Environmental contaminants and the reproductive success of lake trout in the great lakes: An epidemiological approach

Abstract

Epidemiological criteria were used to examine the influence of environmental contamination on reproductive success of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Most of the information was obtained from lake trout eggs collected in southeastern Lake Michigan and reared in the laboratory. Two separate end points that measure reproductive success--egg hatchability and fry survival--were used in the evaluation. Strong evidence for maternally derived polychlorinated biphenyls causing reduced egg hatchability were observed for the time order, strength of association, and coherence criteria. Equally strong evidence for organic environmental contaminants, also of maternal origin, causing a swim-up fry mortality syndrome were presented for the strength of association, specificity, replication, and coherence criteria. The epidemiological approach for demonstrating cause-and-effect relations was useful because of the difficulty in demonstrating definite proof of causality between specific environmental contaminants and reproductive dysfunction in feral fish.

Development of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis holbrooki) populations in lentic mesocosms. Perspectives for ecotoxicological studies

“…Numerous studies carried out in controlled conditions showed that the fecundity and/or fertility can be affected by various compounds (DONALDSON, 1990). In the field, the role of chemicals in the decline of fish populations has been suggested (MAC and EDSALL, 1991). Direct links between changes in fecundity/fertility and disturbances of population dynamics have been often hypothesized but only a few experimental studies have dealt with such a topic.…”

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Saga and Setback: Novel Analyses of Cumulative Hatchlings Released and Time-Lagged Annual Nests in Tamaulipas, Mexico

“…Elevated levels of contaminants, including chlorinated hydrocarbons, in several other fish species are associated with reproductive impairment (Cameron et al 1992;Drevnick and Sandheinrich 2003;Hammerschmidt et al 2002;Longwell et al 1992), reduced egg viability (Billsson et al 1998;Giesy et al 1986;Mac and Edsall 1991;Matta et al 1997;Von Westernhagen et al 1981), reduced survival of larval fish (Berlin et al 1981;Giesy et al 1986), delayed maturity (Jorgensen et al 2004) and posterior malformations (Billsson et al 1998). Pesticide exposure in fish may affect antipredator and homing behavior, reproductive function, physiological development, and swimming speed and distance (Beauvais et al 2000;Moore and Waring 2001;Scholz et al 2000;Waring and Moore 2004).…”

Research Needs for the Risk Assessment of Health and Environmental Effects of Endocrine Disruptors: A Report of the U.S. EPA-Sponsored Workshop

“…(57)(58)(59)(60); developmental effects in Great Lakes snapping turtles (61); embryonic mortality and developmental dysfunction in lake trout and other salminiods in the Great Lakes (62)(63)(64); abnormalities of sexual development in Lake Apopka alligators (65,66); reproductive failure in mink from the Great Lakes area (67); and reproductive impairment in the Florida Panther (68). In each case, detectable concentrations of chemicals with known endocrinedisrupting effects have been reported in the animals or in their environment, but an etiological link has been established for only a few of these observations.…”