Acute toxicities of antimycin A and juglone to selected aquatic organisms

Abstract

5203 This study was performed to determine the toxicity of antimycin to aquatic populations, both pelagic and benthic. Test organisms included clams, crayfish, frogs, scuds and caddisflies. Lethal concentration 50 (LC50) values were found for varying water qualities and formulations of antimycin. Results indicated that antimycin was less toxic to these organisms, except for scuds, than to fish. Antimycin was toxic to scuds at piscicidal concentrations. The toxicity of juglone to carp, green sunfish, channel catfish and phytoplankton was determined. The efficacy of juglone was measured in the presence of sediments and after exposure to ultra-violet and visible light. Channel catfish were found to be the most sensitive to juglone, and carp the least sensitive. Both the presence of sediments and ultra-violet light lowered the toxicity of juglone to fish. Visible light showed an insignificant change in the efficacy of juglone. Growth of the phytoplankton was inhibited by concentrations of juglone that were toxic to fish.