A Pilot Study of the Effects of Contaminants on Shiner Surf Perch in

the San Francisco Bay-Estuary

An update-November 22, 2005

Robert Spies, AMSRobert Spies, AMS

Kathrine Springman, UC Davis Kathrine Springman, UC Davis

Spring 2005Spring 2005

Problem

Populations of many fish in the SF Populations of many fish in the SF Estuary are in a long-term decline.Estuary are in a long-term decline.

There are many possible causes of the There are many possible causes of the this decline including habitat loss, this decline including habitat loss, harvest, introduced species and harvest, introduced species and contaminants.contaminants.

Contaminants probably are having a Contaminants probably are having a negative effect.negative effect.

Early gametogenesis:yolk

Late gametogenesis:

Internal fertilization

females males

implantation

gestation

birth

Recreational fishing

Habitat damage

Disease resistance

Growth

Mating

Foraging

sewage, street runoff, atmospheric sources, et.c

PAHorganophos-phatepesticidespharma-ceuticals,DDTs, PCBs, chlorinatedpesticides,carbamatepesticides

Breeding population

Conceptual model for shiner surf perch declines

Objective Determine if shiner surfperch (Cymatogaster

aggregata; Embiotocidae) show effects of contamination on some aspect of their fitness, growth or reproduction.

Strategy2005: 2005: 1.1. Field studies relating exposure to growth, fitness Field studies relating exposure to growth, fitness

and reproduction.and reproduction.2.2. Analyze data; reformulate hypotheses.Analyze data; reformulate hypotheses.3.3. Gather archived data.Gather archived data.2006: 2006: 1.1. Follow-up field studiesFollow-up field studies******2.2. Laboratory exposure experiments ?Laboratory exposure experiments ?3.3. Evaluate modeling feasibility.Evaluate modeling feasibility.4.4. Reporting.Reporting.

Field studies-2005 Collect 20+ fish each from 2 contaminated; 1 Collect 20+ fish each from 2 contaminated; 1

less-contaminated sites.less-contaminated sites. Measurements: length, weight, sex, no. Measurements: length, weight, sex, no.

young, growth of young.young, growth of young. Analyses: organic chemicals (carcass), Analyses: organic chemicals (carcass),

P4501A (adult liver,viscera of young).P4501A (adult liver,viscera of young). EROD (liver), Vtg, histopathology (gills, liver, EROD (liver), Vtg, histopathology (gills, liver,

heart).heart). Mother-vs-offspring measures: P4501A, Mother-vs-offspring measures: P4501A,

Some histopathology.Some histopathology.

Progress to date Collected 36 adults in 10 seine hauls from Collected 36 adults in 10 seine hauls from

Oakland Middle Harbor (5/9/05) .Oakland Middle Harbor (5/9/05) . Collected 10 fish from IEP station 106 in northern Collected 10 fish from IEP station 106 in northern

portion of south Bay (5/10/05).portion of south Bay (5/10/05). Collected 26 fish in 15 seine hauls from State Park Collected 26 fish in 15 seine hauls from State Park

Beach at Candlestick Park, So. San Francisco Beach at Candlestick Park, So. San Francisco (5/11/05).(5/11/05).

Collected 72 fish in 2 seine hauls at Big River Collected 72 fish in 2 seine hauls at Big River estuary, Mendocino County (5/14/05).estuary, Mendocino County (5/14/05).

All fish measured, weighed, dissected, sexed, All fish measured, weighed, dissected, sexed, young counted and weighed, tissues stored.young counted and weighed, tissues stored.

Progress to date (cont’d) Endocrine disrupting chemicals a strong Endocrine disrupting chemicals a strong

possibility:carry out egg protein analysespossibility:carry out egg protein analyses– All fish livers tested were immunopositive for Vtg All fish livers tested were immunopositive for Vtg

antibodyantibody– Carried out ECarried out E22 injection study injection study

Preliminary observations All of the fish caught in SF Bay were sexually mature. All of the fish caught in SF Bay were sexually mature.

Smaller fish >8 g from Big River were generally not Smaller fish >8 g from Big River were generally not sexually mature.sexually mature.

All female fish from SF Bay were pregnant except 2 large All female fish from SF Bay were pregnant except 2 large females from Candlestick.females from Candlestick.

Sex ratio more skewed in SF Bay towards females. Big Sex ratio more skewed in SF Bay towards females. Big River: 50% female; Oakland Middle Harbor: 61%; River: 50% female; Oakland Middle Harbor: 61%; Candlestick Park: 69%.Candlestick Park: 69%.

The incubating juveniles from SF Bay were further The incubating juveniles from SF Bay were further developed than those of pregnant females from Big River.developed than those of pregnant females from Big River.

Big River was colder than SF Bay.Big River was colder than SF Bay. Big River fish are exposed to p4501A inducersBig River fish are exposed to p4501A inducers

EROD Activity, Surfperch 2005

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Oakland MiddleHarbor, male

(5)

Oakland MiddleHarbor, female

(14)

CandlestickPark, male (3)

CandlestickPark, female

(10)

Big River, male(8)

Big River,female (10)

Site, gender

ER

OD

Me

an

(p

mo

l/m

g/m

in)

Offspring

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Candlestick Big River Oakland

Nu

mb

er

of

Off

sp

rin

g

Variation in Offspring Size

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Candlestick Big River Oakland

Co

eff

icie

nt

of

Va

ria

tio

n

Weight per Offspring

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Candlestick Big River Oakland

Weig

ht

(g)

Preliminary results (cont’d) Livers of All field fish tested strongly positive Livers of All field fish tested strongly positive

with 2 anti-bodies: anti-salmon (Biosense) with 2 anti-bodies: anti-salmon (Biosense) and anti-herring (BML).and anti-herring (BML).

48-hr E48-hr E22 injection experiment with 5 mg kg injection experiment with 5 mg kg-1-1 to to induce ZRP; uninjected controls, solvent induce ZRP; uninjected controls, solvent control, injected w Econtrol, injected w E22. YOY fish from Big . YOY fish from Big River were used. Plasma of injected fish and River were used. Plasma of injected fish and controls reacted with anti-herring, but not controls reacted with anti-herring, but not anti-salmon.anti-salmon.

No reliable anti-body identified yet.No reliable anti-body identified yet.

Priorities for additional work in 2005

1.Collect POCIS/SPMD samples for confirmation of 2006 sampling site selection.

2. Chemical analyses of POCIS/SPMD contents.

3. If surfperch present sample and test blood of males for ZRPs.

SPMD BasicsSPMD Basics Passive samplerPassive sampler Time-integratedTime-integrated Media-neutral Media-neutral

(water, air, soil, (water, air, soil, sediment)sediment)

Lipophilic Lipophilic compounds at compounds at trace levels; trace levels; environmentally environmentally relevantrelevant

SPMD Basics: More SPMD Basics: More AdvantagesAdvantages

Mimics bioconcentration Mimics bioconcentration

processprocess

No metabolism of sorbateNo metabolism of sorbate

Not susceptible to Not susceptible to

environmental effects or environmental effects or

pathogenspathogens

Well-documented, Well-documented,

standardized standardized

Factors that affect SPMDs: Temperature: less problematic than some factorsTemperature: less problematic than some factors

Flow: greatest impactFlow: greatest impact Biofouling: impedes contact, hard to controlBiofouling: impedes contact, hard to control

SPMD Standard ProcessingSPMD Standard Processing

SPMD : Remove biofoulantsSPMD : Remove biofoulants

Hexane dialysisHexane dialysis

Dialysate: Concentration, GPC cleanupDialysate: Concentration, GPC cleanup

Extract: Chemical analysis Extract: Chemical analysis (e.g. GC/MS, GC/ECD)(e.g. GC/MS, GC/ECD)

Priorities for work in 2006

Carry out field sampling at SF Bay sites and Carry out field sampling at SF Bay sites and new control site.new control site.

Test for plasma ZRP in new ref. Site.Test for plasma ZRP in new ref. Site. Emphasize analyses for EDCs and their Emphasize analyses for EDCs and their

effects in fish: sex ratios; reproductive cycle; effects in fish: sex ratios; reproductive cycle; egg proteins in males; possible sex reversal.egg proteins in males; possible sex reversal.

If histopathology positive in Bay sites this If histopathology positive in Bay sites this year, repeat. Otherwise, drop this aspect.year, repeat. Otherwise, drop this aspect.

Chemical analyses of SPMD’s/POCIS.Chemical analyses of SPMD’s/POCIS.

The Problem The relative binding capacity of synthetic chemicals to hormone

receptors may be 1/100 to 1/1000 of that of the natural ligand (e.g., estrogen) and the chemical concentration may exceed the effective

concentration by 100 to 10,000 X.

The Problem: there are numerous and complex endocrine interactions in reproduction

and growth of fishes

(sensory input-endocrine cascades--feedback loops)

Agonist for gonadotropin I acceleration of gametogenesis

.15

.20

.25

.30

.35

.40

.45

.50

.55

.60M

ax o

ocy

te d

ia (

mm

)

control low DDT high DDT PCB

(15)(14) (13) (13)

Acceleration of oogenesis in kelp bass dosed with DDT and PCB

mature female fish

pre-vitellogenic oocytes

vitellogenic oocytes

ovulated eggseggs

fertilization success

hatching success

yolk sac larvaefry

yolk sac adsorption

juvenile

growth

metamorphosis

embryological development

male fish

spawning success

sperm`

first feeding

Sex determination

Starry flounder in SF Bay

Reproductive success in

relationship to a biomarker

of contaminant

exposure

mature female fish

pre-vitellogenic oocytes

vitellogenic oocytes

ovulated eggseggs

fertilization success

hatching success

yolk sac larvaefry

yolk sac adsorption

juvenile

growth

metamorphosis

embryological development

male fish

spawning success

sperm`

first feeding

Shiner surf perch is a good choice

Accumulate high concentrations of contaminants (Davis et al., 2001). High site fidelity (Fritzsche and Collier 2001). Occur from Alaska to Mexico. Habitat is in shallows and channels where RMP chemical data taken

since 1993. Analyzed by the sport fish program, included in the Pacific States

Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey, & the IEP. Favorite of urban fishermen. Populations in decline. Live-bearers --annual reproductive output (4-36 young annually) can be determined

in early spring and summer.

The evidence so far: contaminants

1. Starry flounder reproductive dysfunction linked to P4501A and PCBs (Spies & Rice, 1988).

2. Sex reversal and estrogenic effects in longjaw mud suckers (Cherr et al., unpubl.).

3. Chinook salmon in upper watershed show high proportions of females that are phenotypically male (Williamson and May, 2002).

3. Striped bass larval growth and histology negatively affected (Ostrach, unpubl.).

4. Speckeld sanddab histology (Spies et al., 1993; Gunther et al. 1997).

5. Herring egg abnormal development (Vines et al., 2000).