The use of malformations in pelagic fish embryos for pollution assessment

Malformations in fish embryos have been monitored for several years in the southern part of the North Sea. Their occurrence was thought to be related to pollution because malformation rates were highest in coastal waters, known to receive high pollution loads. For the embryos of all species synchron...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 1997-09, Vol.352 (1-3), p.241-250
Main Authors: Westernhagen, H. von (Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Hamburg (Germany).), Dethlefsen, V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ALEVINES
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Coastal waters
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Embryos
Environmental assessment
Environmental impact
Fish
FISH LARVAE
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
LARVE DE POISSON
LIMANDA
LIMANDA (GENERO)
Limanda limanda
MALFORMACION
MALFORMATION
MALFORMATIONS
Marine
Marine and brackish environment
Organochlorine compounds
Pisces
Pollutants
POLLUTION DE L'EAU
Pollution load
POLUCION DEL AGUA
Surface temperature
Surface water
TEMPERATURA DEL AGUA
TEMPERATURE DE L'EAU
WATER POLLUTION
WATER TEMPERATURE
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Summary:Malformations in fish embryos have been monitored for several years in the southern part of the North Sea. Their occurrence was thought to be related to pollution because malformation rates were highest in coastal waters, known to receive high pollution loads. For the embryos of all species synchronous trends for the fluctuation of the occurrence of malformations over time were registered in the areas covered, with intermediate prevalences at the beginning of the studies in 1984 and maxima in 1987. Thereafter,malformations in all species decreased significantly,followed by an abrupt increase in 1996. It was found that in addition to a close correlation between the concentrations of environmental pollutants in the water and in the fish a significant negative correlation existed between surface water temperature and the occurrence of malformed embryos of dab (Limanda limanda). These same correlations were also observed for other fish species over time and space. This temperature-related correlation became increasingly visible with decreasing concentrations of organochlorines in fish. From these findings it is concluded that aside from environmental pollutants,natural factors such as temperature may predispose developing fish embryos to the impact of pollutants.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1023/A:1003095926959