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).