PW08 Aquatic Ecotoxicology II
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Wednesday
(PW136) Dissolved copper causes cell death in the mechanosensory system of developing fish larvae.
Linbo, T1, Stehr, C1, Incardona, J1, Scholz, N1, 1 NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA
ABSTRACT- Dissolved copper is a common contaminant in urban stormwater runoff. There are many sources of copper in urban watersheds, including residential pesticide use, vehicle brake pads, and stormwater drainage systems. Copper has previously been shown to be highly toxic to ciliated sensory neurons in the olfactory system of fish. In the present study, we use the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system to examine the effects of dissolved copper on the development and function of the lateral line system. We used a combination of in vivo fluorescent imaging, histology, and scanning electron microscopy to examine the impacts of copper on the ultrastructure and development of ciliated mechanosensory neurons. We find that short-term copper exposures (1 hour) at concentrations that are representative of urban stormwater runoff in Pacific Northwest streams (0-50 
g/L) are sufficient to induce cell death and a loss of peripheral sensory structures in developing zebrafish. Since the mechanosensory system plays an essential role in orientation, schooling, and predator avoidance in fish, the periodic transport of copper to surface waters via stormwater could impair the health and survival of native fish species in urban and urbanizing watersheds.
Key words: lateral line, metal toxicity, fish development