Abstract
We examined the spawning success of Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas) and Johnny Darters (Etheostoma nigrum) exposed to elevated winter water temperatures typical of streams characterized by anthropogenic thermal inputs. When Fathead Minnows were exposed to temperature treatments of 12, 16, or 20 °C during the winter, spawning occurred at 16 and 20 °C but not 12 °C. Eggs were deposited over 9 weeks before winter spawning ceased. Fathead Minnows from the three winter temperature treatments were then exposed to a simulated spring transition. Spawning occurred at all three temperature treatments during the spring, but fish from the 16° and 20 °C treatment had delayed egg production indicating a latent effect of warm winter temperatures on spring spawning. mRNA analysis of the egg yolk protein vitellogenin showed elevated expression in female Fathead Minnows at 16 and 20 °C during winter spawning that decreased after winter spawning ceased, whereas Fathead Minnows at 12 °C maintained comparatively low expression during winter. Johnny Darters were exposed to 4 °C to represent winter temperatures in the absence of thermal inputs, and 12, 16, and 20 °C to represent varying degrees of winter thermal pollution. Johnny Darters spawned during winter at 12, 16, and 20 °C but not at 4 °C. Johnny Darters at 4 °C subsequently spawned following a simulated spring period while those at 12, 16, and 20 °C did not. Our results indicate elevated winter water temperatures common in effluent-dominated streams can promote out-of-season spawning and that vitellogenin expression is a useful indicator of spawning readiness for fish exposed to elevated winter temperatures.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Brandon Taro from Wyoming Game and Fish for disease diagnostics and treatment assistance; Kyle Wilson and Riley Miller for assistance with lab work and daily fish care; James Dorsch, Jordan Parman, and the rest of the environmental monitoring and assessment crew at the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Denver, Colorado for assistance in collecting fish for our study. Steve DeVries and Joe Bobbitt from the University of Wyoming Red Buttes Environmental Biology Laboratory provided assistance with equipment use and construction of the exposure system. Funding was provided by the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District in Denver, CO. Tyler Firkus also received support from the George T. Baxter Award and the Vern Bressler Fisheries Scholarship of the University of Wyoming. We also acknowledge the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments that helped improve the manuscript.
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Firkus, T., Rahel, F.J., Bergman, H.L. et al. Warmed Winter Water Temperatures Alter Reproduction in Two Fish Species. Environmental Management 61, 291–303 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0954-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0954-9