Concentrations of Organochlorine Substances in Relation to Fish Size and Trophic Position:  A Study on Perch (Perca fluviatilis L.)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of trophic position as a determinant of the concentrations of organochlorine substances (OCS) in fish. Perch (Perca fluvatilis) was selected since the species increases in trophic level over the course of its lifetime. The trophic position was characterized by stable isotope analysis of nitrogen and gut content. Perch (130 individuals) of different lengths and of both sexes were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides. There were no pronounced differences in the OCS concentrations between the perch sexes. Perch up to a length of 20 cm did not show any increase in OCS concentrations with increased length, despite a pronounced increase in trophic position. Thus, the trophic position cannot explain the observed concentrations of OCS in smaller perch. In perch >20 cm, the levels of all analytes increased with length or trophic position. The magnitude of the concentration increase was positively correlated with the lipophilicity of the substance. The increase of OCS concentrations in the large perch is explained by physiological changes leading to slower OCS clearance or by such changes in combination with higher OCS intake due to higher trophic position.

Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Residues in Fish from Nové Mlýny Reservoirs Along Dyje River, Czech Republic

“…This fact was in contradiction to findings of other authors (Harding et al 1997;Olsson et al 2000;Ueno et al 2002).…”

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in freshwater fish from Taihu Lake, China: Their levels and the factors that influence biomagnification

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Evidence for estrogenic endocrine disruption in an offshore flatfish, the dab (Limanda limanda L.)

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