Pollution and developmental abnormalities of Atlantic fishes

Abstract

SynopsisPlanktonic 'eggs' of Atlantic mackerel, Scomberscombrus, provide evidence that pollution is associated with mortality, malformation, and abnormal chromosome division of fish embryos developing about the surface of the U.S. Atlantic coast. Embryo data are substantiated by the finding that adults of mackerel, windowpane flounder, Scophthalmus acquosus, and winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, from more polluted coastal areas also have higher frequencies of mitotic abnormality than those from less polluted regions of the Mid-and North Atlantic. No ontogenetic interval escapes contamination. All are likely to be adversely influenced, resulting in considerable direct and indirect cumulative effect on total early-life survival. Development of genetic and epigenetic resistance to reproductively harmful influences of contaminants may interfere with other modifications in structure and function necessitated by natural environmental fluctuations, changes in climate, and by fishing itself.

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).…”

Untitled

“…Clear evidences show the increment of egg malformations in polluted waters in North Sea (Cameron and Westernhagen, 1997), Baltic Sea , Australian Coastal Waters (Klumpp and Westernhagen, 1995), Chilean Waters (Llanos-Rivera et al, 2013) and Western Coasts of Atlantic (Longwell et al, 1992). Heavy metals and especially Cadmium (Cd) are among the important sources of developmental defects in fish embryos (Westernhagen, 1988).…”

Abnormality in <i>Bagarius bagarius</i> (Ham.) (Cypriniformes: Sisoridae) from Nepal

“…Abnormalities in fish can have their origin from several different sources but mutation and teratogenic effects of adverse environmental factors such as mutagenic chemicals in water (Longwell et al, 1992, Lien 1997) on developing and young individual (Brown and Nunez 1998). Other causes of deformities in fish might include environmental factors such as temperature (Milton 1971), dissolved oxygen (T urner and Farley 1971) or parasite infection (Brown and Nunez 1998).…”

“…Abnormality in fishes is uncommon so reports have rather frequently been made from throughout the world. Regarding the contribution to the fish abnormalities, special mention can be made from the work of (T urner and Farley 1971;Milton 1971;Brown and Nunez 1998;Longwell et al, 1992;Lien 1997;Dutta et al, 1995;Subba 1989Subba -1999Subba and Pandey 2001;Subba 2004). However, information about the abnormalities of B. bagarius is scanty.…”