Interactive impact of residual pyrethroid compounds used in the Chilean salmon farming industry and coastal acidification conditions on the feeding performance of farmed mussels in northern Patagonia.

The use of pyrethroids in aquaculture has been an important component of achieving a thriving salmon farming industry in Chile. While the residual presence of such substances is known to depend on environmental conditions, most ecotoxicological studies to date have not considered environmental context. Here, we conducted oceanographic monitoring combined with experiments aiming to estimate the effects of two pyrethroids on the feeding rates of larvae of farmed mussels, Mytilus chilensis. In additional experiments, mussel spats were exposed to both pyrethroids, but under contrasting temperature/pH so as to mimic winter and summer conditions. Experiments mimicking spring conditions revealed that both pyrethroid substances affected the feeding of mussel larvae as a function of concentration. Conversely, significant impact of pyrethroids on adults were not observed with regard to temperature and pH, but a significant impact of low temperature/low pH condition on ingestion rates was confirmed. Given the current status of increasing ocean acidification, the results of this study are expected to provide useful information with regard to achieving sustainable mussel aquaculture, especially considering both activities occur in similar geographic areas, and the expansion of salmon farming areas is ongoing in Chile. • We examine the interaction of natural environmental regimes of temperature and pH conditions, with pyrethroids concentration used by salmon farming industry in Chilean Patagonia, and its potential impact of mussel feeding (clearance and ingestion rate of newly-hatched larvae and juveniles). • We combined approaches, including oceanographic monitoring in a salmon and mussel farming area in Chilean Patagonia, with experiments aiming estimate the effects of two pyrethroids (deltamethrin and cypermethrin) on the clearance and ingestion rate of mussel larvae. • We also exposed to mussel spats to both pyrethroids, but at contrasting temperature and pH conditions mimicking winter and summer conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]