The objective of this study was to determine the effects, if any, of sublethal concentrations of suspended materials on the fish in estuarine systems. Experimental sediment suspensions reproduced the concentrations frequently found during flooding and at dredging sites and dredged-material disposal sites. The suspensions were of natural sediment, obtained from the Patuxent River estuary, Maryland, or commercially available fuller's earth. Fish were collected in the Patuxent River estuary and transported to the laboratory. The selected fish species inhabited ecologically different sections of the estuary; therefore, the overall reactions of each species were unique. Seven species of estuarine fish were exposed to fuller's earth and natural sediment suspensions for timed periods and hematological changes were noted. The effects of various concentrations of fuller's earth suspensions on white perch gill tissue were determined. Oxygen consumption rates of striped bass, white perch, and toadfish were measured in filtered Patuxent River water and compared to consumption rates in filtered river water suspensions of fuller's earth or Patuxent River sediment. Fish showed signs of stress in response to suspended sediments in most of the experiments. Results indicate that sublethal concentrations of suspended solids can affect estuarine fish. Additional experiments are discussed in Appendixes A to D.


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    Title :

    Sublethal Effects of Suspended Sediments on Estuarine Fish


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1977


    Size :

    9087071


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Classification :


    Lethal Effects of Suspended Sediments on Estuarine Fish

    O'Connor, J. M. / Neumann, D. A. / Sherk, J. Albert Jr. | HENRY – Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW) | 1976

    Free access

    Effects of Suspended Solids on Selected Estuarine Plankton

    Sherk, J. Albert Jr. / Neumann, D. A. / O'Connor, J. M. | HENRY – Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW) | 1976

    Free access

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    Lin, B. / Falconer, R. A. | British Library Online Contents | 1996


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    Marvan, F. G. / Wallis, S. G. / Mehta, A. J. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002