Treated municipal sewage discharge affects multiple levels of biological organization in fish.
The objectives of this study were to examine cellular-, organ-, and organism-level responses in longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) and fish community structure in a stream in which treated municipal sewage effluent is discharged and in a nearby reference stream with little surrounding land use. A modified version of the U.S.E.P.A. Rapid Bioassessment Protocol V, which combines a habitat assessment with Karr's index of biotic integrity, was used on 400-m reaches of each stream. The study site had a higher proportion of tolerant species and omnivores and a lower proportion of top predators, suggesting alterations in the fish community and a slight level of water quality impairment. Significant increases in condition factor, hepatosomatic index, serum testosterone, and plasma vitellogenin concentrations were observed in male sunfish collected from the study stream in comparison to fish collected from the reference stream. There were no differences between sites in hepatic expression of the 70-kDa stress protein (HSP70). In conclusion, effects were observed at cellular, organ, organism, and community levels of biological organization in fishes exposed to treated municipal sewage effluent.
Porter
Clint M
CM
Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, 430 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA.
Janz
David M
DM
D000818:Animals; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006304:Health Status; D008297:Male; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012722:Sewage; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014873:Water Pollutants; D013739:Testosterone