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Lipid increases in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Scotland 1986–2008: an assessment of physical parameters and the influence of organic pollutants

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Abstract

Recruitment of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has fallen steadily in recent decades, with current levels understood to be at around 5 % of those in the 1970s, and the species is now widely recognised as being endangered. Changes in ocean currents, climate shifts, habitat loss, overfishing, barriers to migration, increased predation, plastic litter and exposure to chemicals have all been postulated as potential causative factors. Several studies have shown a general decline in eel quality (lower lipid content and body condition) over time that may be linked to reduced reproductive success. In this study, data from an eel sampling campaign in 1987 are compared with recent data (2004–2008) for eels in Scotland to assess any temporal changes in eel quality indicators and also to assess any links between current levels of chemical exposure and eel quality. Mean lipid levels, as a percentage of wet muscle mass, were higher in 2004–2008 (37 ± 1.9 % SE) than in 1986 (21 ± 0.9 % SE). By contrast, mean body condition index (K) was slightly lower in the latter period. Considering the 2004–2008 samples, significant inter-site variation was observed for condition index K, while intra-site variation was observed for lipid content and physical parameters relative to age (i.e. mass/age, length/age and lipid/age ratios); however, the variations observed could not be linked to differences in chemical body burdens, indicating that no chemical impacts on the parameters assessed are discernible during the continental life stage of eels in Scotland.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the contribution of SEPA field staff involved in eel collection and the support of technical staff in the Trace Organics laboratory. In addition, the work of Iain McLaren (Marine Science Scotland) in relation to eel age determination is gratefully acknowledged.

Conflict of interest

Any opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of their host organisations.

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Author notes

  1. Ian W. Oliver

    Present address: School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK

  2. Kenneth Macgregor

    Present address: School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JJ, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Angus Smith Building, 6 Parklands Avenue, Eurocentral, Holytown, North Lanarkshire, ML1 4WQ, Scotland

    Ian W. Oliver, Kenneth Macgregor & Lynsay Harris

  2. Marine Scotland Science, Freshwater Laboratory, Faskally, Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5LB, Scotland

    Jason D. Godfrey

  3. Ecology Department, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), 7 Whitefriars Crescent, Perth, PH2 0PA, UK

    Alistair Duguid

Authors
  1. Ian W. Oliver
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  2. Kenneth Macgregor
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  3. Jason D. Godfrey
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  4. Lynsay Harris
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  5. Alistair Duguid
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ian W. Oliver.

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Responsible editor: Roland Kallenborn

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Oliver, I.W., Macgregor, K., Godfrey, J.D. et al. Lipid increases in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Scotland 1986–2008: an assessment of physical parameters and the influence of organic pollutants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 7519–7528 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4116-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4116-4

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