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Title: Allozyme frequencies of freshwater drum and their association with water quality in the Ohio River

Conference ·
OSTI ID:40084
 [1]
  1. Indian Univ.-Purdue Univ., Fort Wayne, IN (United States). Dept. of Biology

Frequencies of electrophoretically-detected allele variants (allozymes) in aquatic populations may act as biological indicators of contaminant-induced impacts. Selection against ``pollution-sensitive`` individuals ay cause significant changes in allele and genotype frequencies of allozymes in populations exposed to environmental contaminants. Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) were collected from three sites in the Ohio River that varied in water quality. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis resolved three variable enzymes in freshwater drum. Frequencies of multiple-locus allozyme genotypes differed significantly among sites and were associated with differences in water quality in the Ohio River. The variation of multiple locus genotypes was positively associated with water quality. If allozyme variation is reliable, then fish populations exposed to poorer water quality may have less genetic variation than those inhabiting sites with better water quality. Associations between allozyme frequencies nd exposure to contaminants indicate that allozyme frequencies may be sensitive indicators for detecting contaminant-induced impacts in aquatic populations. If allozyme frequencies are reliable, monitoring them would allow researchers to assess genetic variability in aquatic populations where contaminated-induced effects are suspected.

OSTI ID:
40084
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9520%%279
Resource Relation:
Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English