Premium
Comparative sensitivities of bluegill, channel catfish and fathead minnow to pH and aluminum
Author(s) -
Palmer Robert E.,
Klauda Ronald J.,
Lewis Timothy E.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620070610
Subject(s) - minnow , pimephales promelas , ictalurus , catfish , ictaluridae , phoxinus , environmental chemistry , biology , chemistry , zoology , toxicology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii>
Sensitivities of bluegill ( Lepomis macrochins ), channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) and fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ) to pH and aluminum were compared during 96‐h acute toxicity tests in the laboratory. Juveniles were exposed to four HCl (pH 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 nominal) and five AlCl 3 (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 μg/L nominal) treatments in moderately soft fresh water (total hardness, 20 to 25 mg/L CaCO 3 ) under continuous flow‐through conditions. The ranking of species sensitivities to acid alone was fathead minnow (most sensitive), followed by channel catfish and bluegill (about equally sensitive). Aluminum was not toxic to these species at pH 6.5 and 7.5. The ranking of sensitivities to Al at pH 4.5 and 5.5 showed clearer species differences. Fathead minnow were most sensitive and died in all Al treatments. Bluegill were least sensitive and died only in the highest Al concentration at pH 5.5. The sensitivity of channel catfish to Al was intermediate, but was most similar to that of fathead minnow. Aluminum, predominantly as hydroxide species, appeared to be most toxic to bluegill at pH 5.5. Free and hydroxy Al species were apparently toxic to fathead minnow and channel catfish at pH 4.5 and 5.5. Our experimental data corroborate the observed distributions of these species in acidified lakes and streams.