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Vertebral defects in fourhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus quadricornis L., exposed to heavy metal pollution in the Gulf of Bothnia
Author(s) -
Bengtsson Å.,
Bengtsson B. E.,
Lithner G.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1988.tb05496.x
Subject(s) - sculpin , biology , pollution , arsenic , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , heavy metals , zoology , anatomy , ecology , environmental chemistry , metallurgy , materials science , chemistry
Vertebral defects in adult fourhorn sculpin were used to trace heavy metal pollution in the Gulf of Bothnia (Baltic Sea). From 1978 to 1984 a total of 9789 specimens from 22 localities were X‐rayed and analysed for vertebral deformities, e.g., scoliosis, deformation and/or dislocation of individual vertebrae, etc. The frequency of fish with vertebral defects ranged between 4.3 and 39.7%, the highest frequencies being found in the vicinity of a metal ore smeltery (Rönnskärsverken) emitting heavy metals and arsenic. The possible influence of genetic factors, migration, sex, size, age and parasitic infections on the results are discussed and evaluated.