Reproductive success, early life stage development, and survival of westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) exposed to elevated selenium in an area of active coal mining

Journal Article · Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es072034d· OSTI ID:21049838

Rudolph, Barri-Lynn; Andreller, Iisak; Kennedy, Christopher J ^[1]

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1. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC (Canada). Department of Biological Sciences

The effects of accumulated Se on the reproductive success and larval development of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) collected from a site of active coal mining in British Columbia were assessed. Eggs from 12 fish from an exposed site (Clode Pond) and 16 from a reference site (O'Rourke Lake) were field-collected and reared in the laboratory. Egg Se concentrations ranged from 12.3 to 16.7 and 11.8 to 140.0 {mu}g/g dry weight (dw) from fish collected at the reference and exposed sites, respectively. Other studies, including those with this species, have not shown Se to affect egg viability. However, in the present study, eggs with Se concentrations >86.3 {mu}g/g dw were not successfully fertilized or were nonviable at fertilization, while eggs with concentrations >46.8 and <75.4 {mu}g/g dw were fertilized (96% reached the eyed stage) but did not produce viable fry. A significant positive relationship between egg Se concentration and alevin mortality was observed. Deformities were analyzed in surviving fry which developed from eggs with Se concentrations between 11.8 and 20.6 {mu}g/g dw. No relationship between Se concentration in eggs and deformities or edema was found in this range, suggesting that the no-effect threshold for deformity is >20.6 {mu}g/g dw. The present data, in conjunction with the data from several other studies in temperate fish, suggest that current Se thresholds are conservative for cold-water fish. 25 refs., 3 figs.

• OSTI ID: 21049838
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 42, Issue 8; Other Information: [e-mail]; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS AND BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TROUT
FISHES
COAL PRODUCING DISTRICTS
SELENIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
EGGS
FERTILIZATION
CONCENTRATION RATIO
REPRODUCTION
COAL MINING
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
MORTALITY
DAMAGE
LARVAE
EMBRYOS
TOXICITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS