Effects of natural exposure to copper and zinc on egg size and larval copper tolerance in white sucker (Catostomus commersoni)

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(89)90088-2· OSTI ID:5466014

Munkittrick, K R; Dixon, D G ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)

Sucker eggs were collected from a metal-contaminated site where previous collections had documented a maternal yolk factor associated with an increased larval copper tolerance during yolk nutrition. In this study, white sucker eggs were divided into groups which were water hardened and/or incubated at the contaminated site or a reference (control) site. Incubation at the contaminated site was associated with a decreased egg size and an increased deformity rate, but had no effect on fertilization rate or larval size. Incubation in contaminated streams increased the larval whole-body metal content, and decreased the tolerance and resistance of larvae exposed to copper in laboratory bioassays. An increase in water temperature accelerated the developmental rate of the larvae, but had no detectable effect on copper tolerance. Although metals did enter the eggs during water hardening, there was no difference in egg metallothionein content, and the lack of obvious hepatic activity until several days after hatching may prevent the formation of protective proteins. The authors hypothesize that the transfer of metals to white sucker eggs in association with yolk precursors, and the subsequent mobilization of these metals during yolk utilization, can account for the observed differences in larval tolerance and growth.

• OSTI ID: 5466014
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA), Vol. 18:1; ISSN 0147-6513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COPPER
TOXICITY
FISHES
SENSITIVITY
ZINC
EGGS
FERTILIZATION
LARVAE
METALLOTHIONEIN
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ELEMENTS
METALLOPROTEINS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology