Validation of otolith growth rate analysis using cadmium‐exposed larval topsmelt (Atherinops affinis)

Abstract

We applied otolith growth rate analysis to an investigation of cadmium (Cd)-exposed larval topsmelt (Atherinops affinis) to determine if growth rate was a more sensitive measure than somatic growth (body wt or length). Topsmelt otoliths, calcareous concretions in the fish inner ear, formed daily increments, and otolith growth was proportional to somatic growth. Nine-day posthatch larval topsmelt were exposed to Cd (0-100 ppb) in seawater for 14 d and fed low or high ration levels in separate experiments. Whereas Cd impaired topsmelt growth and growth rates, the extent of growth reduction was dependent on the ration level. At high ration levels, otolith and somatic growth rates of fish exposed to Cd (50 and 100 ppb) were significantly reduced; however, no differences in final mean weight and only marginal differences in final mean length of Cd-exposed topsmelt were observed. At low ration levels, we detected reductions in both somatic growth as well as otolith and somatic growth rates of topsmelt exposed to Cd (50 and 100 ppb). Otolith growth rate analysis was more sensitive than growth measurements of Cd-exposed topsmelt, because it allowed the detection of small differences in growth rates even when differences in somatic growth were not observed.

Development and application of the adverse outcome pathway framework for understanding and predicting chronic toxicity: II. A focus on growth impairment in fish

“…3. Exposure to Cd was documented to cause growth impairment in a variety of fish species, including brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) (Eaton et al, 1978), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) (Rombaugh and Garside, 1982;Peterson et al, 1983), rainbow trout (Woodworth and Pascoe, 1982;Ricard et al, 1998;Heydarnejad et al, 2013), white sucker (Catostomus comersoni) and common shiner (Notropis cornutus) (Borgmann and Ralph, 1986), guppy (Miliou et al, 1998), bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) (Hansen et al, 2002b), topsmelt (Atherinops affinis) (Rose et al, 2005(Rose et al, , 2006, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (Reynders et al, 2006), brown trout (Salmo trutta) (Brinkman and Hansen, 2007), European eel (Anguilla anguilla) (Pierron et al, 2007), silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) (Benaduce et al, 2008), red sea bream (Pagrus major) (Cao et al, 2009), Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) (Cao et al, 2010) and ide (Leuciscus idus) (Witeska et al, 2014). In Aphanius fasciatus collected in the field, a high accumulation of Cd associated with a decreased growth rate and condition index was observed (Kessabi et al, 2013).…”

“…For example, Cd toxicity was shown to decrease in media with higher hardness (Hansen et al, 2002a,b;Brinkman and Hansen, 2007;Benaduce et al, 2008) and increase under hypoxic conditions (Hattlink et al, 2005). In regard to toxicity outcomes, environmentally relevant factors, such as food limitation, have been shown to affect the degree of Cd toxicity (Rose et al, 2005).…”

From ‘Omics to Otoliths: Responses of an Estuarine Fish to Endocrine Disrupting Compounds across Biological Scales

“…Although measurement of growth rate using otoliths is rarely performed in toxicological studies, they have been shown in one study to be a more sensitive measure of growth than merely focusing on somatic changes [70]. To our knowledge, otoliths have not been used to compare the growth rates of fish exposed to different types of EDCs, which may modify growth via interactions with the insulin-like growth factor system [71].…”

Likely Population-Level Effects of Contaminants on a Resident Estuarine Fish Species: Comparing Gillichthys mirabilis Population Static Measurements and Vital Rates in San Francisco and Tomales Bays

“…Fishes at four salt marsh study sites with varying contaminant levels in SFB and Tomales Bay (TB; Fig. 1, Rose et al 2005;Anderson et al 2006;Bano et al 2007) were examined for immune response to contaminant exposure. Individuals from more contaminated habitats exhibited poor liver quality and high levels of apoptosis (programmed cell death, Anderson et al 2006).…”