Contaminants in Muscle of Plaice and Halibut Collected From the St. Lawrence Estuary and Northwest Atlantic

Levels of aromatic hydrocarbons in muscle or plaice and halibut were determined by fluorescence, using the chrysene standard, as recommended by the International Oceanographic Commision, for the analysis of PAH in environmental extracts. Concentrations were highest in muscle of halibut collected at the most contaminated, nearshore site, in the Saguenay Fjord of the St. Lawrence Estuary, compared to other locations further from shore. Although concentrations of fluorescing compounds were not statistically different in plaice, the saturated hydrocarbons displayed unquestionably more biodegradation, with a decrease of n-alkanes and increase of branched aliphatics, at the less contaminated site. Synchronous fluorescence indicated the presence of benzenoid and biphenyl hydrocarbons in the extracted mixtures, while GC-MS-TIC analysis tentatively identified the presence of a series of benzenoid (alkyl benzenes), chlorinated (PCB and DDE), N (trialkylamines) and O (phenols) hydrocarbons. These anthropogenic compounds could derive from petroleum products, surfactants and common products used in industry and households. This study emphasizes the importance of a multispectroscopic approach when investigating complex environmental mixtures.     

Pilot survey of a broad range of priority pollutants in sediment and fish from the Ebro river basin (NE Spain)

Priority organic pollutants were investigated in sediments and fish collected along the Ebro river basin (NE Spain) to evaluate their occurrence, transport and bioavailability. Sediments were collected in 18 sites and two species of fish were captured in nine sites according to the availability in each area. The sampling sites covered industrial, urban and agricultural areas. Four methods were used to detect 20 organochlorine compounds (OCs), 8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 3 organotin compounds, 2 alkylphenols and 40 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from purified extracts. The contamination pattern was site specific and no downstream increase in concentration of pollutants was observed but rather a generalized low level diffuse pollution. Target compounds were detected in sediments at 0.01 to 2331 microg/kg dry weight, and only OCs and PBDEs were accumulated in benthopelagic fish. Toxicological assessment was performed according to predicted environmental levels and revealed sites where adverse effects could occur.     

Short-term effects of an oil spill on the West coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa

In 1994, the sinking of the ‘Apollo Sea’ off the West coast of South Africa led to the deposition of ca. 2 500 tons of heavy fuel oil over 150 km of coastline. The impact of the spill on rocky shore invertebrates, rock-pool fish fauna and rock lobsters was assessed by conducting surveys shortly after the spill, and again two months later. Where possible, results of these surveys were compared with existing data from before the sinking of the Apollo Sea. Among the fish fauna of rock-pools, changes in total density of fishes were largely due to changes in the abundance ofClinus superciliosus and were within the range of natural variation for the species and the community as a whole. Community structure of the rock-pool fish fauna also remained unaffected. At three of four impacted rocky shore sites no changes could be detected in overall benthic community structure, although the winkleNodilittorina africana was affected. At the fourth site, a boulder beach, statistical analysis showed distinct differences in community structure between heavily and lightly contaminated areas, as well as between all areas compared with previously existing data. There were also significant changes in the lightly oiled areas between the first and second surveys after the spill. Oil-fouled lobster were found at one of three sites investigated. Ca. 7 % of the seabed in this particular area was polluted. Antennae and forelegs of almost all lobsters in the vicinity of the oil were fouled. Examination of the gut-contents confirmed that oil inhibits the ability of lobster to feed. Although there was no evidence that mortalities of lobster were caused by the spill, growth rates may be reduced by the decreased feeding rate. Overall, the impact of the spill was strikingly less than might have been predicted from the effects of other oil spills. Nomenclature: Names of fish species follow Smith & Heemstra (1986).     

Fish Community Structure as a Measure of Degradation and Rehabilitation of Riparian Systems in an Agricultural Drainage Basin

/ Assessing the health of ecological components of agroecosystems may be accomplished by examining changes in the drainage basin, which serves as an integrator of the agroecosystem landscape. In this study we examined fish communities in terms of an array of indicators of structure and related these to changes in riparian vegetation and agricultural practice. Evidence suggests management practices designed to foster healthier environments by, for example, reestablishing riparian vegetation were associated with positive impacts on the integrity of the fish community. At the same time, continued intensification of agricultural practices in parts of the drainage basin in recent years likely has had an off-setting influence in overall improvements in agroecosystem health. Assessments of changes in the structure of the fish associations provide the balance sheet by which the counteracting influences can be aggregated and assessed.KEY WORDS: Fish community structure; Riparian system; Agricultural drainage basin     

Bioconcentration of n-dodecane and its highly branched isomer 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane in fathead minnows

Petroleum products are complex mixtures of hydrocarbons. They are important as constituents of fuels and lubricants, and as key raw materials for the chemicals industry. Since there is a potential for accidental releases to the aquatic environment, bioaccumulation of higher hydrocarbons is of concern. Here, the bioconcentration behaviour of two representative hydrocarbons, the dodecane isomers n-dodecane and 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane (PMH), was investigated in fathead minnows at concentrations in water below their maximum aqueous solubility. The concentration of n-dodecane in fish did not exceed our method limit of detection of 60 μg/kg. In contrast, PMH could be quantified in fish. No significant increase in the ratio of PMH concentrations in fish to water could be detected indicating that an exposure time of 4–10 days is sufficient to approach steady-state. For n-dodecane the upper limit of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) is estimated by dividing the method limit of detection by the exposure concentration and a value of 240 l/kg is derived. For PMH the bioconcentration factor, estimated as the average fish/water concentration ratio during the steady-state part of the experiment, ranges between 880 and 3500 l/kg. The BCFs of both compounds are small compared to their hydrophobicity. Given that both linear and branched hydrocarbons are known to be biotransformed by fish, it appears that efficient metabolism of the test compounds in fathead minnows prevents bioaccumulation.     

Nutritional benefits of filial cannibalism in three-spined sticklebacks (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gasterosteus aculeatus</Emphasis>)

Although filial cannibalism (eating one’s own offspring) occurs in numerous species, including several teleost fishes, its adaptive value is still not well understood. One often-discussed explanation is that individuals enhance their mass and body condition by consuming part of their eggs. However, evidence for this assumption is scarce thus far. In this study, male three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), a species with paternal care, were allowed to care for a batch of eggs or for an empty nest under food-deprived conditions. All brood-caring males cannibalised at least part of their eggs and thus preserved their initial mass and body condition. Furthermore, mass as well as body condition was significant positively correlated with the number of cannibalised eggs. In contrast, empty-nest males that had no possibility to cannibalise eggs significantly lost mass and body condition. This is, to our knowledge, the first experimentally documented evidence that mass as well as body condition were preserved by filial cannibalism.     

滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征及其与水环境因子的关系

研究了滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征及其与水环境因子的关系.在滇池流域29条入湖河流2009年7～8月进行大型底栖动物群落调查,并在2008年9月～2009年8月进行逐月17项水环境指标监测,目的是阐明滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征,识别影响大型底栖动物群落特征的主要水环境因子,比较大型底栖动物群落Shannon-Weaver多样性指数与水环境质量评价空间分布格局的特点.滇池流域入湖河流丰水期共检出大型底栖动物3门7科8属(其中环节动物门4科5属,软体动物门2科2属,节肢动物门1科1属),群落结构以环节动物门的水丝蚓属(耐污生物)为优势属;TN、 NH⁺₄-N、 TP和DO是影响大型底栖动物群落特征的主要水环境因子,分别为2.03～32.00、 0.34～26.66、 0.09～3.20、 0.10～6.80 mg/L;大型底栖动物群落Shannon-Weaver多样性指数与水环境质量评价的空间分布格局一致,均为流域北部入湖河流(王家堆渠、新运粮河、老运粮河、乌龙河、大观河、西坝河、船房河、采莲河、金家河、盘龙江、大青河、海河、六甲宝象河、小清河、五甲宝象河、虾坝河、老宝象河、新宝象河和马料河)污染状况严重程度>流域南部入湖河流(淤泥河、老柴河、白鱼河、茨巷河、东大河、中河和古城河)>流域东部入湖河流(洛龙河、捞鱼河和南冲河).     

松花江鱼类肌肉中污染物的分析监测

分析研究了松花江吉林市至三岔河口江段鱼类肌肉中43种污染物,结果表明:该江段鱼类已受到总汞、甲基汞、铜、锌、镉和铬的轻度污染,尚未受到铅、锰、铁、砷的污染。扶余至三岔河口江段的鱼类食之有异味,肌内中烷烃、芳烃、硝基芳烃、硝基氯苯和挥发酚5类28种有机污染物的总平均含量和其中的3种促癌或助癌物、6种可疑致癌物以及化工污染的特征性有机污染物──硝基芳烃类的平均含量均比其它江段高。      

温度、氨对鲢、鳙、草、鲤鱼的影响

为制定热排放标准的需要,用动态实验和静态实验方法研究了热冲击与氨对鲢、鳙、草、鲤鱼的急性和亚急性效应。结果表明：选择温度与起始致死温度（TL₅₀）值随着驯化温度的升高而增大,鳙鱼对热冲击的反应较敏感。氨对鲢、鳙、鲤鱼的急性毒性（96h）LC₅₀值分别为0.38、0.30、0.66mgNH₃/L（非离解氨）。水温升高5℃,鲤鱼的（96h）LC₅₀。值从0.66mgNH₃/L下降到0.44mgNH₃/L,热冲击明显提高了氨对鲤鱼的毒性。氨对鲤鱼的亚急性毒性结果表明,鳃、肝组织出现了病理改变。以上室内实验结果可作为评价监测热污染水质的科学依据。     

Change in Fish Fauna as Indication of Aquatic Ecosystem Condition in Río Grande de Morelia–Lago de Cuitzeo Basin, Mexico

Chirostoma charari and C. compressum, and they are presumed extinct. Twelve (63%) of the remaining species had declines in distribution. Sixteen (80%) of the 20 localities sampled had lost species. The greatest declines occurred in Lago de Cuitzeo proper and in the lower portion of the Río Grande de Morelia watershed. Species losses from the lake were attributable to drying and hypereutrophication of the lake because of substantial reductions in the amount and quality of tributary inputs, whereas losses from the Río Grande de Morelia watershed were the result of pollution from agricultural, municipal, and industrial sources, especially in the region around the city of Morelia. Three localities in the upper portion of the Río Grande de Morelia watershed—Cointzio reservoir, La Mintzita spring, and Insurgente Morelos stream—contained most of the remaining fish species diversity in the basin and deserve additional protection. Fish faunal changes indicated major declines in the health of aquatic ecosystems in the Morelia–Cuitzeo basin.