Estimating physiological cost of chemical exposure: integrating energetics and stress to quantify toxic effects in fish

Abstract

We present empirical support for a conceptual framework in which chemical contaminants are considered as sources of physiological stress to fish. Physiological stress was quantified in terms of energy by measuring routine metabolism, food consumption, activity, and growth rates of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exposed to the organochlorine pesticide dieldrin. Regression analysis was used to estimate models that describe the response of each endpoint as a function of dieldrin concentration and duration of exposure. Metabolic rate, consumption, and growth were influenced by chemical exposure. At short durations of exposure (1-4 days), metabolic rate of exposed fish was depressed compared with controls, but at a longer duration (16 days), metabolic rate increased as a function of concentration. Food consumption and growth rates of fish exposed for 16 days declined as dieldrin concentration increased. The response of each endpoint was consistent with predictions of the general adaptation syndrome. Energetic costs of contaminant-induced changes in metabolism and food consumption can be integrated with a bioenergetics model to demonstrate biological significance of chemical exposure in a natural environment.

Synergistic effects of dietary vitamin E and selenomethionine on growth performance and tissue methylmercury accumulation on mercury-induced toxicity in juvenile olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck et Schlegel)

“…The process may be initiated by reaction of MeHg with thiol (-SH) and/or selenol (-SeH) groups which caused formation of S-Hg or Se-Hg bond that may impair protein function in organism (Farina, Campos, Vendrell, Berenguer, Barzi, Pons & Sunol 2009). These could occur when fish expends most of their body energy for repairing damaged cells within allocated dietary energy which might hinder somatic and reproductive growth (Beyers, Rice, Clements & Henry 1999;Houck & Cech 2004). Similar result was found when beluga sturgeon, Huso huso, were fed 16.22 mg MeHg kg À1 diet for 6 weeks (Gharaei, Esmaili, Jafari & Ghaffari 2008).…”

Correlates of estuarine survival of Atlantic salmon postsmolts from the Southern Upland, Nova Scotia, Canada

“…Exposure to acidic conditions reduces the seawater tolerance of smolts, and those ill-prepared for the transition to seawater exhibit high levels of stress and reduced survival (Staurnes et al 1996;Kroglund and Finstad 2003;Kroglund et al 2007). Further, physiological stress may induce lethargy in fish (Sangalang et al 1990;McCormick and Jensen 1992;Beyers et al 1999), and smolts have been shown to delay sea entry if they are osmotically ill-prepared (Strand et al 2011). It, therefore, stands to reason that altered migratory behaviour would extend into the estuary in an attempt to mitigate poor seawater tolerance.…”

Pollution‐induced Nutritional Stress in Birds: An Experimental Study of Direct and Indirect Effects

“…For example, several species of herbivorous insects, which are important food for many insectivorous birds, may increase in numbers in a moderately polluted environment, but tend to be less abundant in heavily polluted areas (Fü hrer 1985, Heliö vaara andVäisänen 1990). Both food deprivation and environmental pollutants such as heavy metals are known to cause physiological stress, depressed metabolic rates, and retarded growth in birds and fish (Hutton 1980, Di Giulio and Scanlon 1985, Heath 1995, Beyers et al 1999. We report here an experimental study in which the amount of available invertebrate food was manipulated in an area heavily contaminated by metals.…”