Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of a range of salinities (5%., 15%., and 25%.) on the acute toxicity of atrazine to nauplii of the copepodEurytemora affinis and larvae of the sheepshead minnow,Cyprinodon variegatus. Ninety-six-hour LC50 values for the copepod were 0.5 mg 1−1, 2.6 mg 1−1, and 13.2 mg 1−1 at salimities of 5%., 15%. and 25%. respectively. A comparison of LC50 values between adjacent salinities showed a statistical difference between 15%. and 25%. but not between 5%. and 15%.. Atrazine was more toxic toE. affinis at the lowest salinity. The 96-h LC50s for the sheepshead minnow were 16.2 mg 1−1, 2.3 mg 1−1, and 2.0 mg 1−1 at salinities of 5%., 15%., and 25%., respectively. There was a statistical difference between LC50 values at 5%. and 15%. but not between 15%. and 25%.. In contrast toE. affinis results, atrazine was more toxic toC. variegatus at the highest salinity. The toxicity data from these species suggest that development of estuarine water quality criteria is warranted.
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Hall, L.W., Ziegenfuss, M.C., Anderson, R.D. et al. Influence of salinity on atrazine toxicity to a Chesapeake Bay copepod (Eurytemora affinis) and fish (Cyprinodon variegatus). Estuaries 17, 181–186 (1994). https://doi.org/10.2307/1352567
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1352567