These fish were collected via electroshocking. This sampling was performed as part of an investigation for the Winston-Thomas Superfund site in Bloomington, Indiana. This information will be used to determine if the predators that eat these fish may be at risk from exposure to the PCBs in their tissues. This fish was collected from Clear Creek, just downstream from the Winston-Thomas Superfund site in Bloominton, Indiana. The abnormal growth shown in the picture may or may not be due to site-related contamination.
Further investigation is necessary to determine the exact cause of the growth.
However, this information can be used as part of the weight of evidence to determine if the site is potentially causing adverse impacts to the fish in the area. Some of these are shown below . The sampler is left weighted down, in a waterbody for a set amount of time. At the end of that time period, the sampler is retrieved. The invertebrates are emptied into pans and sorted.