Much scientific research dedicated to understanding the effects of freshwater salinization caused by road de-icing salts has utilized static exposures, with many tests conducted at winter or spring temperatures. While relevant for lentic ecosystems, pulsed patterns of salinity occur in lotic environments, particularly in summer months where precipitation can decrease elevated salinity levels caused by retention of residual salts. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of pulsed patterns of salinity on the emergence, sex ratio, and fecundity of Chironomus dilutus over two generations of laboratory exposure. Three road de-icing salt treatments, including a control, modeled after environmental monitoring data of two local streams, were used to determine the ecological effects of periodic declines in salinity on C. dilutus at summer temperatures. No significant effects were observed on emergence success or sex ratios within or across generations, but fecundity of C. dilutus in the high salt treatment was reduced regardless of generation (P < 2e−16), possibly due to increased osmoregulatory stress caused by increased salinities. The intermediate and decreasing salinities may account for the lack of negative effects on emergence success and sex ratios by protecting sensitive life stages. More research is needed on long-term effects of reduced fecundity on population viability. The current study suggests more research using a similar experimental design is needed to fully evaluate the influence of road de-icing salts in lotic environments, as static laboratory exposures may not accurately reflect environmental changes in salinity.

致力于理解道路除冰盐引起的淡水盐渍化影响的许多科学研究都利用了静态暴露，并在冬季或春季温度下进行了许多测试。盐度的脉冲模式虽然与片状生态系统有关，但在抽水环境中会发生，特别是在夏季月份，在这些月份中，降水会降低由于残留盐分的保留而导致的盐度升高。当前的研究旨在评估盐度脉冲模式对淡色Chironomus dilutus的出现，性别比和繁殖力的影响。超过两代的实验室暴露。根据两条当地河流的环境监测数据，模拟了三种道路除冰盐处理方法，包括一种对照方法，用于确定夏季温度下盐度周期性下降对稀释梭菌的生态影响。没有观察到对代内或代间出现成功率或性别比的显着影响，但高盐处理中稀释梭菌的繁殖力降低，而与世代无关（P <2e-16），可能是由于盐度增加引起的渗透压增加所致。通过保护敏感的生命阶段，中等盐度和降低盐度可解释缺乏对出苗成功率和性别比的负面影响。关于繁殖力降低对种群生存力的长期影响，需要进行更多的研究。当前的研究表明，需要更多的研究来使用类似的实验设计来全面评估路面除冰盐在抽水环境中的影响，因为静态实验室暴露可能无法准确反映盐度的环境变化。