SREL Reprint #2689

Altered swimming performance of a benthic fish (Erimyzon sucetta) exposed to contaminated sediments

W. A. Hopkins1,2, J. W. Snodgrass1,3, B. P. Staub1, B. P. Jackson1, and J. D. Congdon1

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

Abstract: Numerous field surveys suggest that coal combustion wastes (ash) adversely affect fish populations, but few controlled laboratory studies have evaluated the responses of individual fish to ash exposure. Available information suggests that sublethal effects of ash, including decreased growth rates and reduced fecundity, may be important manifestations of ash toxicity. Here, we hypothesized that ash may also alter swimming performance, which could ultimately have important implications for the autecology of affected species. To test this hypothesis, we measured sprint speed and critical swimming speed (Ucrit) of juvenile lake chubsuckers (Erimyzon sucetta) exposed to ash in the laboratory. Fish exposed to ash for 90-100 days accumulated significant concentrations of As, Se, Sr, and V; exhibited severe fin erosion; and had reduced sprint speed and Ucrit. Compared to controls, sprint speed of ash-exposed fish was reduced by 30% at 5 cm and the percent reduction was further reduced to 104% at 20 cm. Critical swimming speed was approximately 50% lower in fish exposed to ash compared to controls. Additionally, the typical positive relationship between standard length and Ucrit was absent in fish exposed to ash. Because reductions in swimming performance could not be attributed to pollutant-induced differences in body condition or fin morphology, we hypothesize that physiological disruptions (e.g., increased energy demands, decreased oxygen uptake or transport) are responsible for the observed effects and warrant further attention.

SREL Reprint #2689

Hopkins, W. A., J. W. Snodgrass, B. P. Staub, B. P. Jackson, and J. D. Congdon. 2003. Altered swimming performance of a benthic fish (Erimyzon sucetta) exposed to contaminated sediments. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 44:383-389.

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