SREL Reprint #2455

Detrimental effects associated with trace element uptake in lake chubsuckers (Erimyzon sucetta) exposed to polluted sediments

W. A. Hopkins1,2, J. W. Snodgrass1,3, J. H. Roe1, B. P. Jackson1, J. C. Gariboldi1, and J. D. Congdon1

1Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA
2Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
3Department of Biology, Towson University, Towson, Maryland 21252, USA

Abstract: Lake chubsuckers (Erimyzon sucetta) were exposed to coal ash-polluted sediments under conservative experimental conditions (filtered artificial soft water and abundant uncontaminated food). After 4 months of exposure, fish grazing the polluted sediments had significantly elevated body burdens of Se, Sr, and V. Selenium levels were particularly elevated, reaching mean whole body concentrations of 5.6 µg/g dry mass by the end of experimental manipulations. Twenty-five percent of fish exposed to pollutants died during the study. All surviving fish exposed to ash exhibited substantial decreases in growth and severe fin erosion. Total nonpolar lipids were two times higher in fish from the control treatment, but percent lipid did not differ between treatments. Because fish were presented with the same amount of food during the study, it appears fish exposed to ash utilized more energy for daily activities and/or were less efficient at converting available energy to tissues for growth and storage. The results were particularly interesting because we were unable to detect differences in standard metabolic rate (SMR) of fish between treatments. Increased energy expenditures not detectable in estimates of maintenance based on SMR, such as costs of digestion or activity, may have contributed to decreased energetic efficiency. Our findings corroborate previous studies which have documented the toxicity of ash-derived pollutants in fish.

SREL Reprint #2455

Hopkins, W. A., J. W. Snodgrass, J. H. Roe, B. P. Jackson, J. C. Gariboldi, and J. D. Congdon. 2000. Detrimental effects associated with trace element uptake in lake chubsuckers (Erimyzon sucetta) exposed to polluted sediments. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 39:193-199.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).