Response of Mysid Shrimp (Mysidopsis Bahia), Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon Variegatus), and Inland Silverside Minnow (Menidia Beryllina) to Changes in Artificial Seawater Salinity

Abstract

Although marine organisms are adapted to naturally high concentrations of total dissolved solids (salinity) in their environment, abnormally high or low concentrations of ions can be toxic. Toxicity can result from aberrant levels of a single ion or from shifts in the entire spectrum of salts that comprise saltwater. To determine how marine organisms will respond to drastic swings in solution salinity and to provide a predictive tool to assess toxicity attributable to salinity, three common marine test organisms were exposed to balanced solutions ranging in salinity from near zero to more than 80‰. The organisms tested were mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), and inland silverside minnow (Menidia beryllina). Logistic regression was used to relate salinity to survival for each of the three test species. Survival of all three species was reduced at low and high salinities, although impacts to mysid shrimp at salinities of 4‰ or less were more pronounced than to either fish species. In high-salinity studies, mysid shrimp and inland silverside minnows had 48-h LC50s of approx. 45‰; a 48-h LC50 of nearly 70‰ was calculated for the sheepshead minnow. Mysid shrimp and sheepshead minnows were relatively consistent in their response to saline solutions, whereas silverside minnows were more variable in their response.

Dispersant and salinity effects on weathering and acute toxicity of South Louisiana crude oil

“…Although LC50 concentrations were not calculated in the present study, sufficient COREXIT remains after 1 wk of biodegradation to induce mortality at all salinities and at 4 wk in the lowest salinity. Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms [43] and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

“…Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

Dispersant and salinity effects on weathering and acute toxicity of South Louisiana crude oil

“…Although LC50 concentrations were not calculated in the present study, sufficient COREXIT remains after 1 wk of biodegradation to induce mortality at all salinities and at 4 wk in the lowest salinity. Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms [43] and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

“…Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

Effects of salinity and chemical speciation on cadmium accumulation and toxicity to two mysid species

“…Any salinity‐related mortalities should preclude an organism's use from tests at that salinity. For example, although A bahia is used widely in estuarine toxicity tests, it has poor tolerance to salinities <5‰ and, therefore, should not be used at such low salinities [8].…”

Predicting the toxicity of major ions in seawater to mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), and inland silverside minnow (Menidia beryllina)

“…By also adjusting the concentration of Na + and Cl − , the salinity of the test solutions could be maintained at or near 31‰. This was important because changes in salinity, even in balanced solutions, can have adverse effects on test organisms [18]. The specific ions tested were potassium (K + ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), calcium (Ca 2+ ), strontium (Sr 2+ ), sulfate (SO 2− 4 ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ), bromide (Br − ), and borate (B 4 O 7 2− ).…”

Dispersant and salinity effects on weathering and acute toxicity of South Louisiana crude oil

“…Although LC50 concentrations were not calculated in the present study, sufficient COREXIT remains after 1 wk of biodegradation to induce mortality at all salinities and at 4 wk in the lowest salinity. Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms [43] and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

“…Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

Effects of salinity and chemical speciation on cadmium accumulation and toxicity to two mysid species

“…Any salinity‐related mortalities should preclude an organism's use from tests at that salinity. For example, although A bahia is used widely in estuarine toxicity tests, it has poor tolerance to salinities <5‰ and, therefore, should not be used at such low salinities [8].…”

Predicting the toxicity of major ions in seawater to mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), and inland silverside minnow (Menidia beryllina)

“…By also adjusting the concentration of Na + and Cl − , the salinity of the test solutions could be maintained at or near 31‰. This was important because changes in salinity, even in balanced solutions, can have adverse effects on test organisms [18]. The specific ions tested were potassium (K + ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), calcium (Ca 2+ ), strontium (Sr 2+ ), sulfate (SO 2− 4 ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ), bromide (Br − ), and borate (B 4 O 7 2− ).…”

Dispersant and salinity effects on weathering and acute toxicity of South Louisiana crude oil

“…Although LC50 concentrations were not calculated in the present study, sufficient COREXIT remains after 1 wk of biodegradation to induce mortality at all salinities and at 4 wk in the lowest salinity. Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms [43] and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

“…Salinity influences acute toxicity of a variety of compounds in aquatic organisms and also appears to play a role in the COREXIT acute toxicity observed in the present study. Models from the present study suggest a potential parabolic relationship between toxicity and salinity.…”

Effects of salinity and chemical speciation on cadmium accumulation and toxicity to two mysid species

“…Any salinity‐related mortalities should preclude an organism's use from tests at that salinity. For example, although A bahia is used widely in estuarine toxicity tests, it has poor tolerance to salinities <5‰ and, therefore, should not be used at such low salinities [8].…”

Predicting the toxicity of major ions in seawater to mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), and inland silverside minnow (Menidia beryllina)

“…By also adjusting the concentration of Na + and Cl − , the salinity of the test solutions could be maintained at or near 31‰. This was important because changes in salinity, even in balanced solutions, can have adverse effects on test organisms [18]. The specific ions tested were potassium (K + ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), calcium (Ca 2+ ), strontium (Sr 2+ ), sulfate (SO 2− 4 ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ), bromide (Br − ), and borate (B 4 O 7 2− ).…”