnvironmentalHealth, VII. A Symposium. University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Mo., pp. 35--40.

Cairns, Jr., J., Gruber, D., Dickson, K., Hendricks, A. and Schalie, W., 1977. Developingan on-site continuous biological monitoring system for the chemical industry. Proc.5th Annu. Ind. Pollut. Conf., McLean, Va., pp. 285--294.

Herrmann, R., Stoneburner, D.L., Larson, G.L., Mathews, R.C. and Burge, R.E., 1978.Environmental monitoring for remote natural areas, Great Smoky Mountains NationalPark. Paper presented at Pecora IV, Applicat ion of Remote Sensing Data to Wildlife

Management, Sioux Falls, S.D., Oct. 10--12, 1978 (unpublished).Morgan, E.L., Eagleson, K.W. , Herrmann, R. and McCollough, N.D., 1977. Biologicalwater quality moni toring from remote stations and N.O.A.A. GOES satellite. Proc. 4thJoint Conf. on Sensing of Environmental Pollutants, Nov. 6--11, 1977, pp. 885--887.

Morgan, W.S.G. and Kuhn , P.C., 1974. A method to monito r the effects of toxican tsupon breathing rate of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides Lecepede). Water Res.,Vol. 8.

1981 - new developments in automated biossensing from remote water quality stations and satelllite...

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