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The Effects of Water Quality and Age on the Acute Toxicity of Copper to the Florida Apple Snail, Pomacea paludosa

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Abstract

Copper (Cu)-containing compounds have been used in Florida as fungicides, herbicides, and soil amendments, resulting in elevated Cu in the aquatic ecosystem. The Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa), a key species in south Florida, may be adversely affected by Cu. Water-quality parameters, such as hardness, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pH, and alkalinity, affect metal bioavailability and toxicity in aquatic organisms; however, it is uncertain to what extent these factors affect Cu toxicity in the Florida apple snail. The research presented here characterized the acute (96-hour) toxicity of Cu in water to the Florida apple snail at various life stages and under different water-quality parameters. Cu was more toxic to juvenile than adult apple snails. There was no difference between the 96-hour LC50 at pH 5.5 and 6.5; however, the 96-hour LC50 values at pH 7.5 and 8.5 were greater than at lower pHs. The decrease in Cu2+ above pH 7, as predicted by the MINTEQ model, accounted for the pH effect. Cu toxicity decreased as DOC increased from 0.2 to 30 mg/L. Unlike other aquatic organisms, hardness had no effect on Cu toxicity to the Florida apple snail, suggesting another mechanism of toxicity. Whole-body tissue analysis indicated that the lethal body burden of 120-day-old snails exposed to Cu for 4 days was 30 mg/kg Cu dry weight. Multiple regression analysis indicated that Cu toxicity was a function of organism age, DOC, and pH.

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Acknowledgments

We thank R. Frakes and T. Bargar of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, P. Bachman (Florida International University), and K. Moore (Clemson University) for their assistance with completing this study. We thank P. Darby (University of West Florida) for technical support on the Florida apple snail. This is SERC contribution no. 371

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment Laboratory, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Department of Environmental Studies, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA

    E. C. Rogevich, T. C. Hoang & G. M. Rand

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA

    E. C. Rogevich

Authors
  1. E. C. Rogevich
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  2. T. C. Hoang
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  3. G. M. Rand
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Correspondence to G. M. Rand.

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Rogevich, E.C., Hoang, T.C. & Rand, G.M. The Effects of Water Quality and Age on the Acute Toxicity of Copper to the Florida Apple Snail, Pomacea paludosa . Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 54, 690–696 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-007-9106-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-007-9106-1

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