Effects of metals on condition and reproductive output of the smooth toadfish in Sydney estuaries, south-eastern Australia

Alquezar, Ralph; Markich, Scott J.; Booth, David J.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2005.09.009

Cited by 46 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Fish growth rates and condition have been widely observed to relate inversely to exposure of the fish to contaminants (Rowe, 2003;Alquezar et al, 2006). Burke et al (1993) showed that the condition and growth of Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulates were depressed along an estuarine pollution gradient.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and condition of 0-group European flounder, Platichthys flesus as indicator of estuarine habitat quality

Amara

Selleslagh

Billon³

et al. 2009

Hydrobiologia

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The purpose of this present study was to use the growth rates, RNA-DNA ratio and morphometric (Fulton's K) condition indices measured on 0-group juveniles European flounder, as a means of comparing the quality of estuarine nursery habitats. The Seine estuary, heavily impacted by manmade modifications and one of the most contaminated in Europe, was compared to two smaller estuaries considered as clean (low domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents). Indicators of human disturbance (sediment chemical contaminants) as well as biotic data (macrobenthos abundances) were used to establish between-site differences in environmental quality. The abundance of macrobenthos (potential preys for juvenile) was high and not significantly different among the three estuaries confirming the important role played by estuaries as feeding grounds. Sediment metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) were significantly higher in the Seine than in the Canche and Authie estuaries. Otolith growth was closely related to somatic fish growth, and we used daily otolith increments from the previous 10 days before capture as an indicator of 0-group flounder recent growth (RG). RG did not vary significantly among flounders from the Canche and Authie estuaries and individuals from the Seine had slower RG. RNA-DNA ratio and K values were also significantly lower in individuals from the Seine compared to those of the Authie or the Canche. Pollution (e.g. metal contaminants) is the most likely cause of growth and condition differences among estuaries. The results of this study suggest that habitat-specific fish growth and condition are useful proxies for habitat quality since they integrate the effect of multiple environmental factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and condition of 0-group European flounder, Platichthys flesus as indicator of estuarine habitat quality

Amara

Selleslagh

Billon³

et al. 2009

Hydrobiologia

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“…Negative anthropogenic effects on biota are prevalent at a range of spatial and temporal scales, but are often more pronounced in urban environments (e.g., Booth and Skene, 2006;Alquezar et al, 2006;Furlan et al, 2013;Morrissey et al, 2013). While the effects of personal litter on organisms have been well studied, the rise of global phenomena such as climate change has somewhat taken the focus off local impacts of pollution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Impact of cigarette butt leachate on tidepool snails

Booth

Gribben

Parkinson

2015

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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“…When tested individually and under laboratory conditions, contaminants such as metals and PAHs are known to have toxic effects on aquatic taxa including increased mortality [7], [11], [12], reduced reproductive potential [13], [28] and other sublethal effects [29]. Similarly, field surveys suggest that metal and organic chemical contamination are related to changes to community composition that can include the loss of sensitive species and the increased dominance of more tolerant taxa or individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polychaete Richness and Abundance Enhanced in Anthropogenically Modified Estuaries Despite High Concentrations of Toxic Contaminants

et al. 2013

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Ecological communities are increasingly exposed to multiple chemical and physical stressors, but distinguishing anthropogenic impacts from other environmental drivers remains challenging. Rarely are multiple stressors investigated in replicated studies over large spatial scales (>1000 kms) or supported with manipulations that are necessary to interpret ecological patterns. We measured the composition of sediment infaunal communities in relation to anthropogenic and natural stressors at multiple sites within seven estuaries. We observed increases in the richness and abundance of polychaete worms in heavily modified estuaries with severe metal contamination, but no changes in the diversity or abundance of other taxa. Estuaries in which toxic contaminants were elevated also showed evidence of organic enrichment. We hypothesised that the observed response of polychaetes was not a ‘positive’ response to toxic contamination or a reduction in biotic competition, but due to high levels of nutrients in heavily modified estuaries driving productivity in the water column and enriching the sediment over large spatial scales. We deployed defaunated field-collected sediments from the surveyed estuaries in a small scale experiment, but observed no effects of sediment characteristics (toxic or enriching). Furthermore, invertebrate recruitment instead reflected the low diversity and abundance observed during field surveys of this relatively ‘pristine’ estuary. This suggests that differences observed in the survey are not a direct consequence of sediment characteristics (even severe metal contamination) but are related to parameters that covary with estuary modification such as enhanced productivity from nutrient inputs and the diversity of the local species pool. This has implications for the interpretation of diversity measures in large-scale monitoring studies in which the observed patterns may be strongly influenced by many factors that covary with anthropogenic modification.

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Effects of metals on condition and reproductive output of the smooth toadfish in Sydney estuaries, south-eastern Australia

Cited by 46 publications

References 38 publications

Growth and condition of 0-group European flounder, Platichthys flesus as indicator of estuarine habitat quality

Growth and condition of 0-group European flounder, Platichthys flesus as indicator of estuarine habitat quality

Impact of cigarette butt leachate on tidepool snails

Polychaete Richness and Abundance Enhanced in Anthropogenically Modified Estuaries Despite High Concentrations of Toxic Contaminants

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