Introduction:
The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission estimates that over 2080 km of streams in Colorado are impacted by metals. The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory has studied the effects of metals on aquatic organisms for over 35 years. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is currently conducting research to determine the effects of urban and agricultural contaminants on Plains fish communities. Results from this research will assist with identifying potential causes for the decline of native fish in Colorado and help with development of management, conservation, and recovery plans (https://wildlife.state.co.us).
There is a delicate balance of dependency among abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem. If one of those factors is changed in some way, the ecosystem must adapt to continue to remain biodiverse and healthy. Colorado is currently part of a study looking at mercury levels in national parks. Dragonfly larvae are currently being sampled for mercury levels in parks all over the United States. Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can harm human and wildlife health, threatening the natural resources the National Park Service is charge with protecting (www.nature.nps.gov).
There is a delicate balance of dependency among abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem. If one of those factors is changed in some way, the ecosystem must adapt to continue to remain biodiverse and healthy. Colorado is currently part of a study looking at mercury levels in national parks. Dragonfly larvae are currently being sampled for mercury levels in parks all over the United States. Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can harm human and wildlife health, threatening the natural resources the National Park Service is charge with protecting (www.nature.nps.gov).