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Some Chronic Effects of 2,4‐D on the Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Author(s) -
Cope Oliver B.,
Wallen George H.,
Wood Edward M.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1970)99<1:sceodo>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - lepomis macrochirus , zoology , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , persistence (discontinuity) , fishery , veterinary medicine , medicine , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) were exposed to the propylene glycol butyl ether ester of 2,4‐D in six ponds at Tishomingo, Oklahoma, one concentration per pond in five ponds, and a control pond. The fish and the pond environment were studied for five months to measure chronic effects on the fish and persistence of the herbicide in pond water, bottom sediments, and aquatic vegetation. Small quantities of 2,4‐D were found in pond waters for six weeks after application. Residues of 2,4‐D were found in vegetation and in bottom sediments in the highest‐treated pond for six weeks. No 2,4‐D was detected in fish after four days. One‐fifth of the fish treated at 10 ppm died within 8 days; mortality was almost negligible among bluegills exposed to 5 ppm or less. Spawning among bluegills treated at 10 and 5 ppm was delayed about two weeks. Growth was faster among bluegills in these high‐treatment ponds than in the low‐treatment ponds which received 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1 ppm 2,4‐D. Pathologic lesions were seen in the fish; high‐treatment fish had earlier and more severe effects than did low‐treatment fish. The pathology involved liver, vascular system, and brain, with depletion of liver glycogen, globular deposits in the blood vessels, and stasis and engorgement of the circulatory system of the brain. Little pathology was seen after 84 days.