Individual and Population-Level Effects of Solid Coal Combustion Residue on the Estuarine Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio)

Abstract

Burning coal for electricity produces solid coal combustion residue (CCR), which is rich in potentially toxic trace elements, and is frequently discharged into natural and man-made aquatic systems as a method of disposal. Lethal and sublethal effects of CCR on the estuarine grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, were assessed. Grass shrimp were exposed in the laboratory to CCR-enriched sediments and food over a full life cycle. Grass shrimp exposed to CCR significantly accumulated selenium and cadmium. Chronic CCR-exposure caused significantly decreased larval survival, increased time to metamorphosis, and increased DNA strand breaks in shrimp compared to non-exposed conditions. Stage-classified matrix population models were constructed to assess the population-level effects of CCR on grass shrimp. The population models suggested that CCR-exposed grass shrimp would experience a decreased population growth rate, altered stable stage structure, stage-specific reproductive value, and elasticity patterns relative to shrimp in reference conditions.