Effects of environmentally relevant mixtures of major ions on a freshwater mussel. Environ Pollut 2015 Dec;207:280-7
Date
09/29/2015Pubmed ID
26412268DOI
10.1016/j.envpol.2015.09.023Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84942474506 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 18 CitationsAbstract
The Clinch and Powell Rivers (Virginia, USA) support diverse mussel assemblages. Extensive coal mining occurs in both watersheds. In large reaches of both rivers, major ion concentrations are elevated and mussels have been extirpated or are declining. We conducted a laboratory study to assess major ion effects on growth and survival of juvenile Villosa iris. Mussels were exposed to pond water and diluted pond water with environmentally relevant major ion mixtures for 55 days. Two treatments were tested to mimic low-flow concentrations of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] , K(+) and Cl(-) in the Clinch and Powell Rivers, total ion concentrations of 419 mg/L and 942 mg/L, respectively. Mussel survival (>90%) and growth in the two treatments showed little variation, and were not significantly different than in diluted pond water (control). Results suggest that major ion chronic toxicity is not the primary cause for mussel declines in the Clinch and Powell Rivers.
Author List
Ciparis S, Phipps A, Soucek DJ, Zipper CE, Jones JWAuthor
Test W. User test user title in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsBicarbonates
Bivalvia
Calcium
Chlorides
Coal Mining
Fresh Water
Ions
Magnesium
Ponds
Potassium
Rivers
Sulfates
Unionidae
Virginia
Water Pollutants, Chemical
