Acute Toxicity of $\hbox {Cd}^{2+}$, $\hbox {Cr}^{6+}$, and $\hbox {Ni}^{2+}$ to the Golden Mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker 1857)

Abstract

In this study we test the sensitivity of three sizes of golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), an introduced species in Argentina, to a 96-h exposure to $\hbox {Cd}^{2+}$, $\hbox {Cr}^{6+}$, and $\hbox {Ni}^{2+}$. We also analysed the relative sensitivity of L. fortunei compared to other freshwater bivalve equivalent sensitivity data. The ANOVA results showed that both factors, heavy metal and size, had significant effects (p = 0.0013 and p = 0.0091, respectively) on the mortality of the golden mussel. Tukey’s test showed significant differences for $\hbox {Cr}^{6+}$ treatment and the smallest size class (7 mm $\pm 1$). The relative sensitivity analysis showed that $\hbox {LC}_{{50}}$ values for the smallest size class of L. fortunei exposed to $\hbox {Ni}^{2+}$ and $\hbox {Cd}^{2+}$ were in the low range, with values of 11.40 mg/L and 12.65 mg/L, respectively. In the case of $\hbox {Cr}^{6+}$ (1.66 mg/L), its $\hbox {LC}_{{50}}$ was in the medium-low range of the freshwater bivalve sensitivity distribution.