A test of fluctuating asymmetry in Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque) as a measure of pH-related stress.
Fluctuating asymmetry of bilateral anatomical characters, previously proposed as an indicator of stress induced by agents affecting the calcium metabolism of fishes, was measured in bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) from eleven Wisconsin lakes. The fluctuating asymmetries of three meristic characters-numbers of pored lateral line scales, pectoral fin rays and gill rakers on the outer arch-were either unrelated or only marginally related to either lake pH or waterborne calcium concentration. The asymmetry variance of gill raker counts was negatively correlated with both lake pH and waterborne calcium concentration; however, the overall asymmetry mean of gill raker counts in bluegills from five low pH lakes only slightly exceeded that in bluegills from six lakes with circumneutral pH. Fluctuating asymmetry in adult fishes was judged to be insensitive as a potential measure of pH-related stress.
Wiener
J G
JG
US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center, Route 1, Columbia, Missouri 65201, USA.
Rago
P J
PJ