Effects of aluminum and pH on the early life stages of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui)

doi:10.1016/0043-1354(87)90073-X

Water Research

Volume 21, Issue 6, June 1987, Pages 633-639

https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(87)90073-X Get rights and content

Abstract

The sensitivity of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui to acidified conditions was examined by exposing recently-hatched fish to pH levels ranging from 5.1 to 7.5 and aluminum concentrations ranging from 32 to 1000 μg l⁻¹. The range of pH and aluminum concentrations included those found in the northern part of the species' range. Acute bioassays (96 h) conducted at a pH of 5.1 and aluminum concentrations ⩾ 180 μgl⁻¹ resulted in total mortality. The LC₅₀ calculated for this species was 130 μg l⁻¹. At pH values of 6.1 and 7.5, mortality was low (⩽ 20%) regardless of aluminum concentrations. A 30-day chronic toxicity test was conducted at three pH levels (low 5.1, intermediate 5.5–5.7 and high 7.3), each with two aluminum concentrations (approx. 0 and 200 μg l⁻¹). Survival was significantly lower in the test at pH 5.1 with aluminum, and at pH 5.7 with aluminum treatments than in the other treatments. Fish in the pH 5.1 without aluminum treatment had intermediate survival, while fish exposed to pH 5.7 without aluminum, pH 7.3 without aluminum and pH 7.3 with aluminum had high, and similar, survival. Sublethal effects on fish exposed to low pH and aluminum included deformities, reduced activity and abnormal swimming behavior. We conclude that the sensitivity of smallmouth bass to low pH and aluminum concentrations corroborates field investigations linking acidification and aluminum mobilization with depletion of smallmouth bass populations.

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Cited by (20)

Comparison of the responses of the yolk-sac fry of pike (Esox lucius) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) to low pH and aluminium: Sodium influx, development and activity
2000, Aquatic Toxicology
The responses of acidic water and aluminium on the newly-hatched yolk-sac fry of an acid-tolerant species, pike, and acid-sensitive species, roach were compared using 1–10-day exposures. Test solutions were made either in lake water (LW) with moderate ion content or in artificial water (AW) with low ion content ([Ca²⁺] 0.12 and 0.034 mmol l⁻¹, respectively). Roach fry died at pH 5.25 or below in the LW, being more sensitive in Al-containing water. There was a reduction in the exchangeable body Na⁺ concentration of roach concurrent with a reduction in the number of swimming fry in the Al concentration of 50 μg l⁻¹ or higher at pHs 6.7, 5.75, and 5.25 in a 1-day test in the AW. Although pH down to 4.0 and Al concentrations up to 600 μg l⁻¹ caused only partial mortality in pike during a 10-day exposure in LW, various sublethal effects augmented by Al were obvious. In addition to decreased swimming activity, the rates of ventilation, oxygen uptake, yolk absorption and growth as well as sodium influx (J_in^Na) were reduced. The initial J_in^Na in the control in roach was over three times higher than in pike. This difference may render roach more sensitive to low pH and Al. The J_in^Na of roach was unable to recover from a 92% inhibition at pH 5.00+Al (200 μg l⁻¹) in LW, whereas the J_in^Na in pike recovered almost totally by day 9 at pH 4.00 without Al, and considerably at pH 4.75+Al (600 μg l⁻¹) from 88 and 91% reductions, which in terms of molar fluxes were actually a quarter of the inhibition in roach. Both pike at pH 4.75 or 5.00 and roach at pH 5.75 in LW, if Al was not added, were able to increase the J_in^Na and O₂ uptake above the control levels (probably to compensate for the increased Na⁺ efflux). Although the percentage inhibition of J_in^Na in a 1-day exposure to Al concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg l⁻¹ at pH 5.0 in AW was similar in both species, the molar reduction of J_in^Na was over three times higher in roach than in pike. High tolerance of pike yolk-sac fry to acidic Al-containing water is concluded to be interrelated to a low ion exchange rate as compared to acid-sensitive roach. The reduction in metabolism in Al-containing water further reduces ion loss and might provide even longer survival of pike yolk-sac fry.
Effect of acid stress on the embryonic development of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
1991, Aquatic Toxicology
Sensitivity of eggs and sac fry of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) to pH levels in the range of 4.5 to 7.5 was assessed up to 117 h after fertilization. Studied parameters were rate of embryonic development, time and duration of hatching, and spinal cord deformation. In the pH range between 4.75 and 5.2 egg mortality was highest and a delay in the rate of embryonic development and hatching was observed in the surviving embryos. A strong increase of spinal cord deformation of sac fry occurred in the lower pH ranges (pH 5.5-4.75). Common carp appeared to be more sensitive to acid stress than many other species of fish.
Metal bioavailability and toxicity to fish in low-alkalinity lakes: A critical review
1991, Environmental Pollution
Fish in low-alkalinity lakes having pH of 6·0–6·5 or less often have higher body or tissue burdens of mercury, cadmium, and lead than do fish in nearby lakes with higher pH. The greater bioaccumulation of these metals in such waters seems to result partly from the greater aqueous abundances of biologically available forms (CH₃ Hg⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺) at low pH. In addition, the low concentrations of aqueous calcium in low-alkalinity lakes increase the permeability of biological membranes to these metals, which in fish may cause greater uptake from both water and food. Fish exposed to aqueous inorganic aluminum in the laboratory and field accumulate the metal in and on the epithelial cells of the gills; however, there is little accumulation of aluminum in the blood or internal organs. In low-pH water, both sublethal and lethal toxicity of aluminum has been clearly demonstrated in both laboratory and field studies at environmental concentrations. In contrast, recently measured aqueous concentrations of total mercury, methylmercury, cadmium, and lead in low-alkalinity lakes are much lower than the aqueous concentrations known to cause acute or chronic toxicity in fish, although the vast majority of toxicological research has involved waters with much higher ionic strength than that in low-alkalinity lakes. Additional work with fish is needed to better assess (1) the toxicity of aqueous metals in low-alkalinity waters, and (2) the toxicological significance of dietary methylmercury and cadmium.
Metabolic response of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes kadiakensis Rathbun, to acute exposure of sublethal changes in pH
1990, Aquatic Toxicology
The effects of sublethal changes in environmental pH on the grass shrimp Palaemonetes kadiakensis were determined using changes in metabolic rate and critical oxygen concentration as indicators of stress. Oxygen consumption was measured using a computer automated intermittent flow respirometer which allowed multiple sampling of a single individual without exposing it to prolonged oxygen stress. Metabolic rate and critical oxygen concentration were determined using a quadratic model with plateau nonlinear regression procedure. Sublethal changes in pH (6.5, 9.0) did not have a significant effect on metabolic rate. Temporary disturbances in hemolymph acid-base status caused by acute pH stress, may not elicit a metabolic response when not accompanied by necrosis of the gill epithelium. There was an effect of pH on critical oxygen concentration, with pH 6.5 significantly higher than the control (pH 7.8), and pH 9.0 significantly lower than the control. Shifts in critical oxygen concentration were attributed to changes in blood oxygen affinity caused by hemolymph acidosis or alkalosis.
Acute sensitivity of early life stages of fathead minnow (pimephales promelas) to acid and aluminum
1989, Water Research
Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) 1-d post-hatch larvae, 12-d post-hatch larvae, and 4-wk post-hatch juveniles were exposed to combinations of acid and inorganic aluminum (Al) for 96 h in the laboratory. Life stages were exposed, under flow-through conditions, to four nominal pH levels: 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 (control) and five nominal Al concentrations: 0 (control), 50, 100, 200, 400 μg/l in fresh water with a total hardness of 20–24 mg/l as CaCO₃. Theoretical speciation of the measured total dissolved monomeric Al was performed in order to estimate the toxic forms of Al. The ranking of life stage sensitivities to acid alone was 1-d larvae, most sensitive, followed by 12-d larvae and juveniles. At pH 4.5, all three stages exhibited 100% mortality in all Al treatments and controls. At pH 5.5, 90–100% mortality occurred in all but the 50 μg/l Al treatment and the no Al control. At that pH, hydroxoid species of Al were the predominate forms of the total dissolved monomeric aluminum. At pH 6.5 and 7.5, Al was not toxic to the 1-d larvae and juveniles, but the mortality of 12-d larvae exposed to Al (predominately hydroxy species) ranged from 18 to 68% with no clear dose response.
Deformities in fish: A barrier for responsible aquaculture and sustainable fisheries
2024, Reviews in Aquaculture

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^†: Contribution from the Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Missouri Department of Conservation; School of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Missouri; and Wildlife Management Institute, cooperating).

^∗: Present address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Ecological Services, P.O. Box 729, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, U.S.A.

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Abstract

References (34)

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) growth at reduced pH

Aquaculture

Chronic effect of low pH on fathead minnow survival, growth and reproduction

Wat. Res.

A simplified dosing apparatus for fish toxicological studies

Wat. Res.

Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater

Aluminum toxicity to fish in acidic waters

Wat. Air Soil Pollut.

Lethal pH for the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede)

Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.

Acidification of lakes in Canada by acid precipitation and the resulting effects on fishes

Wat. Air Soil Pollut.

Lower lethal levels of pH for embryos and alevins of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Can. J. Zool.

Properties of acidified waters

Aqueous speciation of aluminum in the Adirondack region of New York State, U.S.A.

Effect of aluminum speciation on fish in dilute acidified waters

Nature

Toxicity of aluminum hydroxide complexes in neutral and basic media to rainbow trout

Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.

A review of some physiological and toxicological responses of freshwater fish to acid stress

Envir. Biol. Fishes

Fish kills in two moderately acid lakes due to high aluminum concentration

A regional survey of chemistry of headwater streams in New England: vulnerability to acidification

Widespread and diverse changes in the biota of North American lakes and rivers coincident with acidification

Cited by (20)

Comparison of the responses of the yolk-sac fry of pike (Esox lucius) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) to low pH and aluminium: Sodium influx, development and activity

Effect of acid stress on the embryonic development of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Metal bioavailability and toxicity to fish in low-alkalinity lakes: A critical review

Metabolic response of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes kadiakensis Rathbun, to acute exposure of sublethal changes in pH

Acute sensitivity of early life stages of fathead minnow (pimephales promelas) to acid and aluminum

Deformities in fish: A barrier for responsible aquaculture and sustainable fisheries