Abstract
Non-invasive monitoring was used to evaluate the concentrations of 40 contaminants in the blood plasma of the North American Green Sturgeon Acipenser medirostris caught and released from three estuaries in Washington State. The highest contaminant concentrations were found in fish caught in the most urbanized sites. Few statistical differences were found when evaluating contaminant levels according to sex, maturation stage, or distinct population segments of Green Sturgeon. The results indicate that recent exposure to legacy contaminants was reflected in Green Sturgeon plasma. Aldrin, 4,4-DDE, α-HCH, copper, and selenium were the most frequently detected contaminants. This study also explored the challenges of assessing toxicity in threatened species using non-lethal approaches. There is currently a lack of environmental contaminant monitoring data in estuaries frequented by Green Sturgeon and limited plasma to tissue toxicity correlations.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like thank Nathan Humphreys and Delaney Cyphers who performed the organic extractions and metals extractions. The study was funded by NOAA. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Fugnding was provided by National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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In addition to the federal 4(d) permit process for handling an ESA-listed species, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has the authority to do and to permit research activities on fish and wildlife within the state in compliance with state law.
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Layshock, J.A., Webb, M.A.H., Langness, O.P. et al. Organochlorine and Metal Contaminants in the Blood Plasma of Green Sturgeon Caught in Washington Coastal Estuaries. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 82, 82–94 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00896-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00896-2