In situ reproduction, abundance, and growth of young‐of‐year and adult largemouth bass in a population exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract

We conducted a two-year field study (2000-2001) in the Housatonic River, Massachusetts (USA) to determine if we could detect in situ population-level effects on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exposed to elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Calculated whole-body PCB concentrations in adult bass in 2002 averaged 121 mg/kg (range = 34-556 mg/kg). Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in young-of-year (YOY) composites in 2000 and 2002 averaged 28 mg/kg (range = 21-41 mg/kg) and 19 mg/kg (range = 16-24 mg/kg), respectively. Laboratory studies of fish have reported PCB toxicity at exposure levels below and within the range of those found in the Housatonic River. We evaluated five field-derived metrics: reproductive activity, relative abundance of YOY, YOY growth rates, adult growth, and adult condition to determine whether we could detect effects of PCBs in the largemouth bass population. These computed metrics, when compared with data sets assembled for numerous largemouth bass populations in North America, provided no evidence of population-level impairment. Results of this study suggest that PCB tissue concentrations associated with effects in laboratory studies do not necessarily translate to detectable effects on largemouth bass populations in their natural environment.

Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and fish recruitment from 1988 to 2002 in the upper Hudson River, New York, USA

“…The residuals of linear catch-curves were plotted against these year-classes (middle graph) The bottom graphs show the three-year moving average total wet-weight PCB concentrations in muscle tissue of adults against years when these adults were collected and these values correspond to the same time intervals in the top and middle graphs. wet-weight did not exert a population-level effect on largemouth bass recruitment in the Housatonic River, Massachusetts (Reiser et al, 2004), consistent with our results in the Thompson Island Pool.…”

“…Maximum concentrations of PCBs in largemouth bass were similar between the Housatonic River and our site nearest to the PCB sources in the upper Hudson River during the early 1990s (about 30 g/g wet weight). The data analyzed in this paper for largemouth bass, yellow perch, and brown bullhead, supported the findings of Reiser et al (2004). We did not detect PCB-mediated effects on fish reproduction at the population level at adult PCB concentrations that previously have been thought to be detrimental to these fish species.…”

“…Baldigo et al (2006) stressed the importance of determining contaminant effects on wild fish by measuring their population response because information concerning the exposure of wild fish populations to contaminants is rare or nonexistent. Reiser et al (2004) stated "based on a comparison of population metrics assessed in this study with literature data from numerous largemouth bass populations in North America, we could find no evidence of impaired recruitment, growth, or condition of the Housatonic River (MA) largemouth bass population despite the presence of PCBs." Maximum concentrations of PCBs in largemouth bass were similar between the Housatonic River and our site nearest to the PCB sources in the upper Hudson River during the early 1990s (about 30 g/g wet weight).…”

Polychlorinated biphenyls and hudson river white perch: implications for population‐level ecological risk assessment and risk management

“…At all of these sites, except the Kalamazoo River, the USEPA concluded that some fish species were at risk from PCB exposures. However, at 3 of the 4 remaining sites, including the Hudson River, apparently healthy populations of at risk species have persisted in spite of exposure to elevated concentrations of PCBs (Munns et al 1997; Barnthouse et al 2003; Reiser et al 2004).…”

Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on maternal odor conditioning in rat pups

“…In populations in which there are large amounts of fish consumption, PCBs can bioaccumulate and noticeably alter physical and motor development [9,10]. Studies on natural animal populations consistently find moderate-to-high levels of PCBs in many diverse animal groups [range in concentration from 3 to 500 ng/g; [11][12][13]] and it is principally unknown as to how this exposure influences development of psychological function. Lower, continuous exposure could be leading to less noticeable insults that impact more complex behaviors.…”