An assessment of Deep Fork River Effluent Toxicity to the Unionid Mussel Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea)
Nearly 70% of the 300 mussel species in North America are endangered, threatened, of special concern, or extinct. Environmental contaminants have been identified as a contributing factor to the decline of mussel populations.
The Issue:
Mussels are generally under-represented in toxicity databases used for the development of national water quality criteria and state water quality standards. Previous studies have demonstrated that freshwater mussels are more sensitive than commonly tested organisms to some chemicals, including ammonia, metals, and major cations and anions. Concerns have been expressed that environmental guidance values developed based on other species may not adequately protect native mussels.
Addressing the Issue:
A permitted effluent from a local manufacturing plant was suspected as the cause of two mussel kills in 2005 and in 2011 in the Deep Fork River (DFR), Oklahoma.
In a collaborative study with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Tulsa, OK, CERC scientists assessed the potential toxicity of the effluent to a unionid mussel (fatmucket Lampsilis siliquoidea) and two commonly tested species (cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia; fathead minnow Pimephales promelas) in laboratory short-term 7-day effluent tests.
The results indicate that (1) the effluent contained elevated conductivity, major cations and anions, and was toxic to mussels and cladocerans, and (2) the mussel was more sensitive than the cladoceran and fathead minnow to the effluent and potassium, and thus, the two commonly tested species do not represent the sensitivity of mussels. Mussel testing should be included in future effluent permitting processes.
Next Steps:
- Evaluate the influences of water quality and temperature on potassium toxicity in longer-term (e.g., 28 d) exposures
- Evaluate the toxicity of sediments contaminated by the effluent to mussels and other benthic invertebrates
- Evaluate the effect of the mussel kill events on mussel populations
Related presentations:
Wang N, Kunz J, Steevens J, Dunn S, Martinez D. 2017. Evaluation of the toxicity of an effluent entering the Deep Fork River, OK. The 26th Annual Oklahoma Clean Lakes and Watersheds Association Conference, April 5-6, 2017, Stillwater, OK.
Kunz J, Wang N, Steevens J, Dunn S, Martinez D. 2017. Toxicity Evaluation of an Effluent Entering the Deep Fork River, OK, USA. Presented at the 38th meeting of SETAC North America, Minneapolis, MN, November 14, 2017.
Return to Fish and Invertebrate Toxicology
Return to Sediment Toxicology
Return to Threatened and Endangered Species
Nearly 70% of the 300 mussel species in North America are endangered, threatened, of special concern, or extinct. Environmental contaminants have been identified as a contributing factor to the decline of mussel populations.
The Issue:
Mussels are generally under-represented in toxicity databases used for the development of national water quality criteria and state water quality standards. Previous studies have demonstrated that freshwater mussels are more sensitive than commonly tested organisms to some chemicals, including ammonia, metals, and major cations and anions. Concerns have been expressed that environmental guidance values developed based on other species may not adequately protect native mussels.
Addressing the Issue:
A permitted effluent from a local manufacturing plant was suspected as the cause of two mussel kills in 2005 and in 2011 in the Deep Fork River (DFR), Oklahoma.
In a collaborative study with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Tulsa, OK, CERC scientists assessed the potential toxicity of the effluent to a unionid mussel (fatmucket Lampsilis siliquoidea) and two commonly tested species (cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia; fathead minnow Pimephales promelas) in laboratory short-term 7-day effluent tests.
The results indicate that (1) the effluent contained elevated conductivity, major cations and anions, and was toxic to mussels and cladocerans, and (2) the mussel was more sensitive than the cladoceran and fathead minnow to the effluent and potassium, and thus, the two commonly tested species do not represent the sensitivity of mussels. Mussel testing should be included in future effluent permitting processes.
Next Steps:
- Evaluate the influences of water quality and temperature on potassium toxicity in longer-term (e.g., 28 d) exposures
- Evaluate the toxicity of sediments contaminated by the effluent to mussels and other benthic invertebrates
- Evaluate the effect of the mussel kill events on mussel populations
Related presentations:
Wang N, Kunz J, Steevens J, Dunn S, Martinez D. 2017. Evaluation of the toxicity of an effluent entering the Deep Fork River, OK. The 26th Annual Oklahoma Clean Lakes and Watersheds Association Conference, April 5-6, 2017, Stillwater, OK.
Kunz J, Wang N, Steevens J, Dunn S, Martinez D. 2017. Toxicity Evaluation of an Effluent Entering the Deep Fork River, OK, USA. Presented at the 38th meeting of SETAC North America, Minneapolis, MN, November 14, 2017.
Return to Fish and Invertebrate Toxicology
Return to Sediment Toxicology
Return to Threatened and Endangered Species