Effects of selenium on larval bluegill survivorship in Mud River Reservoir, WV

Mud River Reservoir receives mine effluent that has high levels of selenium resulting in high water concentrations (0.0042 mg/L).   These levels are comparable to others studies that have documented larval deformities and reduced survival in fish.  In order to assess the effects of selenium on larval bluegill survival, 24 pairs of broodstock bluegill from Mud River Reservoir and Plum Orchard Lake (control) were spawned in the laboratory for an Early Life Stage test for chronic toxicity.  The resulting fertilized eggs from each spawn  were placed in a set of aquaria, one to monitor survivorship to 28 days (tank A) and the other to monitor swim-up success (tank B), containing water from their respective sites.  At 9 days post-hatch (end of critical period), all larvae from the B tanks were removed, counted, and deformities noted.  At the end of 28 days, tank A larvae were removed, counted, and deformities noted. A two-sample t-test was used to compare percentages of deformities, swim-up success, and survival to Plum Orchard Lake.