The acute toxicity of selected metals to the freshwater mussel, Anodonta imbecilis

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Abstract
The mussel fauna of many North American waters is declining, probably due to a combination of factors. The factors may include channelization and impoundment of rivers where the mussels once thrived, as well as the influx of pesticides and metal pollution from surrounding watersheds. Much is known about the effects of metal pollution on zooplankton and aquatic insects, but little is known about the response of freshwater mussels. With more and more species of mussels being listed as threatened or endangered, it is important that we begin to determine their range of sensitivity to pollutants so we can better protect them. Mussels have been labeled insensitive to metals because they can survive while containing high body burdens. However, almost no direct measurement of metal toxicity has been reported for unionid mussels. What little we do know has come from tests with adult mussels. In response to the need for such information, a series of laboratory toxicity tests were performed to assess the sensitivity of Anodonta imbecilis to six metals, a metal‐containing effluent and four metal mixtures. Acute toxicity tests were performed on juvenile mussels reared in the laboratory. Overall, mussels were found to be as sensitive to metals as zooplankton and more sensitive than commonly tested fish and aquatic insects.

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