Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos

Freshwater Biology
By: , and 

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Abstract

  1. Cisco (Otoonapii in Ojibwe; Coregonus artedi Lesueur, 1818), is a widely distributed stenothermic freshwater fish whose embryos typically incubate under ice and in the dark. We used Cisco as a model organism for testing the potential of UV-induced escape hatching behaviour. Owing to reduced ice cover and increased water transparency in north temperate lakes, these experiments provide insights into the resilience of coregonine embryos if exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UV-B; 280–320 nm).
  2. Eyed Cisco embryos were exposed to artificially sourced UV-B through a series of experiments that measured the hatching rate and fitness (heart rate and pigmentation pattern) 2 days after hatching and under cold [6.6°C] and warm [8.6°C] conditions.
  3. These experiments supported an extension of the escape hatching behaviour hypothesis, whereby UV-B exposure induced earlier (ca 30 days) and more punctuated hatching of Cisco embryos, independent of an increase in water temperature. UV-B exposure produced more larvae with irregular pigmentation patterns and reduced heart rates (by about 20%) – both of which could be indicative of reduced fitness.
  4. UV-induced escape hatching adusts the fundamental framework in which we characterise fish embryo resilience to increased UV-B exposure and the potential consequences of reduced ice cover. Earlier hatching from UV-B exposure could increase the recruitment bottleneck of these fish by reducing survivorship of the post-hatched larvae.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos
Series title Freshwater Biology
DOI 10.1111/FWB.70031
Volume 70
Issue 5
Publication Date April 29, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center, National Climate Adaptation Science Center
Description e70031, 11 p.
Country United States
State Minnesota
Other Geospatial Lake Koronis
Additional publication details