Milt characteristics, reproductive performance, and larval survival and development of white sucker exposed to bleached kraft mill effluent

Journal Article · Fri Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(92)90025-X· OSTI ID:5324252

McMaster, M E; Portt, C B; Munkittrick, K R; Dixon, D G ^[1]

---

1. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, (Canada)

White sucker from a Lake Superior bay which receives bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME) show increased hepatic mixed-function oxygenase (MFO) activity, reduced plasma sex steroid levels, decreased egg and gonad size, a decrease in the occurrence of secondary sexual characteristics, and an increased age to maturation. This study evaluated the reproductive performance of that white sucker population relative to a similar reference population. Spawning male white sucker from the BKME site had reduced spermatozoan motility but no significant differences in milt volume, spermatocrit levels, or seminal plasma constituents. BKME male and female fish had equal or greater fertilization potential compared to both male and female fish at the reference site. There was no difference either in the hatchability of the eggs or in larval size at hatch. BKME larvae did show reduced growth rates by 24 days posthatch but showed equal rates of yolk utilization. No difference in larval MFO activity was detected between sites at 21 days posthatch, indicating no parental transfer of induction to the progeny.

• OSTI ID: 5324252
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States), Journal Name: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States) Vol. 23:1; ISSN EESAD; ISSN 0147-6513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHEMICAL WASTES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ENZYMES
FERTILITY
FISHES
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GLANDS
GREAT LAKES
INDUSTRY
LAKE SUPERIOR
LAKES
LIVER
MIXED-FUNCTION OXIDASES
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGENASES
PAPER INDUSTRY
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
REPRODUCTION
SENSITIVITY
SPERMATOZOA
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY