Effects of salinity on sublethal toxicity of atrazine to mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) larvae

In coastal marshes, fish larvae may be exposed simultaneously to extreme salinities and to atrazine, a widely used herbicide. To assess the effects of salinity on the toxicity of atrazine, newly-hatched mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) were exposed to atrazine (0, 5, 50 and 500 μg/L) at three salinities (3, 15 and 35 PSU). Whole body cortisol was measured after 24 h. Body length, condition factor, whole body proteins, lipids, residual masses and water contents were assessed after 96 h. Significants effects were found for both condition factor and water content. Condition factors were lower at salinity 3 and 35 compared to near isoosmotic salinity, 15 PSU. In addition, atrazine decreased condition factor at 500 μg/L. Reduction in condition was likely due to retardation in axial growth since body length, percentages of proteins or lipids were not affected. In the absence of atrazine, salinity had no effect on the prevalence of dehydrated ( 81% water) or hyperhydrated ( 85% water) larvae. In larvae exposed to atrazine, the prevalence of hyperhydrated larvae increased at 3 PSU and 5 μg/L atrazine and that of dehydrated larvae increased at 15 and 35 PSU and 5 μg/L atrazine. Severity of dehydratation increased with atrazine concentration at salinity 35 PSU. Thus, a short-term exposure to environmentally realistic concentrations of atrazine affects osmotic control in mummichog larvae with possible effects on buoyancy, survival and recruitment.