Water chemistry and fish health effects for fathead minnow embryos exposed to sodium nitrate and matched conductivity controls for 21 days post fertilization

This data set describes developmental and physiological effects observed in fathead minnow embryos that were exposed to sodium nitrate or conductivity-matched controls. Exposures were conducted in the laboratory from fertilization through 21 days post-fertilization (dpf). Nitrate doses were 0, 2, 5, 10, 25, or 100 milligrams per liter nitrate-nitrogen; conductivity controls were matched to the 10 and 100 milligrams per liter nitrate-nitrogen treatments. During the experiment, we assessed heart rate and percent arrhythmic heart beats at 3 dpf, timing of hatch and inflation of the posterior and anterior swim bladders, presence of pericardial edema or scoliosis, fish metrics at 21 dpf (fish length and weight; swim bladder length, width, and volume), and mortality. Water quality data during the exposure period are also presented, and include conductivity, pH, nitrate-nitrogen, total ammonia, unionized ammonia, and dissolved oxygen.