Use of performance indicators in evaluating chronic metal exposure in wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Links among metal exposure, metal accumulation, and metal-induced effects were explored in indigenous yellow perch (Perca flavescens) collected from eight lakes located along a metal concentration gradient in two mining regions. Fish exposure to Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn was estimated on the basis of calculated free metal ion concentrations in lake waters. Hepatic metal concentrations were determined and various markers of oxidative stress were measured to assess metal effects in liver cells. Accumulated metals were not consistently related to ambient free metal ion concentrations, possibly because of unaccounted for fluctuations in lake water metal concentrations. Accumulated metals were associated with limited oxidative stress in perch livers, as evidenced by reductions in glutathione concentrations and glutathione reductase activities. However, this stress appeared to be minor, since increasing hepatic Cu concentrations were associated with reduced lipid peroxidation, a response opposite to that predicted from basic principles. Our results suggest that oxidative stress will not have direct repercussions on the health of the perch at the individual level. We speculate that the observed increase in metallothionein concentrations with increasing accumulated metals might afford protection against reactive oxygen species.

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Effects of environmental metal contamination on the condition, swimming performance, and tissue metabolic capacities of wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f02-095 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 59 (8) ◽

pp. 1296-1304 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

James W Rajotte ◽

Patrice Couture

Keyword(s):

Yellow Perch ◽

Citrate Synthase ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Perca Flavescens ◽

Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase ◽

Metal Exposure ◽

Mitochondrial Enzymes ◽

Fast Start ◽

Condition Indices ◽

Adenosine Triphosphate Production

In this study, the general condition, swimming capacities, and tissue metabolic capacities and metal concentrations in wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were examined from a range of metal-contaminated lakes near Sudbury, Ontario. Fish exposed to elevated environmental cadmium and copper concentrations showed higher liver concentrations of these metals and lower condition indices. Because growth rate appeared lower in the most metal-contaminated fish, the high tissue activities of nucleoside diphosphate kinase, an indicator of biosynthesis, in these fish indicated an increased rate of protein turnover and suggested a bioenergetic cost of metal exposure. Yellow perch from the most metal-contaminated lakes exhibited lower aerobic capacities, as indicated by citrate synthase and β-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase activities, two mitochondrial enzymes involved in aerobic adenosine triphosphate production, and by critical swimming speed. There was no evidence from our data that environmental metal exposure affected anaerobic capacities of tissues as measured by lactate dehydrogenase activities or anaerobic fast-start swimming performance. Overall, these data show that metal exposure leads to measurable effects on metabolic capacities in wild yellow perch.

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Influence of lake chemistry and fish age on cadmium, copper, and zinc concentrations in various organs of indigenous yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f04-100 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 61 (9) ◽

pp. 1702-1716 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Anik Giguère ◽

Peter GC Campbell ◽

Landis Hare ◽

D Gordon McDonald ◽

Joseph B Rasmussen

Keyword(s):

Yellow Perch ◽

Perca Flavescens ◽

Fish Growth ◽

Metal Exposure ◽

Body Parts ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Ambient Water ◽

Lake Chemistry ◽

Zinc Concentrations ◽

Cu And Zn

Concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn were determined in various organs of juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens) collected from eight lakes located along a metal concentration gradient. Metal exposure was evaluated on the basis of the free ambient Cd2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ca2+ concentrations, as estimated from chemical equilibrium simulations using the ambient water chemistry data. Based on regression analyses, lake water Ca2+ and H+ did not significantly influence the steady-state metal concentrations in various body parts of yellow perch. Cadmium concentrations were significantly higher in the gastrointestinal tract than in the gills, suggesting that uptake of this metal from food is more important than uptake from water. Variations in the contribution of each organ to the total Cd and Cu burdens revealed a possible dysfunction in liver excreting capacities in the fish from the most highly contaminated lakes. Additionally, measurements on yellow perch from 0 to 10 years old (N = 81) collected from a single lake suggest that Cd concentrations in some organs increase with fish age, which we interpret to be linked to changes in fish growth rate with age.

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Bioenergetic costs of heavy metal exposure in yellow perch (Perca flavescens): in situ estimates with a radiotracer (137Cs) technique

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f99-268 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 441-450 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Graham D Sherwood ◽

Joseph B Rasmussen ◽

David J Rowan ◽

Julie Brodeur ◽

Alice Hontela

Keyword(s):

Yellow Perch ◽

Sublethal Effects ◽

Perca Flavescens ◽

Sublethal Effect ◽

Toxicity Assessment ◽

Fish Growth ◽

Metal Exposure ◽

Energetic Efficiency ◽

Biological Organization

While the flow of energy is understood to determine the growth of organisms and the productivity of ecosystems, little is known about the sublethal effect of pollutants on the energetic efficiency of wild populations. We used field estimates of fish growth coupled to in situ estimates of food consumption rates obtained from the mass balance of a globally dispersed, trophically transferred radiotracer (137Cs) to demonstrate the bioenergetic impairment of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from lakes polluted by heavy metals (Cd, Cu, and Zn). Annual growth increment relative to the total energy budget (conversion efficiency) was about three times lower in cortisol-impaired yellow perch from metal-polluted lakes relative to yellow perch from reference lakes (4.2% compared with 10.8%), suggesting that fish exposed to pollutants experienced greater total energetic costs. In addition, metal-polluted lakes were dominated by adult yellow perch populations and simplified prey bases, suggesting that effects are occurring at multiple levels of biological organization. Our in situ bioenergetic approach to toxicity assessment provides a measurable and ecologically relevant endpoint for assessing the sublethal effects of pollutants on fish communities.

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Survival to hatching of fishes in sulfate-saline waters, Devils Lake, North Dakota

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f95-047 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 464-469 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Todd M. Koel ◽

John J. Peterka

Keyword(s):

North Dakota ◽

Sodium Sulfate ◽

Yellow Perch ◽

Hatching Success ◽

Perca Flavescens ◽

White Sucker ◽

Catostomus Commersoni ◽

Devils Lake ◽

Common Carp Cyprinus Carpio ◽

Species Survival

Laboratory-based bioassays were conducted to determine concentrations of sodium-sulfate type salinities that limit the hatching success of several fish species. Survival to hatching (SH) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in sodium-sulfate type waters from Devils Lake, North Dakota, of ≥ 2400 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS) than in fresh water of 200 mg/L. In waters of 200, 1150, 2400, 4250, and 6350 mg/L TDS, walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) SH was 41, 38, 7, 1, and 0%; northern pike (Esox lucius) SH was 92, 68, 33, 2, and 0%; yellow perch (Perca flavescens) SH was 88, 70, 73, 0, and 0%; white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) SH was 87, 95, 66, 0, and 0%; common carp (Cyprinus carpio) SH was 71, 69, 49, 63, and 25%.

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Metabolic Stores of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens): Comparison of Populations from an Acidic, Dystrophic Lake and Circumneutral, Mesotrophic Lakes

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f92-273 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 49 (12) ◽

pp. 2474-2482 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jay A. Nelson ◽

John J. Magnuson

Keyword(s):

Yellow Perch ◽

Egg Production ◽

Glycogen Content ◽

Physiological State ◽

Perca Flavescens ◽

Population Level ◽

Seasonal Effects ◽

Life History Strategies ◽

Dystrophic Lake ◽

Lipid Contents

Little is known about the animals that occupy naturally acidic habitats. To better understand the physiological state of animals from temperate, naturally acidic systems, we compared metabolite stores and meristics of two yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations in northern Wisconsin. One population originated from a naturally acidic, dystrophic lake (Acid-Lake-Perch, ALP) and had previously been shown to have enhanced tolerance to low pH. The second population came from two nearby interconnected circumneutral, mesotrophic lakes (Neutral-Lake-Perch, NLP). Perch were collected throughout the year to account for seasonal effects and to discern whether patterns of metabolite utilization differed between populations. ALP had smaller livers containing less glycogen and greater muscle glycogen content than NLP. The ALP also had significantly greater liver and visceral lipid contents, and females from this population committed a greater fraction of their body mass to egg production. We interpret these results as indicative of physiological divergence at the population level in yellow perch. These results are discussed as possible products of H+ -driven changes in metabolism and as possible products of different life history strategies between populations. Our results also show that perch living in acidic, dystrophic Wharton Lake are not acid stressed.

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