Selection for zinc tolerance in fish: results from laboratory and wild populations

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1981)110<19:SFZTIF>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:6637192

Rahel, F J

A laboratory population of flagfish (Jordanella floridae), selected for zinc tolerance, showed an increased resistance to toxic zinc concentrations after one generation. However, continued selection for three more generations failed to increase tolerance futher, suggesting that acute zinc exposure culled out weak individuals but did not cause genetic changes specifically related to zinc tolerance. Common shiners (Notropis cornutus) inhabiting a zinc-polluted stream were not more zinc tolerant than common shiners from two nearby unpolluted streams, but appeared to be under stress from the chronic exposure to elevated metal levels. These results and a literature review suggest that although fish may have the genetic potential to evolve metal tolerance, they are unable to do so rapidly enough to survive in environments contaminated by human activities.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
• OSTI ID: 6637192
• Journal Information: Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 110:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FISHES
TOLERANCE
ZINC
TOXICITY
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GENETIC VARIABILITY
GENETICS
MORTALITY
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SENSITIVITY
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGY
ELEMENTS
METALS
POLLUTION
VERTEBRATES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
550400 - Genetics