Responses of seven species of native freshwater fish and a shrimp to low levels of dissolved oxygen

Abstract

The tolerances of seven New Zealand freshwater fish species and one species of shrimp to low levels of dissolved oxygen were determined in the laboratory by holding fish at dissolved oxygen levels of 1, 3, or 5 mg litre -1 for 48 h at 15°C. Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were also tested for comparison. All of the banded kokopu whitebait (Galaxias fasciatus), juvenile torrentfish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri), adult and juvenile common smelt (Retropinna retropinna), juvenile common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), and trout were dead after 48 h exposure to 1 mg litre -1 . Adult and juvenile inanga (Galaxias maculatus), adult common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), and shrimp (Paratya curvirostris) had mortalities ranging from 27 to 80% at 1 mg litre -1 , whereas all of the elvers (Anguilla spp.) survived. Juvenile rainbow trout were the most sensitive of the species tested, and the only species that had mortalities during exposure to 3 mg litre -1 . No deaths of any fish occurred at 5 mg litre -1 . Time to 50% mortality at 1 mg litre -1 for common smelt (adult and juvenile) and juvenile common bully were similar to those for juvenile rainbow trout. Most fish moved towards the surface within the first few hours of exposure to 1 mg litre -1 . Rainbow trout was the only species that showed consistent surfacing behaviour at 3 mg litre -1 and rarely were fish observed to move towards the Received 1 July 1998; accepted 12 November 1998 surface at 5 mg litre -l . Within the limits of the lifestages and species tested, adequate protection is provided for native fish by adopting the United States Environmental Protection Agency dissolved oxygen criteria for salmonid waters. M98036

Avoidance behaviour of freshwater fish and shrimp exposed to ammonia and low dissolved oxygen separately and in combination

“…Previous experiments with DO showed that 1 g nr 3 DO caused the rapid death of common smelt and juvenile common bully, but that 3 g m~3 was not toxic even after 48 h exposure (Dean & Richardson 1999). Our trials were therefore conducted at an intermediate level of c. 2 g m~3 DO.…”

“…Toxic concentrations of many contaminants (e.g., high temperature, low dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia, heavy metals) have been measured for New Zealand's freshwater species (Hickey & Vickers 1994;Richardson et al 1994;Richardson 1997;Dean & Richardson 1999;Hickey 2000). However, little attention has been focused on the behavioural response of native species to common pollutants, nor have any contaminants been tested in combination.…”

Land‐use impacts and water quality targets in the intensive dairying catchment of the Toenepi Stream, New Zealand

“…Shed wastes account for 8-10% of cow daily faecal and urine excretion during the milking season (based on time in milking sheds) (Williams & Haynes 1990). An equivalent stock effluent loading can be Dean & Richardson (1999);USEPA (1986). 4 Quinnetal.…”

“…The target for protection of aquatic life from effects of high temperature (maximum <20°C) was derived from laboratory tolerance data for sensitive species (mayflies and stoneflies) allowing a 3°C safety margin below levels that caused 50% mortality after continuous exposure for 96 h (Quinn et al 1994). The target for aquatic life protection from effects of low DO (>40% saturation) was derived from laboratory experiments on tolerances of New Zealand native freshwater fish and shrimp (Dean & Richardson 1999) and USEPA (1986) recommendations for protection of non-salmonid waters. In setting the target at a relatively low >40% of saturation, we took into account that, before development for farming, low DO conditions were likely to have occurred owing to the natural abundance of wetlands and low stream re-aeration rates (Wilcock et al 1998).…”

Diffuse contributions dominate over point sources of soluble nutrients in two sub-catchments of the Manawatu River, New Zealand

“…In severe cases, periphyton-induced changes in physicochemical and habitat properties of a river can be lethal to invertebrates and fish (e.g. via lowering dissolved oxygen concentrations; Dean & Richardson 1999). Some forms of soluble nutrient are also managed in the Manawatu, as they can be toxic to freshwater water aquatic species at high concentrations, for example ammonia (Hickey & Vickers 1994;Richardson 1997;Richardson et al 2001) and nitrate (Hickey & Martin 2009).…”