Bioaccumulation and community composition of small terrestrial biota exposed to coal combustion residual contaminants

Anthropogenic pollutants from energy production pose a major threat to the health of ecosystems worldwide. Potentially toxic trace elements in coal combustion residues (CCRs) can persist in the environment for decades and readily bioaccumulate in animal tissues leading to deleterious effects. We reported contamination levels and small vertebrate community metrics in a terrestrial area that has not received CCR inputs in over five decades within the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (Jackson, South Carolina). We 1) quantified current trace element concentrations in soils and target biota, 2) compared concentrations in soils and biota to reference site samples and historical data, 3) quantified stable isotope ratios in biota and compared to elemental concentrations, and 4) measured species richness, diversity, and dissimilarity along an estimated CCR exposure gradient. Our results broadly suggest the continued bioavailability and accumulation of trace elements in exposed biota may not be strongly impacting community metrics of small terrestrial vertebrates.