Increased salinization of freshwater systems is a growing concern, and can be attributed to a variety of factors including climate change, land-use change, agricultural practices, road de-icing, and brines released from fossil fuel extraction. Effects of increased salinization on aquatic organisms is little understood and may be vastly different among species and among different life stages.
Researchers at the USGS Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory are using a combined laboratory, physiology, and genomics approach to investigate these effects in several key freshwater species including brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), American eel (Anguilla rostrata), eastern elliptio mussel (Elliptio complanata), and the federally listed northern riffleshell mussel (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana). Due to freshwater mussels’ complex life cycle, studies are being conducted with adults as well as more sensitive juvenile and larval stages. Studies allow insight into the mechanisms involved in a species’ response to increased salinization, determine environmental conditions that elicit a biologically relevant response, and develop meaningful biomarkers for field application and use in management
- Overview
Increased salinization of freshwater systems is a growing concern, and can be attributed to a variety of factors including climate change, land-use change, agricultural practices, road de-icing, and brines released from fossil fuel extraction. Effects of increased salinization on aquatic organisms is little understood and may be vastly different among species and among different life stages.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Adult northern riffleshell mussels (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) experimentally exposed to increased chloride levels. Researchers at the USGS Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory are using a combined laboratory, physiology, and genomics approach to investigate these effects in several key freshwater species including brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), American eel (Anguilla rostrata), eastern elliptio mussel (Elliptio complanata), and the federally listed northern riffleshell mussel (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana). Due to freshwater mussels’ complex life cycle, studies are being conducted with adults as well as more sensitive juvenile and larval stages. Studies allow insight into the mechanisms involved in a species’ response to increased salinization, determine environmental conditions that elicit a biologically relevant response, and develop meaningful biomarkers for field application and use in management
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Digital pictures were taken each week of juvenile northern riffleshell mussel (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) to monitor growth throughout experimental exposure to chloride. Individual’s length and width were measured using a computer software program and compared among chloride treatments to determine if chloride exposure impacted juvenile mussel growth.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Brook trout were exposed to low concentrations of synthetic brine from the natural gas extraction process to evaluate the effects of on their survival, physiology, and body condition. - Publications