Assessing the toxicity of sodium chloride to the glochidia of freshwater mussels: Implications for salinization of surface waters
2011
Gillis, Patricia L.
Chloride concentrations in surface waters have increased significantly, a rise attributed to road salt use. In Canada, this may be a concern for endangered freshwater mussels, many with ranges limited to southern Ontario, Canada’s most road-dense region. The acute toxicity of NaCl was determined for glochidia, the mussel’s larval stage. The 24h EC50s of four (including two Canadian endangered) species ranged from 113–1430mgClL⁻¹ (reconstituted water, 100mg CaCO₃L⁻¹). To determine how mussels would respond to a chloride pulse, natural river water (hardness 278–322mg CaCO₃L⁻¹) was augmented with salt. Lampsilis fasciola glochidia were significantly less sensitive to salt in natural water (EC50s 1265–1559mg Cl L⁻¹) than in reconstituted water (EC50 285mgL⁻¹). Chloride data from mussel habitats revealed chloride reaches levels acutely toxic to glochidia (1300mgL⁻¹). The increased salinization of freshwater could negatively impact freshwater mussels, including numerous species at risk.
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