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Effects of acute exposure to fluoranthene‐contaminated sediment on the survival and genetic variability of fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas )
Author(s) -
Schlueter Mark A.,
Guttman Sheldon I.,
Duan Yihao,
Oris James T.,
Huang Xiaodong,
Burton G. Allen
Publication year - 2000
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.5620190430
Subject(s) - pimephales promelas , fluoranthene , biology , loss of heterozygosity , zoology , ecotoxicology , minnow , genotype , genetics , toxicology , fish <actinopterygii> , gene , allele , fishery , phenanthrene , astrobiology
One‐month‐old fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) were exposed to fluoranthene‐contaminated sediment (1.24 mg/gm organic carbon) during a 96‐h exposure. Of the 909 minnows exposed to fluoranthene, 684 (75%) minnows died during the exposure. Horizontal starch‐gel electrophoresis was used to determine genotypes at six variable enzyme loci (β‐ GAL * , GPI ‐1 * , GPI ‐2 * , IDHP ‐1 * , MDH ‐2 * , and PGM * ). Statistical analyses were used to evaluate the relationships between the genetic data and weight, length, and time to death (TTD) offish using an accelerated failure time regression model (LIFEREG). The GPI ‐1 * , MDH ‐2 * , and PGM * loci were found to be significantly related to TTD. Multilocus heterozygosity was also related to TTD. Lower heterozygosity was related to a longer TTD and a greater chance of survival. Fish weight was strongly related to TTD and survival. Larger fish had a longer TTD and a greater chance of survival. Mean fish weight differed significantly among genotypes at each locus. This resulted in large differences between LIFEREG regression models that factored weight out and those models that did not separate weight from the genotypes or multilocus heterozygosity. The results of the study indicated that differential survival to fluoranthene was genetically related. The frequencies of several genotypes were significantly different in the survivors of the fluoranthene exposure compared with those in the initial population.