The influence of contaminant and water quality conditions on larval striped bass in the Potomac River and upper Chesapeake Bay in 1990: Anin situ study

Abstract

In situ contaminant and water quality studies were conducted with striped bass prolarvae,Morone saxatilis, in two major spawning areas of the Chesapeake Bay in 1990 to explore the possible effects of water quality and contaminants conditions on survival. Three 96-hin situ survival studies with striped bass prolarvae were conducted at three stations in the Potomac River and three stations in the upper Chesapeake Bay during a major portion of the spawning season (13–20°C). Water quality parameters, inorganic contaminants and organic contaminants were monitored in the water column at these three stations during the experiments. Concentrations of 10 metals associated with precipitation events occurring at field sites on the Potomac River and upper Chesapeake Bay were also determined.