Ecosystem context for estimating stress-induced reductions in fish populations

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · [Formerly used by DOE/TIC for titles for which valid CODEN was not available. Now invalid] 92-DEC-15; (Country unknown/Code not available)

OSTI ID:7014430

Bartell, S M ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN (United States)

Methods are described for extrapolating acute toxicity data to expected effects of toxic substances on fish populations in pelagic ecosystems. The methods are based on a physiological process equation for fish growth; the equation was modified to express sublethal toxic effects. The methods are exemplified by an estimation of the risks posed to fish populations by chloroparaffins, risk being defined as the probability of observing a specified decrease in annual fish production. At exposure concentrations as low as 0.01-0.05 mg chloroparaffins/L, the risks of a 25 or 50% decrease in annual piscivore production were approximately 1.0. Analysis of 2,500 chloroparaffin simulations showed that indirect food web effects were a primary cause of modeled reductions in fish populations. The effects of phenol on production of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides that were predicted by the ecosystem risk methods were compared with effects predicted by a largemouth bass population model. Both models predicted minimal effects at low exposures and severe mortality at high exposure concentrations. At intermediate exposures, the ecosystem model predicted more severe population reductions than did the population model. The model results demonstrated that ecosystem processes, not accounted for in laboratory toxicity assays, can strongly influence the effects of chemical stress on fish populations.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 7014430
• Journal Information: [Formerly used by DOE/TIC for titles for which valid CODEN was not available. Now invalid] 92-DEC-15; (Country unknown/Code not available), Vol. 8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FISHES
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
TOXICITY
PHENOL
WATER POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
EQUATIONS
FOOD CHAINS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MORTALITY
RISK ASSESSMENT
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLLUTION
VERTEBRATES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology