Live Fast and Die Young: Metal Effects on Condition and Physiology of Wild Yellow Perch from along Two Metal Contamination Gradients

ABSTRACT

This review summarizes some of the main findings of our work with the Metals in the Environment Research Network examining seasonal and regional effects on metal accumulation, growth, condition, and physiology in wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from 10 lakes comprising two metal contamination gradients in the industrial regions of Sudbury, Ontario and Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada. The specific objectives of this review are: (1) to propose threshold tissue metal concentrations to discriminate between fish from contaminated and reference sites; (2) to identify factors that can influence metal accumulation and fish condition; and (3) to define an experimental approach for measuring metal effects in wild yellow perch. Using tissue thresholds appeared useful not only for discriminating fish from clean or contaminated environments, but also provided a simple approach to examine metabolic consequences of tissue metal accumulation. Overall, fish from Sudbury grew faster, expressed higher aerobic capacities, and died younger, but also appeared better at limiting accumulation of some metals than Rouyn-Noranda fish. The condition of the latter fish was clearly more affected by metals than Sudbury fish. Finally, our dataset allows us to propose that yellow perch are highly suitable for ecological risk assessment studies of metal effects in wild fish, but that fish size, season, and region must be considered in sampling design and that several reference sites must be studied for meaningful conclusions to be reached.

Key Words:

• wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
• seasonal and regional variation
• tissue metal concentration thresholds
• metabolic enzyme activity
• longevity
• fish condition

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by a grant from the Metals in the Environment Research Network (Project C5) to PG and GP as well as by NSERC Discovery funding to PC. The authors thank the following people for their tireless efforts in the laboratory and field: Mehran Bakhtiari, Patrick Busby, Charles Gauthier, James Rajotte, Renée Stewart, and Joëlle Violette. The manuscript was greatly improved by useful comments from two anonymous referees.

Notes

*1 IU = 1 μ mol substrate converted to product per minute.

*1 IU = 1 μ mol substrate converted to product per minute.