Relation of Intersex and Fish Health to Contaminants in Riverine Fishes

Grieshaber, Casey A.

Relation of Intersex and Fish Health to Contaminants in Riverine Fishes

Monday, August 22, 2016: 1:40 PM

Chouteau A (Sheraton at Crown Center)

Casey A. Grieshaber , Department of Applied Ecology, Campus Box 7617, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Raleigh, NC

Tiffany N. Penland , Department of Applied Ecology, Campus Box 7617, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Raleigh, NC

Thomas J. Kwak , North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, U.S. Geological Survey, Raleigh, NC

W. Gregory Cope , North Carolina State University, Department of Applied Ecology, Raleigh, NC

Ryan J. Heise , North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Creedmoor, NC

Forrest W. Sessions , Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Bonneau, SC

Jesse R. Fischer , Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Raleigh, NC

J. Mac Law , College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh

Damian Shea , Department of Biology, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Endocrine active compounds (EACs) are a group of pollutants that have been recognized as an emerging and widespread problem in aquatic ecosystems globally. We measured a suite of inorganic and organic contaminants, including EACs, and assessed their impacts on fish in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River of North Carolina and South Carolina. The specific objectives were to assess the relation of contaminants in water, sediment, and fish tissue to the occurrence and severity of the intersex condition (presence of testicular oocytes, a biomarker of endocrine disruption) in wild, adult fish, and conduct an in situ bioassay to evaluate survival, intersex, and contaminant uptake in juvenile fish. Measured contaminant concentrations within the river were clearly influenced by agriculture, industry, urbanization, and other anthropogenic impacts. Ethinylestradiol, PCBs, PAHs, mercury, and several pesticides were the most prevalent contaminants in the river. Fish intersex condition was most frequently observed in Largemouth Bass (41%) and was not observed in any in situ bioassay fish. Higher concentrations of contaminants and greater occurrence of intersex was observed at the downstream sites. Our findings have aided the understanding of the relationship between contaminants and fish health and facilitated ecologically comprehensive management decisions.