Gill and liver histopathological changes in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) exposed to oil sands process-affected water

Nero, Vincent P.; Farwell, Andrea J.; Lister, Andrea; Kraak, Glen Van Der; Lee, Lucy E. J.; Meer, T. Van; MacKinnon, Michael D.; Dixon, D. George

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2005.04.014

Cited by 145 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The disease impacts were also associated with gill lesions, particularly aneurysms of the secondary lamellae [18]. Follow-up laboratory studies with yellow perch using artificial salt mixtures and naphthenic acids extracted from oil sands material were conducted to attempt to determine causative agents [19,20]. The extracted naphthenic acids caused gill lesions at concentrations as low as 1.7 mg/L.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive development of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) exposed to oil sands–affected waters

Heuvel

Hogan

Roloson

et al. 2012

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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In similar experiments conducted in 1996 and 2009, yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were stocked into two experimental systems: a demonstration lake where oil sands fine tailings were capped with natural water and a lake in a watershed containing bitumen-bearing sodic clays. In both experiments, yellow perch were captured in May from a nearby reservoir and released into the experimental ponds. Perch were recaptured in the experimental systems, the source lake, and two reference lakes in late September and lethally sampled to examine reproductive parameters. In the 1996 experiment, gonad size and steroid hormones were not affected in either pond environment. In the 2009 experiment, male perch in the water-capped tailings pond showed a significant reduction in the testicular development and reductions in circulating testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone, while no reductions were seen in the second experimental pond. No changes were observed in ovarian size or circulating steroid levels in female perch. In the pond containing tailings, the release of water from underlying tailings caused approximately a twofold increase in salinity, alkalinity, and naphthenic acids, and a pH increase from 8.4 to 9.4 over the 13-year period of the study. In the pond influenced by unextracted oil sands materials, total dissolved solids, major ions, and pH did not change substantially. However, naphthenic acids in this system dropped more than twofold post-watershed reclamation. Because the selective reproductive effect observed in male perch in the experimental end-pit lake were accompanied by increases in naphthenic acids, alkalinity, and pH, a specific cause cannot be determined. The present study adds to the evidence, suggesting the presence of endocrine-disrupting substances in oil sands.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive development of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) exposed to oil sands–affected waters

Heuvel

Hogan

Roloson

et al. 2012

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…As a result, catfish are more likely to be exposed to higher concentrations of potential contaminants through biomagnification. Previous studies has shown that the liver can be a useful biomarker of toxicant exposure (Schlacher et al, 2007;Lang et al, 2006;Nero et al, 2006;Feist et al, 2004;Au, 2004;Stentiford et al, 2003;Wester et al, 2002;Schmidt-Posthaus et al, 2001;Schmidt et al, 1999;Swee et al, 1996;Braunbeck and Völkl, 1993;Hinton et al, 1992). The results therefore provide valuable liver baseline data for future monitoring programmes in the RD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Histopathological changes in two potential indicator fish species from a hyper-eutrophic freshwater ecosystem in South Africa: a baseline study

Marchand

Dyk

Barnhoorn

et al. 2012

African Journal of Aquatic Science

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SummaryHistopathological changes were identified in selected target organs from two freshwater fish species, Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis mossambicus, inhabiting a hyper-eutrophic freshwater aquatic system. The approach was to use a histology-based fish health assessment protocol which included a semi-quantitative histopathological assessment of six target organs (gills, liver, ovaries, testes, kidney, and heart). Results of water quality analysis showed selected variables to be above the recommended levels including pH, ammonia, nitrogen, chloride, and phosphorus. A number of histopathological alterations were identified in the target organs of both species, with the highest number observed in the liver. Species differences were identified in terms of the severity of the alterations within all the organs, with most alterations being regressive in nature. The results of this study provide valuable baseline data for two indicator species inhabiting a hyper-eutrophic system that could be useful for future bio-monitoring studies.2

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“…The spawning, recruitment, or survival of fish can also be affected by changes in water quality. For example, laboratory experiments have shown that toxic compounds from tailing ponds and river sediments in the Athabasca River can cause embryo mortality, malformations, and external abnormalities such as fin erosion in fish (van den Heuvel et al 2000;Colavecchia et al 2004Colavecchia et al , 2006Nero et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in migratory fish communities and their health, hydrology, and water chemistry in rivers of the Athabasca oil sands region: a review of historical and current data

Schwalb

Alexander²,

Paul

et al. 2015

Environ. Rev.

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Abstract:The long-lived migratory fish in the lower Athabasca region (including the Athabasca oil sands region) are valued ecosystem components and good bio-indicators of changes in habitat condition, water quality and quantity over the entire stream network. Changes in this region may have been caused by a variety of human activities including oil sands development, forestry, urban development, and recreational activities. We reviewed existing data to examine whether community composition and health of migratory fish (such as northern pike, walleye, and suckers) in the lower Athabasca region have changed over the past 40 years and whether these could be explained by changes in hydrology or water chemistry. Declines of 53%-100% in the abundance of three migratory fish species were detected in the Muskeg watershed (15% land change). Significant changes in fish health were detected. The largest decreases in body condition of fish in the region occurred in the late 1990s and coincided with elevated levels of fin erosion, the most frequently occurring external abnormality, and with extreme discharge conditions. Fish habitat can be affected by both increases and decreases in discharge, and the most pronounced changes were increases in some watersheds of up to 20% of average discharge post-development. In contrast, decreases in discharge post-development in the Muskeg and Steepbank rivers correlated with a decrease in precipitation. Our results show that climatic events and landscape features such as wetlands are important for understanding changes in the system. Further research is needed to examine potential ecological consequences of the observed changes in hydrology for fish and to explore what caused the changes in migratory fish communities and fish health. This will require a better understanding of the trophic structure of the system and a better monitoring program for migratory fish.Key words: biodiversity decline, land use changes, cumulative effects, long-term monitoring protocol, climate change, network scale, Alberta, Athabasca River. Résumé :Les poissons migrateurs à longue durée de vie dans la région inférieure de l'Athabasca (incluant la région des sables bitumineux de l'Athabasca) constituent des écosystèmes de valeur et de bons bio-indicateurs des changements des conditions d'habitat, soit la qualité et la quantité de l'eau sur l'ensemble du réseau de rivières. Les changements survenus dans cette région ont pu être causés par une variété d'activités humaines incluant le développement des sables bitumineux, la foresterie, le développement urbain et les activités de récréation. Les auteurs ont passé en revue les données existantes pour examiner si la composition de la communauté et la santé des poissons migrateurs (p. ex. brochet du nord, doré, meunier) dans la région inférieure de l'Athabasca ont changé au cours des 40 dernières années et si elles peuvent s'expliquer par des changements de l'hydrologie et de la chimie de l'eau. On a observé des déclins de 53 à 100 % dans l'abondance de ces trois espèc...

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Gill and liver histopathological changes in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) exposed to oil sands process-affected water

Cited by 145 publications

References 15 publications

Reproductive development of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) exposed to oil sands–affected waters

Reproductive development of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) exposed to oil sands–affected waters

Histopathological changes in two potential indicator fish species from a hyper-eutrophic freshwater ecosystem in South Africa: a baseline study

Changes in migratory fish communities and their health, hydrology, and water chemistry in rivers of the Athabasca oil sands region: a review of historical and current data

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