title: Warm season chloride concentrations in stream habitats of freshwater mussel species at risk.
abstract: Warm season (May-October) chloride concentrations were assessed in stream habitats of freshwater mussel species at risk in southern Ontario, Canada. Significant increases in concentrations were observed at 96% of 24 long-term (1975-2009) monitoring sites. Concentrations were described as a function of road density indicating an anthropogenic source of chloride. Linear regression showed that 36% of the variation of concentrations was explained by road salt use by the provincial transportation ministry. Results suggest that long-term road salt use and retention is contributing to a gradual increase in baseline chloride concentrations in at risk mussel habitats. Exposure of sensitive mussel larvae (glochidia) to increasing chloride concentrations may affect recruitment to at risk mussel populations.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 125 Resources Road, Etobicoke, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada. Aaron.Todd@ontario.ca
authors.forename: Aaron K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: M Georgina
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kaltenecker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009864:Ontario; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical