Salt-Laden Winter Runoff and Freshwater Mussels; Assessing the Effect on Early Life Stages in the Laboratory and Wild Mussel Populations in Receiving Waters.

ABSTRACT: The widespread use of road salt for winter road maintenance has led to an increase in the salinity of surface water in many seasonally cold areas. Freshwater mussels have a heightened sensitivity to salt, which is a concern, because many Canadian mussel species at risk have ranges limited to southern Ontario, Canada's most road-dense region. This study examined the effect of winter road runoff on freshwater mussels. The impact of two bridges that span mussel habitat in the Thames River watershed (Ontario, Canada), the second most species-rich watershed for mussels in Canada, were studied. During a winter melt event, bridge runoff, as well as creek surface water surrounding the bridges were collected. Chloride concentrations in samples from bridge deck and tile drains varied (99-8250 mg/L).

SUBMITTER: Gillis PL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8818002 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature