title: Medetomidine as a candidate antifoulant: sublethal effects on juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima L.).
abstract: Medetomidine is proposed as a candidate antifouling compound proven effective against barnacles. It is routinely used as a sedative in veterinary medicine. It is therefore important to also investigate possible adverse effects on non-target organisms. Thus, sublethal effects on two different ages of juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima) exposed to a wide concentration range of medetomidine (0.063-420nM) were assessed after exposure under semistatic as well as flow-through conditions, for a maximum of 96h. Effects on respiration frequency and amount of oxygen consumed were assessed, as well as the ability of turbot to adapt to a dark background. A significant decrease was seen both in respiration frequency with a lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of 2.1nM as well as in amount of oxygen consumed (LOEC=420nM) and colour adaptation (LOEC=4.2nM). Colour adaptation was also evaluated in a short exposure experiment, 1h, where significant effects were observed (LOEC=2.1nM). Reversibility, when fish were incubated in clean seawater following exposure, was seen for all observed effects. Ecological relevance of the observed effects is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Ecology, Göteborg University, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, SE-450 34 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden. annelie.hilvarsson@marecol.gu.se
authors.forename: Annelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilvarsson
authors.forename: Halldór Pálmar
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Halldórsson
authors.forename: Ake
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granmo
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007055:Iceland; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000633:toxicity*; D008547:Melanophores / Q000378:metabolism; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D020926:Medetomidine