Abstract
Marking of fish otoliths with oxytetracycline and tetracycline is a widely used method to evaluate the effectiveness of stocking operations. Available protocols for the labeling of fish specify a number of factors influencing mark quality and potential risk for fish during marking. This study investigates the influence of water hardness on mortality of freshwater fish during marking with OTC. In order to pursue this question complexation of OTC with Mg2+ and Ca2+ cations was measured spectrophotometrically. Furthermore, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were immersed in OTC solutions (1200 mg/L; 48 h immersion) combined with varying levels of water hardness (5.5, 15.5, 25.5, 32.5°dH). The amount of OTC-Mg–Ca-complexes was positively correlated to water hardness. Moreover, it could be demonstrated that mortality of zebrafish during marking varied as a factor of water hardness. Highest mortalities occurred at the lowest (5.5°dH) and the highest (32.5°dH) tested levels during marking with OTC.
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We would like to thank the Struktur and Genehmigungsdirektion Süd Rheinland-Pfalz for the financial support of Matthias Hundt.
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Matthias Hundt and Benjamin Schreiber contributed equally to this work.
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Hundt, M., Schreiber, B., Eckmann, R. et al. The Effect of Water Hardness on Mortality of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) During Exposure to Oxytetracycline. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 96, 144–149 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1699-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1699-x