Exposure routes of copper: Short term effects on survival, weight, and uptake in Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa)

The uptake and effects (survival, weight) of copper (Cu) on Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa) via exposures to copper-enriched agricultural soil–water and water-only treatments were investigated. Soils were collected from citrus sites in south Florida and flooded with laboratory freshwater for 14 d. Neonate apple snails (⩽96-h-old) were then exposed to either Cu from a soil-overlying water (i.e., flooded agricultural soils) treatment or overlying water-only (i.e., equilibrated overlying water produced from 14 d flooding of agriculture soils) treatment for 14 d under standard laboratory conditions. Survival, weight (dry, wet), and whole body Cu uptake were measured. Copper exposure via soil–water exposures resulted in higher mortality and whole body Cu uptake than water-only exposures, indicating Cu uptake from soils. However, snail wet and dry weights were higher in soil–water treatments than in water-only treatments. Micronutrients from soils may be consumed by snails increasing weights. Survival, apple snail dry weight, and whole body Cu concentrations were significantly correlated with soil and water Cu concentrations in soil–water treatments. Survival was significantly correlated with the concentration of Cu(CO3)22- in water-only treatments. This suggests that Cu(CO3)22- is toxic to apple snails. Whole body Cu concentrations were higher in surviving snails than dead snails, suggesting that apple snails have the ability to detoxify accumulated Cu (e.g., through metallothionein induction, granules).