Whole-body sodium concentration in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) during and following copper exposure.
This research used whole-body sodium concentration to characterize exposure and recovery of larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) from acute pulsed copper exposures. Whole-body sodium was chosen because the acute mechanism of copper toxicity to fishes is putative disruption of ion regulation, resulting in a loss of sodium and eventually leading to mortality. Whole-body sodium response in larval fathead minnows exposed to copper was both concentration and duration dependent. The loss of sodium to approximately 70% of control levels occurred within 12 h of exposure. Organisms demonstrated an ability to recover whole-body sodium within 48 h after exposure to concentrations below 0.47 microM Cu2+ for 3, 6, or 9 h. However, at higher concentrations, organisms required more than 48 h to recover. Whole-body sodium concentrations and mortality for all continuous exposures were strongly correlated. These results may facilitate development of a physiologically based model to predict the response of organisms to copper in receiving streams.
Zahner
Holly M
HM
Clemson University, Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Pendleton, South Carolina 29670 USA. hzahner@clemson.edu
VanGenderen
Eric J
EJ
Tomasso
Joseph R
JR
Klaine
Stephen J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper; D012964:Sodium