Data for: Assessing striped bass scale metal accumulation as an indicator of Hudson river water quality
Data files
Feb 12, 2026 version files 96.13 KB
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cjfas-2025-0318-data.xlsx
92.82 KB
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README.md
3.31 KB
Abstract
The accumulation of trace elements in aquatic environments has the potential to threaten fish populations and human health. Fish scales provide a nonlethal alternative that enables contamination assessment without sacrificing the fish. This study examined trace element concentrations in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) using archived scales from the Hudson River Biological Monitoring Program as indicators of temporal trends in trace element contamination in fish and water of the Hudson River Estuary (HRE) from 1989 to 2017. A total of 23 trace elements were measured across 103 samples, with fish total lengths ranging from 150 to 845 mm and ages spanning 0 to 9 years. Fish body size was identified as a key factor influencing element bioaccumulation, revealing significant declines in several trace element concentrations over time. This study establishes a baseline time series of relative trace element contamination in the HRE, suggesting improvements in regional water quality and demonstrating the utility of fish scales as indicators of environmental recovery and the effectiveness of long-term pollution control efforts in the Hudson River Estuary.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hqbzkh1x8
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset is from the manuscript "Assessing Striped Bass Scale Metal Accumulation as an Indicator of Hudson River Water Quality" and provides the details of the trace elements analyzed and results.
Files and variables
File: cjfas-2025-0318-data.xlsx
Description:
sum = this worksheet shows all sample information and results of trace element concentrations analyzed in nmol/g
- SAMPLE ID: Identification number of the sampling event within the survey
- FISH ID: Identification number of an individual fish within a sample
- RIVER MILE: River mile location where the fish was collected
- AGE (years): Age of the fish determined by counting annuli on scales
- LENGTH (mm): Total length of the fish (millimeters)
- YEAR: Year of collection
- Column G to Z
- Columns G–Z contain trace element concentrations.
- Units: nmol/g (nanomoles per gram).
- Only elements included in the final analysis are shown.
- These values were used for:
- Log transformation
- Standardization
- Regression analyses
- ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests
- n/a values in columns C (RIVER MILE) and D (AGE): specific information was not available.
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These missing values do not affect the trace element concentration analyses.
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log_metal_vs_length = this worksheet shows the results of regression models using Log-transformed metal concentration as the response variable and fish total length (TL) as the predictor. Each metal results were reported in multiple years.
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Metal: Chemical element analyzed (e.g., Al = Aluminum)
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Year: Sampling year
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Intercept: Model intercept
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Slope: Regression coefficient for TL
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P_value: p-value testing whether slope differs from zero
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R_squared: Coefficient of determination
ANOVA = this worksheet shows Analysis of Variance results examining whether log-transformed, standardized metal concentration (log_std_metal) differs among years.
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Df: Degrees of freedom
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Sum: Sq Sum of squares
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Mean: Sq Mean square (Sum Sq / Df)
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F value: F-statistic (ratio of between-year variance to within-year variance)
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Pr(>F): p-value testing whether group means differ
Tukey = this worksheet shows Tukey HSD results on pairwise comparisons between all years to determine which specific years differ significantly in mean log-transformed, standardized metal concentration
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diff: Difference in group means (Year1 − Year2)
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lwr: Lower bound of the 95% confidence interval
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upr: Upper bound of the 95% confidence interval
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p adj: Adjusted p-value (corrected for multiple comparisons)
log_std_metal_vs_year = this worksheet shows the results of linear regressions using years as the predictor and Log-transformed, standardized metal concentration as the response variable
- Metal: Element analyzed (log-transformed and standardized)
- Length_Group (mm): Fish total length category
- Intercept: Model intercept
- Slope: Annual change in concentration (β₁)
- P_Value: p-value testing temporal trend
- R_Squared: Coefficient of determination