title: Effects of environmentally relevant mixtures of major ions on a freshwater mussel.
abstract: The Clinch and Powell Rivers (Virginia, USA) support diverse mussel assemblages. Extensive coal mining occurs in both watersheds. In large reaches of both rivers, major ion concentrations are elevated and mussels have been extirpated or are declining. We conducted a laboratory study to assess major ion effects on growth and survival of juvenile Villosa iris. Mussels were exposed to pond water and diluted pond water with environmentally relevant major ion mixtures for 55 days. Two treatments were tested to mimic low-flow concentrations of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] , K(+) and Cl(-) in the Clinch and Powell Rivers, total ion concentrations of 419 mg/L and 942 mg/L, respectively. Mussel survival (>90%) and growth in the two treatments showed little variation, and were not significantly different than in diluted pond water (control). Results suggest that major ion chronic toxicity is not the primary cause for mussel declines in the Clinch and Powell Rivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Electronic address: sciparis@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciparis
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phipps
authors.affiliation: Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL 61820, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Soucek
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zipper
authors.affiliation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Jess W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000633:toxicity; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000633:toxicity; D002712:Chlorides / Q000633:toxicity; D003032:Coal Mining; D005618:Fresh Water; D007477:Ions / Q000633:toxicity*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000633:toxicity; D061005:Ponds; D011188:Potassium / Q000633:toxicity; D045483:Rivers; D013431:Sulfates / Q000633:toxicity; D049876:Unionidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D014768:Virginia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002712:Chlorides; D007477:Ions; D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Appalachian; Bivalve; Conductivity; Mining; Unionidae