Complex physiological traits as biomarkers of the sub-lethal toxicological effects of pollutant exposure in fishes

Complex physiological traits, such as routine aerobic metabolic rate or exercise performance, are indicators of the functional integrity of fish that can reveal sub-lethal toxicological effects of aquatic pollutants. These traits have proved valuable in laboratory investigations of the sub-lethal effects of heavy metals, ammonia and various xenobiotics. It is not known, however, whether they can also function as biomarkers of the complex potential range of effects upon overall functional integrity caused by exposure to mixtures of chemicals in polluted natural environments. The current study used portable swimming respirometers to compare exercise performance and respiratory metabolism of fish exposed in cages for three weeks to either clean or polluted sites on three urban European river systems: the river Lambro, Milan, Italy; the rivers Blythe, Cole and Tame, Birmingham, UK; and the river Amstel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The UK and Italian rivers were variously polluted with high levels of both bioavailable heavy metals and organics, and the Amstel by mixtures of bioavailable organics at high concentrations. In both the UK and Italy, indigenous chub ( Leuciscus cephalus ) exposed to clean or polluted sites swam equally well in an initial performance test, but the chub from polluted sites could not repeat this performance after a brief recovery interval. These animals were unable to raise the metabolic rate and allocate oxygen towards exercise in the second trial, an effect confirmed in successive campaigns in Italy. Swimming performance was therefore a biomarker indicator of pollutant exposure in chub exposed at these sites. Exposure to polluted sites on the river Amstel did not affect the repeat swimming performance of cultured cloned carp ( Cyprinus carpio ), indicating either a species-specific tolerance or relative absence of heavy metals. However, measurements of oxygen uptake during swimming revealed increased rates of routine aerobic metabolism in both chub and carp at polluted sites in all of the rivers studied, indicating a sub-lethal metabolic loading effect. Therefore, the physiological traits of exercise performance and metabolic rate have potential as biomarkers of the overall sub-lethal toxic effects of exposure to complex mixtures of pollutants in rivers, and may also provide insight into why fish do not colonize some polluted environments.

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The effects of salinity change on the exercise performance of two Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) populations inhabiting different environments

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.199.6.1295 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 199 (6) ◽

pp. 1295-1309 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

J Nelson ◽

Y Tang ◽

R Boutilier

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Rate ◽

Exercise Performance ◽

Gadus Morhua ◽

Atlantic Cod ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Extracellular Fluid ◽

Blood Chemistry ◽

Data Set ◽

Environmental Salinity ◽

Full Strength

The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in exercise physiology between Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) populations from different salinity environments could be changed by acclimating individuals of each population to the natural salinity of the comparison population. The exercise-associated blood chemistry of cod from the brackish Bras d'Or lakes, which had previously been shown to be quite different from that of 'open-ocean' cod, changed to resemble the blood chemistry of their oceanic relatives after only 2 months of acclimation to full-strength salinity. In contrast, the blood chemistry of cod from the Scotian Shelf of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean showed little change after 2 months of acclimation to brackish water. These results demonstrate that the degree of osmoconformity to changes in environmental salinity is a population-specific not a species-specific trait. The blood chemistry differences between populations and salinities did not translate into differences in exercise performance: i.e. critical swimming speeds were statistically uniform across all combinations of population and salinity, although performance was more varied in fish swimming in 'non-native' waters. Other 'whole-animal' physiological characteristics, such as metabolic rate and the aerobic cost of transport, were dependent upon both population origin and the environmental salinity. Vigorous swimming was more energetically expensive at full-strength salinity than at 20 salinity, yet estimates of standard (i.e. resting) metabolic rate were lower for full-strength salinity. Environmental salinity also influenced the relative appearance of lactate and metabolic acid in the extracellular fluid compartment, with full-strength salinity favouring the relative appearance of lactate in the blood. Multivariate statistical analyses of this data set showed that, in contrast to other fish species and studies, differences in blood oxygen transport appear to account for some of the swimming performance differences seen in Atlantic cod at 2 °C. The two experimental populations were cleanly separated by a principal components analysis, regardless of the salinity to which they were acclimated, confirming our earlier contention that these cod populations are physiologically distinct. A key feature of that distinctness is the greater phenotypic plasticity exhibited by the population from the more euryhaline, more eurythermal environment.

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Seaweeds As a “Palatable” Challenge between Innovation and Sustainability: A Systematic Review of Food Safety

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13147652 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 7652

Author(s):

Giuseppe Cavallo ◽

Chiara Lorini ◽

Giuseppe Garamella ◽

Guglielmo Bonaccorsi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Food System ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Novel Foods ◽

Food Shortages ◽

Polluted Sites ◽

The Impact ◽

Global Food

Moderate or severe food insecurity affect 2 billion people worldwide. The four pillars of food security (availability, access, use and stability) are in danger due to the impact of climatic and anthropogenic factors which impact on the food system. Novel foods, like seaweeds, have the potential to increase food yields so that to contribute in preventing or avoiding future global food shortages. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess microbiological, chemical, physical, and allergenic risks associated with seaweed consumption. Four research strings have been used to search for these risks. Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were applied. Finally, 39 articles met the selected criteria. No significant hazards for microbiological, allergenic, and physical risks were detected. Regarding chemical risk, algae can accumulate various heavy metals, especially when harvested in polluted sites. Cultivating seaweeds in a controlled environment allows to avoid this risk. Periodic checks will be necessary on the finished products to monitor heavy metals levels. Since the consumption of algae seems to be on the rise everywhere, it seems to be urgent that food control authorities establish the safety levels to which eating algae does not represent any risk for human health.

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Metabolic Rate and Energy Expenditure of the Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f78-131 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 816-821 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

J. R. Brett ◽

J. M. Blackburn

Keyword(s):

Energy Expenditure ◽

Metabolic Rate ◽

Key Words ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Squalus Acanthias ◽

Spiny Dogfish ◽

Metabolic Rates ◽

Performance Curve ◽

Power Performance ◽

General Energy

The metabolic rate of spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, was determined in both a tunnel respirometer and a large, covered, circular tank (mass respirometer). Swimming performance was very poor in the respirometer, so that a power–performance curve could not be established. Instead, resting metabolic rates were determined, with higher rates induced by causing heavy thrashing (active metabolism). Routine metabolic rates were measured for the spontaneous activity characterizing behavior in the circular tank. For fish of 2 kg mean weight, the metabolic rates at 10 °C were 32.4 ± 2.6 SE (resting), 49.2 ± 5.0 SE (routine), and 88.4 ± 4.6 SE (active) mg O2∙kg−1∙h−1. Assuming that the routine rate represents a general energy expenditure in nature, this is equivalent to metabolizing about 3.8 kcal∙kg−1∙d−1 (15.9 × 103 J∙kg−1∙d−1). Key words: dogfish, metabolic rates, energetics, respiration

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Sex differences in metabolic rate and swimming performance in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha): the effect of male secondary sexual traits

Ecology Of Freshwater Fish ◽

10.1111/eff.12278 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 322-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yuya Makiguchi ◽

Hisaya Nii ◽

Katsuya Nakao ◽

Hiroshi Ueda

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Metabolic Rate ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Pink Salmon ◽

Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽

Secondary Sexual Traits ◽

Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽

Sexual Traits ◽

Secondary Sexual

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Interactive effects of salinity on metabolic rate, activity, growth and osmoregulation in the euryhaline milkfish (Chanos chanos)

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.201.24.3355 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 201 (24) ◽

pp. 3355-3366

Author(s):

C Swanson

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Rate ◽

High Salinity ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Routine Activity ◽

Swimming Velocity ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Salinity Adaptation ◽

Chanos Chanos ◽

Wide Range

The euryhaline milkfish (Chanos chanos) is an excellent subject for studies of the physiological and behavioral processes involved in salinity adaptation. In this study, energy partitioning for metabolism, activity and growth, maximal activity performance and blood osmotic concentrations were assessed at two activity levels in juvenile milkfish fed equal rations and maintained at a relatively constant temperature (262 C) and at salinities(15, 35 and 55 ?) that represented a wide range of osmoregulatory challenges. Changes in the measured parameters were not consistently related to the magnitude of the trans-integumentary osmotic gradients. Routine oxygen consumption rates were high in 35 ? salinity (mean 1 s.e.m. 1678 mg O2 kg-1 h-1) and comparably low in 15 and 55 ? salinity (1336 and 1273 mg O2 kg-1 h-1, respectively). Routine activity levels (relative swimming velocity) were highest in 35 ? salinity (0. 960.04 L s-1), where L is standard length, intermediate in 15 ? salinity (0.770.03 L s-1) and lowest in 55 ? salinity (0.670.03 L s-1). Growth was significantly higher in 55 ? salinity (3.40.2 % increase in wet body mass per day) than in 35 ?salinity (2.40.2 % increase per day) and intermediate in 15 ? salinity(2.90.5 % increase per day). Maximum swimming velocities decreased with increases in salinity, from 9.90.7 L s-1 in 15 ? salinity to 6.60. 5 L s-1 in 55 ? salinity. Sustained swimming activity above routine levels for 2 h resulted in an increase in blood osmotic concentrations in milkfish in 55 ?salinity, but osmoregulation was re-established during the second 2 h of activity. Thus, patterns of variation in metabolic rate and growth were largely parallel to variations in routine activity although, comparing 15 and 55 ? salinity, elevated maintenance costs for osmoregulation at the high salinity were detectable. Reduced osmoregulatory abilities and reductions in maximal swimming performance suggest that high salinity may constrain activity. The results demonstrate that investigations of salinity adaptation in euryhaline fishes should take into account the interactive effects of salinity on physiology and behavior.

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Social Group Size and Shelter Availability Influence Individual Metabolic Traits in a Social Fish

Integrative Organismal Biology ◽

10.1093/iob/obab032 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emmanuelle Chrétien ◽

Daniel Boisclair ◽

Steven J Cooke ◽

Shaun S Killen

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Rate ◽

Group Size ◽

Social Group ◽

Physiological Traits ◽

Metabolic Rates ◽

Night Time ◽

The Social ◽

Before And After ◽

Social Treatment ◽

Shelter Availability

Abstract Group living is widespread among animal species and yields both costs and benefits. Presence of conspecifics can restrict or enhance the expression of individual behaviour, and the recent social environment is thought to affect behavioural responses in later contexts, even when individuals are alone. However, little is known about how social group size influences the expression of individual physiological traits, including metabolic rates. There is some evidence that shoaling can reduce fish metabolic rates but this variable may be affected by habitat conditions such as shelter availability via density-dependent processes. We investigated how social group size and shelter availability influence Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus metabolic rates estimated by respirometry. Respirometry trials were conducted on fish in isolation before and after they were housed for three weeks in a social treatment consisting in a specific group size (n = 4 or 8) and shelter availability (presence or absence of plant shelter in the experimental tank). Plant shelter was placed over respirometers for half of the duration of the respirometry trials, allowing estimation of minimum day-time and night-time metabolic rates in both conditions (in the presence or absence of plant shelter). Standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), and aerobic scope (AS) were also estimated over the entire trial. Minimum day-time and night-time metabolic rates estimated while in presence of plant shelter were lower than when estimated in absence of plant shelter, both before and after individuals were housed in their social treatment. After the social treatment, SMR were higher for fish that were held in groups of four as compared to that of fish held in groups of eight while MMR showed no difference. Plant shelter availability during the social treatments did not influence SMR or MMR. Our results suggest that social group size may directly influence energy demands of individuals, highlighting the importance of understanding the role of group size on variations in physiological traits associated with energy expenditure.

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A Review on the Resistance and Accumulation of Heavy Metals by Different Microbial Strains

10.5772/intechopen.101613 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Madhuri Girdhar ◽

Zeba Tabassum ◽

Kopal Singh ◽

Anand Mohan

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Volcanic Eruptions ◽

Heavy Metal Resistance ◽

Metal Resistance ◽

Contaminated Sites ◽

Bacillus Species ◽

Polluted Sites ◽

Pollution Accumulation ◽

Microbial Strains

Heavy metals accumulated the earth crust and causes extreme pollution. Accumulation of rich concentrations of heavy metals in environments can cause various human diseases which risks health and high ecological issues. Mercury, arsenic, lead, silver, cadmium, chromium, etc. are some heavy metals harmful to organisms at even very low concentration. Heavy metal pollution is increasing day by day due to industrialization, urbanization, mining, volcanic eruptions, weathering of rocks, etc. Different microbial strains have developed very efficient and unique mechanisms for tolerating heavy metals in polluted sites with eco-friendly techniques. Heavy metals are group of metals with density more than 5 g/cm3. Microorganisms are generally present in contaminated sites of heavy metals and they develop new strategies which are metabolism dependent or independent to tackle with the adverse effects of heavy metals. Bacteria, Algae, Fungi, Cyanobacteria uses in bioremediation technique and acts a biosorbent. Removal of heavy metal from contaminated sites using microbial strains is cheaper alternative. Mostly species involved in bioremediation include Enterobacter and Pseudomonas species and some of bacillus species too in bacteria. Aspergillus and Penicillin species used in heavy metal resistance in fungi. Various species of the brown algae and Cyanobacteria shows resistance in algae.

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