Table 1. Life history stages and habitats of estuarine and anadromous fishes (excluding salmonids) for which concentration and duration data are available from studies that test biological responses to suspended sediments

ERDC TN-DOER-E9

May 2000

technical note modified their approach, which examines suspended-sediment impacts in a nonspe-

cific manner, by graphing biological responses as a function of suspended-sediment concentrations

and durations of exposure. This approach facilitates treatment of suspended-sediment effects likely

to occur in association with dredging projects, as illustrated by relevant data for estuarine fish and

shellfish. Data are included from identified studies that reported suspended-sediment concentra-

tions, exposure durations, and a description of the responses of the organisms by taxonomic group

and life history stage. Response categories included the following effects: none, behavioral,

sublethal, and different percentages of mortality. Descriptive accounts of fish and shellfish

responses under various conditions are also given in cases where studies omitted either suspended-

sediment concentrations or durations of exposure, or measured turbidity (Nephelometric Turbidity

Units (NTUs) or Jackson Turbidity Units (JTUs)) rather than suspended-sediments (mg/L). Impacts

related to low dissolved oxygen levels and the release of contaminants are summarized by LaSalle

(1990) and are not addressed in this review. In addition, an extensive review of the salmonid

literature (treated extensively by Newcombe and Jensen 1996), which pertains largely to salmonid

responses in freshwater habitats, was not included. Other anadromous fish, however, are included.

The habitat types represented in laboratory experiments are noted in Table 1.

Table 1

Life history stages and habitats of estuarine and anadromous fishes (excluding

salmonids) for which concentration and duration data are available from

studies that test biological responses to suspended sediments

Habitat

Eggs

Larvae

Juveniles

Adults

Pelagic

Blueback herring (fw)

Pacific herring

Bluefish

White perch

Alewife (fw)

American shad (fw)

Menhaden

Bay anchovy

Yellow perch (fw)

Striped bass (fw)

White perch

Sheepshead minnow

Striped bass (fw)

Yellow perch (fw)

Four-spined stickleback

Mummichog

Striped bass

Altantic silverside

Shiner perch

Epibenthic

Spot

Feeders

Cunner

Demersal Eggs

Atlantic herring

White perch (fw)

Striped killifish

and Bottom

American shad (fw)

Toadfish

Dwellers

White perch (fw)

Hogchoker

Note: Responses to natural sediments were used where available. Cases where the life history stage occurs in

fresh water are noted by (fw).

A variety of particulate matter including natural silt, Fuller's earth, kaolin clay, incinerator residue,

charcoal, silica, and volcanic ash has been used to test fish and shellfish responses to suspended

sediments. In studies where natural sediments were tested in addition to other sediment types, the

results of the natural sediment tests were used in this review. Because a broad range of species were

tested with Fuller's earth by Sherk et al. (1974), these results are included in this review along with

those elicited by natural sediments.