- Email: [email protected]
Behavioral toxicology of lead in larvae of the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus
500
Abstracts
then conjugates, ketodiens, TBA-reactive products) in developing eggs and larvae of different Black Sea teleost fish species. The UV and fluorescense spectra of eggs and larvae lipids were also determined. Increases of lipid peroxidation occurred in fish eggs and especially in larvae following exposure to oil in various concentrations. The activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were increased more than 8- to lo-fold compared to intact eggs and larvae. The activities of other enzymes as well as the concentrations of lipid fractions varied less. The high correlation (r=0.62) was estimated between mercury concentration in water and the activities of examined antioxidant enzymes in eggs and larvae. The similar correlation coefficients (0.55 < r < 65) were established between the oil content in water and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in eggs and larvae of different fish species. The intensity of pollutant response depended on the fish species and especially on the developing egg stage or larvae. The antioxidant system of pelagic fish eggs is more sensitive to pollutant effects than of bottom fish eggs. The early developing stages were also more vulnerable. The data obtained can be used as biomarkers for determination of pollutant responses on fish eggs and larvae and for analysis of anthropogenic impact of the marine environment.
PII:
SOl41-1136(98)00087-7
Behavioral Toxicology of Lead in Larvae of the Mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus. J. S. WEIS” AND P. WEIS.b nDepartment of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA; bDepartment of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Injury Sciences, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA.
Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) larvae were exposed to 0,O. 1,0.3, or 1.Omg/litre Pb (as lead acetate), starting at the day of hatching. Mortality in the highest dose did not differ from controls. They were tested at weekly intervals for prey capture ability (vs Artemia nauplii), spontaneous activity, swimming performance (stamina) and social activity. There was less successful prey capture and more miscues, and less spontaneous activity and diminished swimming performance, although data were not statistically significant every week. The effects were sometimes, but not always, dose-related. There were no measurable effects of social behavior (distances among individual larvae and numbers of ‘close encounters’). Larvae were tested at 2-3 weeks of age for predator avoidance, using grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) as the predator. There was a dose-related increased susceptibility of the exposed larvae to predation by shrimp. After 4 weeks of exposure, a dose-dependent uptake of Pb considerably above background was found, Larvae were then returned to clean seawater and testing continued for an additional 4 weeks. By 8 weeks, all behaviors of previously exposed larvae were no longer statistically different from those of controls. Lead tissue levels had decreased substantially but were still elevated.
Abstracts
then conjugates, ketodiens, TBA-reactive products) in developing eggs and larvae of different Black Sea teleost fish species. The UV and fluorescense spectra of eggs and larvae lipids were also determined. Increases of lipid peroxidation occurred in fish eggs and especially in larvae following exposure to oil in various concentrations. The activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were increased more than 8- to lo-fold compared to intact eggs and larvae. The activities of other enzymes as well as the concentrations of lipid fractions varied less. The high correlation (r=0.62) was estimated between mercury concentration in water and the activities of examined antioxidant enzymes in eggs and larvae. The similar correlation coefficients (0.55 < r < 65) were established between the oil content in water and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in eggs and larvae of different fish species. The intensity of pollutant response depended on the fish species and especially on the developing egg stage or larvae. The antioxidant system of pelagic fish eggs is more sensitive to pollutant effects than of bottom fish eggs. The early developing stages were also more vulnerable. The data obtained can be used as biomarkers for determination of pollutant responses on fish eggs and larvae and for analysis of anthropogenic impact of the marine environment.
PII:
SOl41-1136(98)00087-7
Behavioral Toxicology of Lead in Larvae of the Mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus. J. S. WEIS” AND P. WEIS.b nDepartment of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA; bDepartment of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Injury Sciences, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA.
Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) larvae were exposed to 0,O. 1,0.3, or 1.Omg/litre Pb (as lead acetate), starting at the day of hatching. Mortality in the highest dose did not differ from controls. They were tested at weekly intervals for prey capture ability (vs Artemia nauplii), spontaneous activity, swimming performance (stamina) and social activity. There was less successful prey capture and more miscues, and less spontaneous activity and diminished swimming performance, although data were not statistically significant every week. The effects were sometimes, but not always, dose-related. There were no measurable effects of social behavior (distances among individual larvae and numbers of ‘close encounters’). Larvae were tested at 2-3 weeks of age for predator avoidance, using grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) as the predator. There was a dose-related increased susceptibility of the exposed larvae to predation by shrimp. After 4 weeks of exposure, a dose-dependent uptake of Pb considerably above background was found, Larvae were then returned to clean seawater and testing continued for an additional 4 weeks. By 8 weeks, all behaviors of previously exposed larvae were no longer statistically different from those of controls. Lead tissue levels had decreased substantially but were still elevated.