Are water quality criteria for metals protective of Pacific Northwest Salmonids?

Lipton, J.1, Hansen, J. A.1, Welsh, P. G.1, 1 ABSTRACT- Over the past few years, we have observed a number of toxicological responses, including behavioral avoidance, acute lethality, and chronic growth effects, in threatened salmonids at concentrations less than national water quality criteria (WQC) values.

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and rainbow trout (O. Mykiss, same species as steelhead) consistently avoid Cu and Zn at concentrations substantially less than WQC. This response can represent a chemically mediated loss of otherwise usable habitat and may influence recruitment success at various life stages.

Additionally, we have shown that chinook salmon exposed to 50% of the Cu WQC failed to acoid higher Cu concentrations, which corresponds to an observed loss of olfactory neurons coupled with a loss of olfactory sensitivity to other chemicals. The loss of olfaction may have substantial ecological implications for endangered salmonids because affected fish may have ... more.

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