Influence of body size and developmental stage of Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) on lethality of several toxicants

Journal Article · · Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-0590(82)80116-4· OSTI ID:5577465

Hedtke, J L; Robinson-Wilson, E; Weber, L J

Acute 96 h bioassays were conducted on coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to determine their sensitivity to each of four toxicants during development. Alevins, swim-up fry and juveniles (up to 175 days post-hatch) were exposed to lethal concentrations of copper, zinc, nickel, or pentachlorophenol each week to monitor changes in susceptibility as the fish grew. Fish exhibited a high degree of susceptibility to all of the toxicants during the alevin stage. Swim-up fry showed drastic changes in sensitivity followed by more sustained patterns of change in the subsequent juvenile stage. Lethality could be related to both concentration of toxicant (C) and some exponential function of body weight (W) by the use of the multiple regression equation, Y . a + b(lnC) + g(lnW) where Y is the percent mortality expressed in probits. Through the use of this weighted expression of toxicity it was observed that coho alevins were consistently more sensitive to the toxicants than the juveniles. An exponential relationship between toxicity and weight could be calculated as -g/b. This exponent was found to be specific for each toxicant tested and changed in magnitude as the fish progressed through the various stages of development. Results indicated that lethality (LC50's) varied from one stage of development to the next, but within any defined stage, the relationship between toxicity and body weight was relatively constant.

• Research Organization: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oak Creek Laboratory of Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis
• OSTI ID: 5577465
• Journal Information: Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 2:2; ISSN FAATD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COPPER
DOSES
ELEMENTS
FISHES
GROWTH
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LETHAL DOSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NICKEL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLLUTION
SALMON
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC