Abstract
Juvenile and adult Asiatic clams were exposed to 0.025-1.0 mg Zn/L for 30 days in artificial stream systems in an outdoor field laboratory and formal laboratory setting. All exposures (≧0.050 mg/L), except 0.025 mg/L, significantly reduced total weight gain between days 20 to 30 in the field-laboratory experiments. Laboratory exposures yielded little growth information as nutritional needs of the clam were not adequately satisfied; therefore, further research was confined to the field location. Exposures to 1.0 mg/L resulted in 10-50% mortality by day 30 in outdoor artificial streams. Significant increases in tissue water content of Zn-exposed clams indicated tissue degradation or osmoregulatory impairment. Bioaccumulation of Zn occurred at all levels of exposure and reflected growth inhibition at the levels tested. The maximum accumulation occurred in 1.0 mg/L treated clams (2000 Μg Zn/g dry weight). Controls varied consistently around 200 Μg Zn/g dry weight. When clams exposed to Zn (0.050-1.0 mg/L) were removed from exposure to control streams, Zn was completely depurated in 17 days with a concomitant return to normal growth patterns. Clams from the higher Zn exposures (0.50 and 1.0 mg/L) remained significantly different from controls due to earlier growth inhibition by Zn.Corbicula is a sensitive indicator of Zn stress at levels that are currently considered protective of aquatic life.
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Belanger, S.E., Farris, J.L., Cherry, D.S. et al. Growth of Asiatic clams (Corbicula sp.) during and after long-term zinc exposure in field-located and laboratory artificial streams. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 15, 427–434 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066410
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066410