Effects of nitrogenous wastes on survival of the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum)

Justin C Crow; Kenneth G Ostrand; Michael R J Forstner; Matthew Catalano; Joseph R Tomasso

doi:10.1002/etc.3865

Effects of nitrogenous wastes on survival of the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum)

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2017 Nov;36(11):3003-3007. doi: 10.1002/etc.3865. Epub 2017 Jul 28.

Authors

Justin C Crow¹, Kenneth G Ostrand¹, Michael R J Forstner², Matthew Catalano³, Joseph R Tomasso²

Affiliations

¹ San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, San Marcos, Texas, USA.
² Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.
³ School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.

PMID: 28543305
DOI: 10.1002/etc.3865

Abstract

The objective of our study was to determine the acute toxicity of 3 common aquatic nitrogenous toxicants to the federally endangered Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum). Based on our findings, the 96-h median lethal concentrations (96-h LC50) for un-ionized ammonia-N, nitrite-N, and nitrate-N to E. sosorum are 2.0 ± 0.32, 31.7 ± 4.02, and 968.5 ± 150.6 mg/L, respectively. These results establish a benchmark for the tolerance of plethodontid salamanders to these toxicants and indicate that current water quality criteria are adequate for their protection. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3003-3007. © 2017 SETAC.

Keywords: Amphibian; Conservation; Endangered; Salamander; Toxicity.

MeSH terms

Ammonia / analysis
Animals
Nitrates / analysis
Nitrites / analysis
Nitrogen / toxicity*
Urodela / physiology*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

Nitrates
Nitrites
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Ammonia
Nitrogen