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Sensitivity of early‐life‐stage golden trout to low pH and elevated aluminum
Author(s) -
Delonay Aaron J.,
Little Edward E.,
Woodward Daniel F.,
Brumbaugh William G.,
Farag Aida M.,
Rabeni Charles F.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620120711
Subject(s) - trout , rainbow trout , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , chemistry , ecology , fishery
Early‐life‐stage golden trout ( Oncorhynchus aguabonita aguabonita ) were exposed to acid and Al to examine the response and determine the sensitivity of a western, alpine salmonid to conditions simulating an episodic pH depression. Freshly fertilized eggs, alevins, and swim‐up larvae were exposed for 7 d to one of 12 combinations of pH and Al, and surviving fish were held to 40 d post‐hatch to determine the effect of exposure on subsequent survival and recovery. Golden trout are sensitive to conditions simulating episodic acidification events typically observed in the field. Significant mortality occurred when the pH of test waters was below 5.0 in the absence of Al or when pH was 5.5 in the presence of 100 μg/L total Al. Behavioral impairments were sensitive indicators of low pH and Al stress. Impaired locomotory and feeding behavior occurred at pH 5.5 without Al and at Al concentrations > 50 μg/L. In contrast, growth, RNA‐to‐DNA ratio, and whole‐body ion concentration were relatively less sensitive indicators of sublethal acid and Al stress.