Exposure Routes of Copper and their Effects on the Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)

Aselage, Stephanie NT

Exposure Routes of Copper and their Effects on the Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)

2011

Aselage, Stephanie NT

Populations and diversity of freshwater snails are declining in the United States. The currentstudy looks at the different exposure routes (water, sediment and dietary) of copper (Cu) for the greatpond snail (Lymneae stagnalis) to determine which route of exposure has the greatest potential forinducing toxic effects and bioaccumulation in snails. L. stagnalis were exposed to environmentallyrelevant concentrations of Cu through each of the three exposure routes for 28 days and survival,growth (length and wet weight), feeding rates (weekly) and whole body Cu concentrations weremeasured to estimate potential toxic effects. Overlying water Cu was significantly correlated with snailsurvival and whole body Cu concentrations. The sediment exposure route had the least toxic effects andlowest snail mortality. The dietary exposure route showed the highest Cu concentrations in snails yet nomeasurable toxic effects. Regardless of exposure route, feeding rates were not affected by Cu. Thesefindings suggest that elevated levels of Cu in overlying water and food sources may have negativeeffects on snail population size or lead to elevated Cu body burden.

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