Browsing by Author "Johnston, Christina"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemOpen AccessToxicology of Model Naphthenic Acids in the Great Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis(2015-05-01) Johnston, Christina; Wildering, WillemNaphthenic acids (NAs), carboxylic acids with large aliphatic tail groups, are an important class of oil sands tailings pond toxins. In this study, the effects of a mixture of model NAs on the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis were examined during various life stages. Hatching rate was progressively affected over a range of 20-75 mg/L NAs, while embryo somatic growth was progressively affected over a range of 30-75 mg/L NAs. My data also provides evidence that NA molecular geometry is a factor in selective permeability of NAs into Lymnaea’s gelatinous egg masses. Adult survival, growth, feeding, fecundity and behavior were progressively affected over a range of 10-50 mg/L NAs, but not at 0.1-4 mg/L NAs. Taken together, my data support the conclusion that low molecular weight NAs have a negative impact on various physiological and behavioral aspects of this freshwater gastropod that escalates over a range of environmentally realistic doses.