Simulated mussel mortality thresholds as a function of mussel biomass and nutrient loading.

ABSTRACT: A freshwater "mussel mortality threshold" was explored as a function of porewater ammonium (NH₄⁺) concentration, mussel biomass, and total nitrogen (N) utilizing a numerical model calibrated with data from mesocosms with and without mussels. A mortality threshold of 2 mg-N L^-1 porewater NH₄⁺ was selected based on a study that estimated 100% mortality of juvenile Lampsilis mussels exposed to 1.9 mg-N L^-1 NH₄⁺ in equilibrium with 0.18 mg-N L^-1 NH₃. At the highest simulated mussel biomass (560 g m^-2) and the lowest simulated influent water "food" concentration (0.1 mg-N L^-1), the porewater NH₄⁺ concentration after a 2,160 h timespan w

SUBMITTER: Bril JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5217613 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature