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Title: Survival of copper-exposed juvenile fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) differs among allozyme genotypes

Journal Article · · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

The effects of seven variable enzyme loci and multiple-locus heterozygosity on time to death (TTD) during an acute 96-h copper exposure were examined by two failure-time regression models. Allozymes for five enzyme loci (GPI-1*, GPI-2*, IDHP-1*, MDH-2*, and PGM*) were significantly related to TTD. Heterozygosity was not significantly related to TTD. Fish weight was found to have a negative relationship with TTD, larger fish having shorter TTD. This unusual relationship may have resulted from differential survivorship of individuals with sensitive and resistant alleles at the MDH-2* and the IDHP-1* loci. For the IDHP-1* locus the allele *a at the MDH-2* locus, which was present in higher frequency in larger fish, was associated with decreased survivorship. These results indicate that genetic selection for one characteristic may have a negative impact on other characteristics. Survivors of the copper exposure were genetically selected for copper resistance, resulting in the significant reduction in frequencies of several sensitive genotypes in the population. The authors conclude that monitoring population genetic structure and frequency changes of sensitive genotypes is a useful biomarket.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
118643
Journal Information:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 14, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English