Environmental Science and Management (ESM)
Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Sarah K Woodley
Stanley J Kabala
Conductivity, Salinity, Total Dissolved Solids
Elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) have been found in streams in Pennsylvania primarily due to unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) and mine drainage. TDS is the concentration of dissolved salts in water. To understand the effects of TDS on amphibians, a semi-aquatic salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus exposed to synthetic solutions containing TDS up to 5,000 ppm. In an initial study, animals exposed to a solution of approximately 2,000 ppm TDS containing elevated sulfate experienced reduced survival and decreased locomotory activity. Follow-up studies were consistent with the hypothesis that elevated TDS had adverse effects on survival, but effects were not seen unless the TDS was closer to 5,000 ppm. In all studies, larger animals were more prone to adverse effects of TDS. Results indicated that elevated TDS can have adverse effects on D. ochrophaeus further research is needed to understand the doses and conditions at which effects are evident.
Morrissey, M. (2014). The Effects Of Elevated Total Dissolved Solids On The Behavior And Survival Of The Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus Ochrophaeus (Master's thesis, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/951