1
|
Khursigara AJ, Ackerly KL, Esbaugh AJ. Pyrene drives reduced brain size during early life exposure in an estuarine fish, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 259:109397. [PMID: 35753645 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Crude oil and the constituent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) induce a consistent suite of sub-lethal effects in early life stage fishes. It has been suggested that 3-ring PAHs drive cardiotoxicity and that all other impacts are downstream consequences of these cardiac effects. However, recent studies have documented behavioral alterations that may not be linked to cardiotoxicity. This raises the question of whether the 3-ring PAHs that drive cardiotoxicity are also responsible for the observed neurological impairments. To explore this question, we exposed embryonic red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) - a species that exhibits greater sensitivity to craniofacial malformations than cardiotoxicity - to individual 2-ring, 3-ring, and 4-ring PAHs for 48 h after which they were assessed for sub-lethal developmental malformations. No effects were observed following exposure to naphthalene, anthracene, dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene and fluorene at doses equivalent to the ΣPAH50 effective concentration 50 for craniofacial malformation in red drum. Conversely, pyrene caused complete lethality at the original dose, and a 5× diluted dose resulted in significantly reduced brain size and spine length. Similar sub-lethal effects were also observed in chrysene at the 1× dose. These results indicate that 4-ring PAHs are driving malformations in developing red drum and suggest oil induced impairments in this species are not a downstream consequence of 3-ring PAH induced cardiac malformations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Khursigara
- Marine Science Department, The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Dr, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States of America; Department of Biological Sciences, Advanced Environmental Research Institute, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Cir, Denton, TX 76203, United States of America.
| | - Kerri Lynn Ackerly
- Marine Science Department, The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Dr, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States of America. https://twitter.com/KerriAckerlyPhD
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- Marine Science Department, The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Dr, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aimon C, Lebigre C, Le Floch S, Claireaux G. Effects of dispersant-treated oil upon behavioural and metabolic parameters of the anti-predator response in juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 834:155430. [PMID: 35461926 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Acute exposure to oil and oil dispersants can cause a wide range of physiological dysfunctions in marine fish species and evidences for consequences on behaviour are also increasing. In response to the presence of predators or to food availability, the modulation of locomotor activity and schools' behaviour enable fish to maximize their survival rates. However, the degree to which this regulatory process is affected by exposure to oil and/or dispersants is yet unknown. Here we investigated the effect of a 62-h experimental exposure to dispersant-treated oil on the behavioural (shoal cohesion, spontaneous activity) and metabolic (oxygen consumption) responses to simulated predation in juvenile European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L. Our results suggest that exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons may affect negatively individual fitness through impaired ability to respond to predation. Shoal cohesion was not affected, but fish swimming activity was higher than control individuals under predation pressure and the amplitude of their metabolic response was significantly reduced. Fish recovered from alteration of their metabolic response 7 days post-exposure. Additionally, a strong habituation component was observed in C fish and the absence of such pattern in E fish suggest altered capacity to habituate over time to the surrounding environment and possible impairments of the related cognitive performances. Altogether, our data show that juvenile sea bass exposed to oil exhibit transient physiological dysfunctions and impairments of complex behaviours that may have major population-level consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Aimon
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale, LEMAR (UMR 6539), Centre Ifremer de Bretagne, 29280 Plouzané, France; CEDRE, Research Department, 715 rue Alain Colas, CS 41836, Brest 29218-Cedex 2, France.
| | - C Lebigre
- UMR DECOD (Ecosystem Dynamics and Sustainability), Ifremer, INRAE, Institut Agro, Plouzané, France
| | - S Le Floch
- CEDRE, Research Department, 715 rue Alain Colas, CS 41836, Brest 29218-Cedex 2, France
| | - G Claireaux
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale, LEMAR (UMR 6539), Centre Ifremer de Bretagne, 29280 Plouzané, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vazquez Roman KN, Burggren WW. Metabolic responses to crude oil during early life stages reveal critical developmental windows in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 254:109274. [PMID: 35051628 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Morphological effects of crude oil exposure on early development in fishes have been well documented, but crude oil's metabolic effects and when in early development these effects might be most prominent remains unclear. We hypothesized that zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to crude oil as a high energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF) would show increased routine oxygen consumption (ṀO2) and critical oxygen tension (PCrit) and this effect would be dependent upon day of HEWAF exposure, revealing critical windows of development for exposure effects. Zebrafish were exposed to 0%, 10%, 25%, 50% or 100% HEWAF for 24 h during one of the first six days post-fertilization (dpf). Survival rate, body mass, routine ṀO2, and PCrit were then measured at 7 dpf. Survival rate and especially body mass were both decreased based on both exposure concentration and day of crude oil exposure, with the largest decrease when HEWAF exposure occurred at 3 dpf. HEWAF effects on routine ṀO2 also differed depending upon exposure day. The largest effect occurred at 3 dpf, when ṀO2 increased significantly by ~60% from 10.1 ± 0.8 μmol O2/g/h compared to control group value of 6.3 ± 0.4 μmol O2/g/h. No significant effects of HEWAF exposure on any day were evident for PCrit (85 ± 4 mmHg in the control population). Overall, the main effects on body mass and ṀO2 measured at 7 dpf occurred when HEWAF exposures occurred at ~3 dpf. This critical window for metabolism in zebrafish larvae coincides with time of hatching, which may represent an especially vulnerable period in development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karem N Vazquez Roman
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
| | - Warren W Burggren
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Allmon E, Carter G, Griffitt R, Sepúlveda MS. Oil induced cardiac effects in embryonic sheepshead minnows, Cyprinodon variegatus. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 288:132482. [PMID: 34627815 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010, much research has been conducted on the cardiotoxic effects of oil on fish. Sensitive life history stages, such as the embryonic period, have been targeted to elucidate the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the developing cardiovascular systems of fish. However, much of this research has focused on rapidly developing pelagic species, with little emphasis on estuarine species with longer embryological periods. Moreover, previous studies have used heart rate as the primary endpoint to measure cardiac performance in embryos and larvae; an endpoint that on its own may overlook impairment in cardiac performance. This study aims to fill these knowledge gaps and provide a more holistic approach for assessing the effects of PAHs on cardiac function by exposing sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) embryos to two oil doses (150 and 300 μg/L tPAH nominally) throughout embryonic development and measuring cardiac responses through the identification of cardiotoxic phenotypes (pericardial edema) as well as calculation of cardiac output at 4 days post fertilization. Results of this study show significant increases in pericardial edema at both oil doses relative to controls as well as significantly reduced cardiac output - driven by reductions in ventricular stroke volume. This study is one of the first to assess cardiac output in embryonic fish exposed to oil and methods described here allow for more physiologically relevant measures of cardiac performance in early life stages through established and non-invasive measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Allmon
- Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Grace Carter
- Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Robert Griffitt
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, USA
| | - Maria S Sepúlveda
- Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Takeshita R, Bursian SJ, Colegrove KM, Collier TK, Deak K, Dean KM, De Guise S, DiPinto LM, Elferink CJ, Esbaugh AJ, Griffitt RJ, Grosell M, Harr KE, Incardona JP, Kwok RK, Lipton J, Mitchelmore CL, Morris JM, Peters ES, Roberts AP, Rowles TK, Rusiecki JA, Schwacke LH, Smith CR, Wetzel DL, Ziccardi MH, Hall AJ. A review of the toxicology of oil in vertebrates: what we have learned following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2021; 24:355-394. [PMID: 34542016 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2021.1975182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, a number of government agencies, academic institutions, consultants, and nonprofit organizations conducted lab- and field-based research to understand the toxic effects of the oil. Lab testing was performed with a variety of fish, birds, turtles, and vertebrate cell lines (as well as invertebrates); field biologists conducted observations on fish, birds, turtles, and marine mammals; and epidemiologists carried out observational studies in humans. Eight years after the spill, scientists and resource managers held a workshop to summarize the similarities and differences in the effects of DWH oil on vertebrate taxa and to identify remaining gaps in our understanding of oil toxicity in wildlife and humans, building upon the cross-taxonomic synthesis initiated during the Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Across the studies, consistency was found in the types of toxic response observed in the different organisms. Impairment of stress responses and adrenal gland function, cardiotoxicity, immune system dysfunction, disruption of blood cells and their function, effects on locomotion, and oxidative damage were observed across taxa. This consistency suggests conservation in the mechanisms of action and disease pathogenesis. From a toxicological perspective, a logical progression of impacts was noted: from molecular and cellular effects that manifest as organ dysfunction, to systemic effects that compromise fitness, growth, reproductive potential, and survival. From a clinical perspective, adverse health effects from DWH oil spill exposure formed a suite of signs/symptomatic responses that at the highest doses/concentrations resulted in multi-organ system failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Takeshita
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Steven J Bursian
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
| | - Kathleen M Colegrove
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brookfield, Illinois, United States
| | - Tracy K Collier
- Zoological Pathology Program, Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States
| | - Kristina Deak
- College of Marine Sciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
| | | | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States
| | - Lisa M DiPinto
- Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Cornelis J Elferink
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, United States
| | - Robert J Griffitt
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
| | - Martin Grosell
- RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
| | | | - John P Incardona
- NOAA Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Richard K Kwok
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, North Carolina, United States
| | | | - Carys L Mitchelmore
- University of Maryland Center of Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, Maryland, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Morris
- Health and Environment Division, Abt Associates, Boulder, Colorado, United States
| | - Edward S Peters
- Department of Epidemiology, LSU School of Public Health, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Aaron P Roberts
- Advanced Environmental Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, United States
| | - Teresa K Rowles
- NOAA Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Jennifer A Rusiecki
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Cynthia R Smith
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Dana L Wetzel
- Environmental Laboratory of Forensics, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States
| | - Michael H Ziccardi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, California, United States
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Khursigara AJ, Rowsey LE, Johansen JL, Esbaugh AJ. Behavioral Changes in a Coastal Marine Fish Lead to Increased Predation Risk Following Oil Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:8119-8127. [PMID: 34032421 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fishes exposed to crude oil have shown reduced sociability and poor habitat selection, which corresponded with increased predation risk. However, the contribution of oil-induced cardiorespiratory impairments to these findings is uncertain. This study explores the effect of oil exposure on predation risk in a model fish species, Sciaenops ocellatus, across a suite of physiological and behavioral end points to elucidate the mechanisms through which any observed effects are manifested. Using mesocosms to assess group predator avoidance, oil exposure to 36.3 μg l-1 ΣPAH reduced the time to 50% mortality from a mean time of 80.0 (74.1-86.0 95% confidence interval [CI]) min to 39.2 (35.6-42.8 95% CI) min. The influence of oil impaired cardiorespiratory and behavioral pathways on predation risk was assessed based on respiratory performance, swim performance, sociability, and routine activity. Swim trials demonstrated that cardiorespiratory and swim performance were unaffected by exposures to 26.6 or 100.8 μg l-1 ΣPAH. Interestingly, behavioral tests revealed that exposure to 26.6 μg l-1 ΣPAH increased distance moved, speed, acceleration, and burst activity. These data indicate that behavioral impairment is more sensitive than cardiorespiratory injury and may be a more important driver of downstream ecological risk following oil exposure in marine species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Khursigara
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, United States
| | - Lauren E Rowsey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB E2L 4L5, Canada
| | - Jacob L Johansen
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, United States
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ackerly KL, Esbaugh AJ. The effects of temperature on oil-induced respiratory impairment in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 233:105773. [PMID: 33610857 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) crude oil spill, among the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history, affected numerous economically important fishes. Exposure to crude oil can lead to reduced cardiac function, limiting oxygen transport, ATP production, and aerobic performance. However, crude oil exposure is not the only stressor that affects aerobic performance, and increasing environmental temperatures are known to significantly increase metabolic demands in fishes. As the DWH spill was active during warm summer months in the Gulf of Mexico, it is important to understand the combined effects of oil and temperature on a suite of metabolic parameters. Therefore, we investigated the effects of 24h crude oil exposure on the aerobic metabolism and hypoxia tolerance of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) following 3 week chronic exposure to four ecologically relevant temperatures (18 °C, 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C). Our results show that individuals acclimated to higher temperatures had significantly higher standard metabolic rate than individuals at lower temperatures, which resulted in significantly decreased critical oxygen threshold and reduced recovery from exercise. As predicted, crude oil exposure resulted in lower maximum metabolic rates (MMR) across the temperature range, and a significantly reduced ability to recover from exercise. The lowest temperature acclimation showed the smallest effect of oil on MMR, while the highest temperature showed the smallest effect on exercise recovery. Reduced respiratory performance and hypoxia tolerance are likely to have meaningful impacts on the fitness of red drum, especially with climate-induced temperature increases and continued oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerri Lynn Ackerly
- The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States.
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Allmon E, Serafin J, Chen S, Rodgers ML, Griffitt R, Bosker T, de Guise S, Sepúlveda MS. Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and abiotic stressors on Fundulus grandis cardiac transcriptomics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 752:142156. [PMID: 33207514 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, extensive research has been conducted on the toxicity of oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aquatic environment. Many studies have identified the toxicological effects of PAHs in estuarine and marine fishes, however, only recently has work begun to identify the combinatorial effect of PAHs and abiotic environmental factors such as hypoxia, salinity, and temperature. This study aims to characterize the combined effects of abiotic stressors and PAH exposure on the cardiac transcriptomes of developing Fundulus grandis larvae. In this study, F. grandis larvae were exposed to varying environmental conditions (dissolved oxygen (DO) 2, 6 ppm; temperature 20, 30 °C; and salinity 3, 30 ppt) as well as to a single concentration of high energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF) (∑PAHs 15 ppb). Whole larvae were sampled for RNA and transcriptional changes were quantified using RNA-Seq followed by qPCR for a set of target genes. Analysis revealed that exposure to oil and abiotic stressors impacts signaling pathways associated with cardiovascular function. Specifically, combined exposures appear to reduce development of the systemic vasculature as well as strongly impact the cardiac musculature through cardiomyocyte proliferation resulting in inhibited cardiac function and modulated blood pressure maintenance. Results of this study provide a holistic view of impacts of PAHs and common environmental stressors on the cardiac system in early life stage estuarine species. To our knowledge, this study is one of the first to simultaneously manipulate oil exposure with abiotic factors (DO, salinity, temperature) and the first to analyze cardiac transcriptional responses under these co-exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Allmon
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jennifer Serafin
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Shuai Chen
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Maria L Rodgers
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA
| | - Robert Griffitt
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA
| | - Thijs Bosker
- Leiden University College and Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Anna van Buerenplein 301, 2595 DG The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvain de Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Point61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Maria S Sepúlveda
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Khursigara AJ, Johansen JL, Esbaugh AJ. The effects of acute crude oil exposure on growth and competition in red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141804. [PMID: 32882563 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Crude oil is a well-known toxicant that reduces cardiorespiratory performance in acutely exposed fishes. While toxic effects can manifest in death in severe cases, the ecological consequences of sub-lethal exposure remain uncertain. This study investigated the impact of crude oil exposure on long-term social competition, growth, and metabolic performance in a coastal species, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Fish were acutely exposed to either control or one of two environmentally relevant oil concentrations and reared together in groups of 15 (5 from each exposure concentration) for eight weeks under resource-rich or resource-limited scenarios. Relative to controls, a 41.3% and 45.9% reduction in the specific growth rate was-observed following exposure to 25.3 and 53.4 μg l-1 ΣPAH respectively under resource-limited conditions. These fish were subsequently sampled for metabolic performance and common indicators of social subordination including reduced glucocorticoid receptors in the gill and caudal fin damage. The reduction in specific growth rate coincided with a 15.1% and 17.3% reduction in standard metabolic rate; however, maximum metabolic rate and aerobic scope were unaffected. Additionally, measures of social subordination showed no differences between oil-exposed and control fish. These results reinforce the hypothesis that acute oil exposure can have prolonged sub-lethal effects that compromise the ability of exposed individuals to perform effectively in their environment, including gathering and/or metabolizing food. Furthermore, this work highlights the premise that oil spills can be more detrimental in already at-risk ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Khursigara
- The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, United States of America.
| | - Jacob L Johansen
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ackerly KL, Esbaugh AJ. The additive effects of oil exposure and hypoxia on aerobic performance in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 737:140174. [PMID: 32783835 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic scope, the difference between standard metabolic requirements and maximum metabolic capacity, is considered a particularly important metric influencing ecological success in fishes. Crude oil exposure can impair cardiorespiratory function in fishes, which reduces maximum metabolic rate, aerobic scope, and may impair ecological performance. Oil exposure is not the only environmental stressor that can affect aerobic scope, especially in areas affected by crude oil spills. Hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen) is also known to constrain maximum metabolic rate, yet there has been little effort to explore how hypoxia may influence the magnitude of metabolic injury following oil exposure. Therefore, our goal was to investigate the effects of acute oil exposure and hypoxia on the metabolic performance of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), an economically important fish common in the Gulf of Mexico. Here, sub-adult red drum were exposed to crude oil for 24 h before being exposed to hypoxic conditions following exhaustive exercise. Our results show that hypoxia exposure combined with crude oil exposure results in significantly reduced aerobic scope, which was additive compared to the reductions caused by each stressor alone. We also quantified hypoxia tolerance among treatments following exposure, and our results showed no changes to hypoxia tolerance among individuals, regardless of exposure to hypoxia or oil. These data offer insight into the metabolic constraints facing fishes exposed to oil while concurrently subjected to hypoxia, a notable climate change stressor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerri Lynn Ackerly
- The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States of America.
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Reemeyer JE, Rees BB. Plasticity, repeatability and phenotypic correlations of aerobic metabolic traits in a small estuarine fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb.228098. [PMID: 32587069 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.01.072587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), absolute aerobic scope (AAS) and critical oxygen tension (Pcrit) were determined for the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, an ecologically dominant estuarine fish, acclimated to lowered salinity, elevated temperature and lowered oxygen concentration. Acclimation to low salinity resulted in a small, but significant, elevation of Pcrit (suggesting lower tolerance of hypoxia); acclimation to elevated temperature increased SMR, MMR, AAS and Pcrit; acclimation to low oxygen led to a small increase in SMR, but substantial decreases in MMR, AAS and Pcrit Variation in these metabolic traits among individuals was consistent and repeatable when measured during multiple control exposures over 7 months. Trait repeatability was unaffected by acclimation condition, suggesting that repeatability of these traits is not context dependent. There were significant phenotypic correlations between specific metabolic traits: SMR was positively correlated with MMR and Pcrit; MMR was positively correlated with AAS; and AAS was negatively correlated with Pcrit In general, within-individual variation contributed more than among-individual variation to these phenotypic correlations. The effects of acclimation on these traits demonstrate that aerobic metabolism is plastic and influenced by the conditions experienced by these fish in the dynamic habitats in which they occur; however, the repeatability of these traits and the correlations among them suggest that these traits change in ways that maintain the rank order of performance among individuals across a range of environmental variation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Reemeyer
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| | - Bernard B Rees
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Reemeyer JE, Rees BB. Plasticity, repeatability and phenotypic correlations of aerobic metabolic traits in a small estuarine fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb228098. [PMID: 32587069 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.228098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), absolute aerobic scope (AAS) and critical oxygen tension (Pcrit) were determined for the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, an ecologically dominant estuarine fish, acclimated to lowered salinity, elevated temperature and lowered oxygen concentration. Acclimation to low salinity resulted in a small, but significant, elevation of Pcrit (suggesting lower tolerance of hypoxia); acclimation to elevated temperature increased SMR, MMR, AAS and Pcrit; acclimation to low oxygen led to a small increase in SMR, but substantial decreases in MMR, AAS and Pcrit Variation in these metabolic traits among individuals was consistent and repeatable when measured during multiple control exposures over 7 months. Trait repeatability was unaffected by acclimation condition, suggesting that repeatability of these traits is not context dependent. There were significant phenotypic correlations between specific metabolic traits: SMR was positively correlated with MMR and Pcrit; MMR was positively correlated with AAS; and AAS was negatively correlated with Pcrit In general, within-individual variation contributed more than among-individual variation to these phenotypic correlations. The effects of acclimation on these traits demonstrate that aerobic metabolism is plastic and influenced by the conditions experienced by these fish in the dynamic habitats in which they occur; however, the repeatability of these traits and the correlations among them suggest that these traits change in ways that maintain the rank order of performance among individuals across a range of environmental variation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Reemeyer
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| | - Bernard B Rees
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Avey SR, Kennedy CJ, Farrell AP, Gillis TE, Alderman SL. Effects of diluted bitumen exposure on Atlantic salmon smolts: Molecular and metabolic responses in relation to swimming performance. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 221:105423. [PMID: 32006756 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Canada's oil sands industry continues to expand and the volume of diluted bitumen (dilbit) transported across North America is increasing, adding to spill risk and environmental contamination. Dilbit exposure is known to cause adverse effects in fish, but linking molecular and cellular changes with ecologically-relevant individual performance metrics is needed to better understand the potential consequences of a dilbit spill into the aquatic environment. Therefore, this study examined the effects of dilbit exposure on subcellular responses in cardiac and skeletal muscle in relation to swimming performance in a migratory fish species at risk of exposure, Atlantic salmon. Smolts were exposed subchronically to environmentally relevant concentrations of the water-soluble fraction of dilbit (WSFd) for 24 d, and then a subset of exposed fish underwent a depuration period of 7 or 14 d, for a total of 3 experimental time points. At each time point, repeat swimming performance was assessed using sequential critical swimming speed tests (Ucrit) separated by a 24 h rest period, and then several tissues were collected to determine biotransformation enzyme activation, energetic responses, and gene expression changes. Ucrit was unaffected in fish exposed to 67.9 μg/L total initial polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC), but fish showed a decreased reliance on lipid metabolism for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the heart that was maintained through 7 d depuration. In contrast, Ucrit increased in fish exposed to 9.65 μg/L PAC, corresponding to an increased reliance on anaerobic metabolic pathways in cardiac and red skeletal muscle, with partial recovery after 7 d depuration. As expected, at both concentrations WSFd hepatic cyp 1A-mediated biotransformation reactions increased, as measured by EROD activity, which remained elevated for 7 d but not after 14 d depuration. Transcript abundance of cyp1a was also increased in muscle tissue and recovered by 14 d depuration. The expression of other stress-related genes increased in white muscle of dilbit-exposed fish, but were largely unchanged in cardiac and red muscle. The transcriptional profile of cardiac tissue was compared to that of sockeye salmon similarly exposed to WSFd in a previous experiment, and is provided in supplemental text. Combined, these results demonstrate that dilbit exposure alters gene expression and enzyme activities related to xenobiotic exposure, cellular stress, and muscle energetics in juvenile Atlantic salmon without impairing swimming performance, and that most of these changes are recoverable within 14 d depuration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Avey
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher J Kennedy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anthony P Farrell
- Department of Zoology and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Todd E Gillis
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah L Alderman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Pasparakis C, Esbaugh AJ, Burggren W, Grosell M. Impacts of deepwater horizon oil on fish. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 224:108558. [PMID: 31202903 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An explosion on the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil rig in 2010 lead to the largest marine oil spill to occur in US history, resulting in significant impacts to the ecosystems and organisms in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The present review sought to summarize and discuss findings from the 50+ peer-reviewed publications reporting effects of DWH oil exposure on teleost fish, and concludes that oil toxicity is a multi-target, multi-organ syndrome with substantial species-specific sensitivity differences. Of the 15 species tested with characterized exposures, 20% show effects at concentrations <1 μg l-1 while 50% display effects at <8.6 μg l-1 ΣPAH50, concentrations well within the range of reported environmental levels during the spill. Cardiotoxic effects are among the most frequently reported endpoints in DWH oil exposure studies and are thought to have significant downstream effects on fitness and survival. However, additional and possibly cardio-toxic independent impacts on sensory function and behavior are reported at very low exposure concentrations (< 1 μg l-1 ∑PAH50) and are clearly deserving of further study. Available information about modes of action leading to different categories of effects are summarized in the present review. An overview of the literature illustrates that early life stages (ELS) are approximately 1-order of magnitude more sensitive than corresponding later life stages, but also illustrates that adults can be impacted at concentrations as low as 4 μg l-1 ΣPAH50. The majority of studies exploring DWH oil toxicity in fish are performed using acute exposures (1-2 days), mid-range test temperatures (26-28 °C) and measure effects at the molecular to organismal levels, leaving a pressing need for more long-term exposures, exposures at the upper and lower levels of GoM relevant temperatures, and studies investigating population level impacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Pasparakis
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, Fl, USA.
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Warren Burggren
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Martin Grosell
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, Fl, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Armstrong T, Khursigara AJ, Killen SS, Fearnley H, Parsons KJ, Esbaugh AJ. Oil exposure alters social group cohesion in fish. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13520. [PMID: 31534177 PMCID: PMC6751191 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49994-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animal taxa live in groups to increase foraging and reproductive success and aid in predator avoidance. For fish, a large proportion of species spend all or part of their lives in groups, with group coordination playing an important role in the emergent benefits of group-living. Group cohesion can be altered by an array of factors, including exposure to toxic environmental contaminants. Oil spills are one of the most serious forms of pollution in aquatic systems, and while a range of effects of acute oil exposure on animal physiology have been demonstrated, sub-lethal effects on animal behavior are relatively under-studied. Here we used an open-field behavioral assay to explore influence of acute oil exposure on social behavior in a gregarious fish native to the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). We used two oil concentrations (0.7% and 2% oil dilution, or 6.0 ± 0.9 and 32.9 ± 5.9 μg l-1 ΣPAH50 respectively) and assays were performed when all members of a group were exposed, when only one member was exposed, and when no individuals were exposed. Shoal cohesion, as assessed via mean neighbor distance, showed significant impairment following acute exposure to 2% oil. Fish in oil-exposed groups also showed reduced voluntary movement speed. Importantly, overall group cohesion was disrupted when even one fish within a shoal was exposed to 2% oil, and the behavior of unexposed in mixed groups, in terms of movement speed and proximity to the arena wall, was affected by the presence of these exposed fish. These results demonstrate that oil exposure can have adverse effects on fish behavior that may lead to reduced ecological success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Armstrong
- University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Alexis J Khursigara
- University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, 78373, USA.
| | - Shaun S Killen
- University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Hannah Fearnley
- University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Kevin J Parsons
- University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, 78373, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Khursigara AJ, Ackerly KL, Esbaugh AJ. Oil toxicity and implications for environmental tolerance in fish. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 220:52-61. [PMID: 30878452 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Crude oil and its constituent chemicals are common environmental toxicants in aquatic environments worldwide, and have been the subject of intense research for decades. Importantly, aquatic environments are also the sites of numerous other environmental disturbances that can impact the endemic fauna. While there have been a number of attempts to explore the potential additive and synergistic effects of oil exposure and environmental stressors, many of these efforts have focused on the cumulative effects on typical toxicological endpoints (e.g. survival, growth, reproduction and cellular damage). Fewer studies have investigated the impact that oil exposure may have on the ability of exposed animals to tolerate typically encountered environmental stressors, despite the fact that this is an important consideration when placing oil spills in an ecological context. Here we review the available data and highlight potentially understudied areas relating to how oil exposure may impair organismal responses to common environmental stressors in fishes. We focused on four common environmental stressors in aquatic environments - hypoxia, temperature, salinity and acid-base disturbances - while also considering social stress and impacts on the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis. Overall, we believe the evidence supports treating the impacts of oil exposure on environmental tolerance as an independent endpoint of toxicity in fishes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Khursigara
- The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channelview Drive, Port Aransas, TX, USA.
| | - Kerri L Ackerly
- The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channelview Drive, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channelview Drive, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Nelson JA, Kraskura K, Lipkey GK. Repeatability of Hypoxia Tolerance of Individual Juvenile Striped Bass Morone saxatilis and Effects of Social Status. Physiol Biochem Zool 2019; 92:396-407. [PMID: 31141466 DOI: 10.1086/704010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Chesapeake Bay is the primary nursery for striped bass (Morone saxatilis), which are increasingly being exposed to hypoxic waters. Tolerance to hypoxia in fish is generally determined by a single exposure of an isolated individual or by exposing large groups of conspecifics to hypoxia without regard to social status. The importance of social context in determining physiological responses to stressors is being increasingly recognized. To determine whether social interactions influence hypoxia tolerance (HT) in striped bass, loss of equilibrium HT was assessed in the same fish while manipulating the social environment around it. Small group settings were used to be more representative of the normal sociality experienced by this species than the paired encounters typically used. After establishing the dominance hierarchy within a group of fish, HT was determined collectively for the individuals in that group, and then new groups were constructed from the same pool of fish. Individuals could then be followed across multiple settings for both repeatability of HT and hierarchy position ( X ¯ = 4.2 ± 0.91 SD groups per individual). HT increased with repeated exposures to hypoxia ( P < 0.001 ), with a significant increase by a third exposure ( P = 0.004 ). Despite this changing HT, rank order of HT was significantly repeatable across trials for 6 mo ( P = 0.012 ). Social status was significantly repeatable across trials of different group composition ( P = 0.02 ) and unrelated to growth rate but affected HT weakly in a complex interaction with size. Final HT was significantly correlated with blood [hemoglobin] and hematocrit. The repeatability and large intraspecific variance of HT in juvenile striped bass suggest that HT is potentially an important determinant of Darwinian fitness in an increasingly hypoxic Chesapeake Bay.
Collapse
|
18
|
Johansen JL, Esbaugh AJ. Oil-induced responses of cardiac and red muscle mitochondria in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 219:35-41. [PMID: 30738211 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Acute exposure to crude oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) can severely impair cardiorespiratory function and swim performance of larval, juvenile and adult fish. Interestingly, recent work has documented an oil induced decoupling of swim performance (Ucrit) and maximum metabolic rate (MMR) whereby oil causes a decline in Ucrit without a parallel reduction in MMR. We hypothesize that this uncoupling is due to impaired mitochondrial function in swimming muscles that results in increased proton leak, and thus less ATP generated per unit oxygen. Using high resolution mitochondrial respirometry, we assessed 11 metrics of mitochondrial performance in red and cardiac muscle from permeabilized fibers isolated from red drum following control or 24 h crude oil (high energy water accommodated fractions) exposure. Two experimental series were performed, a Deepwater Horizon relevant low dose (29.6 ± 7.4 μg L-1 ∑PAH50) and a proof-of-concept high dose (64.5 ± 8.9 μg L-1 ∑PAH50). No effects were observed on any mitochondrial parameter in either tissue at the low oil dose; however, high dose exposure provided evidence of impairment in the OXPHOS respiratory control ratio and OXPHOS spare capacity in red muscle following oil exposure, as well as a shift from Complex I to Complex II during OXPHOS respiration. No effects of the high dose oil treatment were observed in cardiac muscle. As such, mitochondrial dysfunction is unlikely to be the underlying mechanism for decoupling of Ucrit and MMR following acute oil exposure in red drum. Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction does not appear to be a relevant toxicological impairment in juvenile red drum with respect to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, although impairments may be observed under higher dose exposure scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J L Johansen
- University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA.
| | - A J Esbaugh
- University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Bautista NM, Pothini T, Meng K, Burggren WW. Behavioral consequences of dietary exposure to crude oil extracts in the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2019; 207:34-42. [PMID: 30513419 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Uptake by fishes of crude oil and its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) components occurs via gills, dietary intake, or diffusion through the skin. Dietary exposure to crude oil and its components is environmentally relevant, and induces physiological and morphological disruptions in fish. However, the impacts of crude oil on fish social and reproductive behaviors and thus the possible influences on reproductive success are poorly understood. As a part of their intraspecific interactions, male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) exhibit highly stereotypic behavioral and territorial displays. This makes this species a tractable model for testing crude oil effects on behavior. After 2 weeks of acclimation at 29 °C, male adult betta fish were divided into three groups and fed for 4 weeks with food spiked with water (control), low oil concentrations or high oil concentrations (∑Total PAH concentrations 340, 3960 or 8820 ng/g dw, respectively) to determine subsequent alterations in behavioral displays. Compared with control fish, the aggressive display of "opercular flaring" was significantly increased (P < 0.03, n = 14-16) in oil-exposed fish. Bubble nest building, as well as testis and brain mass, were significantly reduced in treated fish (P < 0.05). Hematocrit of treated groups was increased significantly (P < 0.02) from 21% in control fish to ∼27% in both oil exposure groups. Dietary exposure over a 4-week period to low, relevant levels of crude oil thus leads to an increase in aggressive behavioral displays, a decrease in reproductive activity and additional morphological changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naim M Bautista
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas,1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX, 76203-5017, USA.
| | - Tanushri Pothini
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas,1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX, 76203-5017, USA
| | - Kelly Meng
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas,1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX, 76203-5017, USA
| | - Warren W Burggren
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas,1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX, 76203-5017, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Khursigara AJ, Johansen JL, Esbaugh AJ. Social competition in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is influenced by crude oil exposure. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 203:194-201. [PMID: 30165313 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined impacts of crude oil exposure on dyad competition in juvenile red drum. Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it has become well established that oil exposure can constrain maximum metabolic rate, reduce aerobic scope and exercise performance in marine fish. Aerobic scope is one of the physiological characteristics that is a known determinant of dominance in fish social hierarchy formation. As such, oil exposure may predispose individuals to subordinate social status, complete with the concomitant ecological costs. We tested this hypothesis on the gregarious Gulf of Mexico species, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Using a standard dyad, one-on-one, test design, we first assessed the parameters - including size and aerobic scope- that predict social dominance. Of the tested parameters, only aerobic scope was predictive of social dominance, with dominant individuals consistently having higher aerobic scopes than subordinates. Hierarchy formation between individuals exposed to one of two oil concentrations (5.7 ± 0.5 and 9.0 ± 0.2 μg l-1 ΣPAH50) and unexposed conspecifics were then investigated. As hypothesized, fish exposed to both oil concentrations were more likely to be subordinate than what would occur by random chance. These results demonstrate that the physiological constraints imposed by oil exposure can affect social status and behavior in fishes, which can have downstream consequences for ecological fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Khursigara
- The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, Tx 78373, USA.
| | - Jacob L Johansen
- Marine Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, Tx 78373, USA
| |
Collapse
|