Sex effect on polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish: a synthesis
Fish and Fisheries
By: C.P. Madenjian
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Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) accumulate in fish primarily via food intake, and therefore, PCBs serve as a chemical tracer for food consumption. Sex differences in PCB concentrations of fish have been attributed to the following three mechanisms: (i) females losing a substantial portion of their PCB body burden during spawning and consequently their PCB concentration is considerably reduced immediately after spawning; (ii) sex differences in habitat utilization leading to sex differences in the PCB concentrations of the prey; and (iii) sex differences in gross growth efficiency, which is defined as growth divided by the amount of food consumption needed to achieve that growth. Based on my analyses and synthesis, mechanisms (i) and (ii) operate in relatively few fish populations, but can lead to mature males having PCB concentrations two to three times higher than mature female PCB concentrations. In contrast, mechanism (iii) operates in all fish populations, but typically, mechanism (iii) results in relatively modest sex differences, with mature males only between 15 and 35% higher in PCB concentration than mature females. In summary, the study of sex differences in PCB concentrations of fish has led to insights into fish behaviour and fish physiology.
Suggested Citation
Madenjian, C., 2011, Sex effect on polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish: a synthesis: Fish and Fisheries, v. 12, no. 4, p. 451-460, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2011.00414.x.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Sex effect on polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish: a synthesis |
| Series title | Fish and Fisheries |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1467-2979.2011.00414.x |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Publication Date | February 15, 2011 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Publisher location | Hoboken, NJ |
| Contributing office(s) | Great Lakes Science Center |
| Description | 10 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Fish and Fisheries |
| First page | 451 |
| Last page | 460 |