Contamination of food by crude oil affects food selection and growth performance, but not appetite, in an Arctic fish the polar cod (Boreogadus saida)
- Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Troms (Norway)
- Univ. of Stirling, Scotland (United Kingdom)
The polar cod (Boreogadus saida) is recognized as a key species in Arctic marine food webs and it may, therefore, be important for the transfer of xenobiotics from lower trophic levels to its main predators, birds and sea mammals. The present work examines the effects of foods contaminated with 200 or 400 ppm crude oil on food selection patterns and appetite-growth relationship in polar cod using X-radiography. It is shown that sexually mature polar cod consumed mixtures of uncontaminated and oil-contaminated foods, and did not show a reduced overall appetite as compared with fish provided with uncontaminated food only. Food selection was, however, influenced by both sex and individual appetite. Male fish selected uncontaminated food when appetite was low, whereas females ingested contaminated and uncontaminated foods equally, irrespective of appetite level. The ingestion of oil-contaminated food led to a significant depression in growth performance in both male and female fish. Food contaminated with oil at a concentration of 500 ppm was completely rejected by both sexes. 6 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 121312
- Journal Information:
- Polar Biology, Vol. 15, Issue 4; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Organochlorine contaminants in arctic marine food chains: accumulation of specific polychlorinated biphenyls and chlordane-related compounds
EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION ON THE MEDITERRANEAN MEAL MOTH, EPHESTIA KUEHNIELLA ZELLER, CULTURED ON $sup 89$Sr-SPIKED FOOD