title: Microscopic examination of skin in native and nonnative fish from Lake Tahoe exposed to ultraviolet radiation and fluoranthene.
abstract: The presence of nonnative species in Lake Tahoe (CA/NV), USA has been an ongoing concern for many decades, and the management of these species calls for an understanding of their ability to cope with the Lake's stressors and for an understanding of their potential to out-compete and reduce the populations of native species. Decreasing levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) due to eutrophication and increasing levels of phototoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to recreational activities may combine to affect the relative ability of native versus nonnative ﬁsh species to survive in the lake. Following a series of toxicity tests which exposed larvae of the native Lahontan redside minnow (Richardsonius egregius) and the nonnative warm-water bluegill sunﬁsh (Lepomis macrochirus) to UVR and FLU, the occurrence of skin damage and/or physiologic defense mechanisms were studied using multiple microscopic techniques. The native minnow appeared to exhibit fewer instances of skin damage and increased instances of cellular coping mechanisms. This study supports the results of previous work conducted by the authors, who determined that the native redside minnow is the more tolerant of the two species, and that setting and adhering to a water quality standard for UVR transparency may aid in preventing the spread of the less tolerant nonnative bluegill and similar warm-water species.
authors.affiliation: Miami University, Department of Zoology, 212 Pearson Hall, Oxford 45056, Ohio; GEI Consultants, Inc. , 4601 DTC Blvd, Suite 900, Denver 80237, Colorado. Electronic address: agevertz@geiconsultants.com.
authors.forename: Amanda K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gevertz
authors.affiliation: Miami University, Department of Zoology, 212 Pearson Hall, Oxford 45056, Ohio. Electronic address: orisjt@miamioh.edu.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Oris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000502:physiology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D060106:Lakes; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005449:Fluorenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C007738:fluoranthene
keywords: Lake Tahoe; Nonnative species; Phototoxicity; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; Ultraviolet radiation