Escape and survival of Corophium volutator and Ilyanassa obsoleta exposed to freshwater and chlorothalonil

Abstract

The behavioural response and survival of marine mud snails and mud shrimp exposed to freshwater and the fungicide chlorothalonil (tetrachloroisophthalonitrile) was investigated. Amphipods were less tolerant of lower salinity than snails, with 50 and 76% survival associated with 5 and 0% seawater in freshwater, respectively. However, 50% of snails displayed a defence mechanism by retracting within their shell when exposed to 70% freshwater. Both species displayed an avoidance to chlorothalonil spiked at > 100 ng/g and/or > 100 ng/mL in sediments and seawater, respectively. The avoidance response of amphipods was observed along with a reduced swimming ability and increased lipid content. Snails displayed a higher susceptibility to physical stress, with an increased number unable to twist from being on their shell to their foot, and with longer righting time. Behaviour was affected at chlorothalonil concentrations of 0.001–0.01 ng/g and/or ng/mL, with a variability that could be due to degradation by the microbial community. Ascertaining the latter observations requires state-of-the-art chemical analyses.