An evaluation of the influence of substrate on the response of juvenile freshwater mussels (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea) in acute water exposures to ammonia

Abstract

Acute 96‐h ammonia toxicity to three‐month‐old juvenile mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea) was evaluated in four treatments (water‐only, water‐only with feeding, water and soil, and water and sand) using an exposure unit designed to maintain consistent pH and ammonia concentrations in overlying water and in pore water surrounding the substrates. Median effect concentrations (EC50s) for total ammonia nitrogen in the four treatments ranged from 5.6 to 7.7 mg/L and median lethal concentrations (LC50s) ranged from 7.0 to 11 mg/L at a mean pH of 8.4. Similar EC50s or LC50s with overlapping 95% confidence intervals among treatments indicated no influence of substrate on the response of mussels in acute exposures to ammonia.

Department(s)

Biology

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.259

Keywords

juvenile mussels, ammonia, toxicity, substrate, sediment

Publication Date

8-4-2010

Journal Title

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

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