Monitoring of wild fish health at selected sites in the Great Lakes Basin: methods and preliminary results

Open-File Report 2014-1027
Prepared in Cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
By: , and 

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Abstract

During fall 2010 and spring 2011, a total of 119 brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), 136 white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), 73 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and 59 largemouth bass (M. salmoides) were collected from seven Great Lakes Basin Areas of Concern and one Reference Site. Comprehensive fish health assessments were conducted in order to document potential adverse affects from exposure to complex chemical mixtures. Fish were necropsied on site, blood samples obtained, pieces of liver, spleen, kidney, gill and any abnormalities placed in fixative for histopathology. Liver samples were saved for gene expression analysis and otoliths were removed for aging. A suite of fish health indicators was developed and implemented for site comparisons and to document seasonal effects and species differences in response to environmental conditions. Organism level (grossly visible lesions, condition factor), tissue level (microscopic pathology, organosomatic indices, micronuclei, and other nuclear abnormalities), plasma factors (reproductive steroid hormones, vitellogenin), and molecular (gene expression) indicators were included. This report describes the methods and preliminary results.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Monitoring of wild fish health at selected sites in the Great Lakes Basin: methods and preliminary results
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2014-1027
DOI 10.3133/ofr20141027
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New Jersey Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 31 p.; Appendix 1
Country United States
Other Geospatial Great Lakes Basin
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details