PW08 Aquatic Ecotoxicology II
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Wednesday
(PW118) Are catch basins necessary when studying effects of EDCs on fecundity in Pimephales promelas.
Hall, K.1, Blanton, M.1, Touart, L.2, 1 Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory, Sequim, WA2 US EPA
ABSTRACT- Battelle Marine Science Laboratory recently conducted a study for the USEPA to evaluate short-term screening assays designed to detect substances that interfere with the estrogen and androgen systems of fish. The test design included four female and two male minnows in a five-gallon tank with three tiles for spawning substrates and dishes with screens for catch basins. The dishes were included because the affect of EDCs on fish ability to attach eggs to substrate (i.e., egg buoyancy or ability to adhere to the spawning substrate) was unknown. When collecting fecundity data the eggs were counted in two categories on tile and on dish/screen. Throughout the study it was found the dish and screen design had potential to affect water quality by also trapping food and waste, not allowing it to flush out of the system. Eggs adhered to the screen were found difficult to see and remove causing efficiency to be questioned. The numbers of eggs found in the dish or on the screen were much less than found on the underside of tiles. These factors will be discussed along with the necessity for including egg catch basins in a fish reproduction assay protocol. This work was funded by US EPA contract 68-w-01-23.
Key words: disrupter, endocrine, fecundity, Pimephales promelas