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Application of Biochemical Markers for Population Level Assessment of a White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) Population Exposed to Bleached Kraft Pulp Mill Effluent
Citation:
MILLER, D. H., J. E. TIETGE, M. E. MCMASTER, K. R. MUNKITTRICK, X. XIA, AND G. T. ANKLEY. Application of Biochemical Markers for Population Level Assessment of a White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) Population Exposed to Bleached Kraft Pulp Mill Effluent . Presented at International Association for Great lakes Research, Cornwall, ON, CANADA, May 13 - 17, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
A need in ecological risk assessment is an approach that can be used to link chemically-induced alterations in molecular and biochemical endpoints to adverse outcomes in whole organisms and populations. A predictive population model was developed to translate changes in fecundity measures of a population of white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) collected at Jackfish Bay, Lake Superior to alterations in population growth. Individual-level responses of fish exposed to pulp mill effluent were used to demonstrate the model’s capability to project alterations in population status. Monitoring data from the Jackfish Bay site includes biochemical endpoints, such as steroid measurements relevant to an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) for estrogen receptor (ER) activation. In combination with population modeling, the AOP framework can be used as an organizing principle by which mechanistic data (e.g. circulating steroid concentrations) can be effectively translated into endpoints meaningful to ecological risk (e.g. population status). Extrapolation of the population modeling construct demonstrated at the Jackfish Bay site can be made to other white sucker populations at sites that are less data rich.
Description:
A need in ecological risk assessment is an approach that can be used to link chemically-induced alterations in molecular and biochemical endpoints to adverse outcomes in whole organisms and populations. A predictive population model was developed to translate changes in fecundity measures of a population of white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) collected at Jackfish Bay, Lake Superior to alterations in population growth. Individual-level responses of fish exposed to pulp mill effluent were used to demonstrate the model’s capability to project alterations in population status. Monitoring data from the Jackfish Bay site includes biochemical endpoints, such as steroid measurements relevant to an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) for estrogen receptor (ER) activation. In combination with population modeling, the AOP framework can be used as an organizing principle by which mechanistic data (e.g. circulating steroid concentrations) can be effectively translated into endpoints meaningful to ecological risk (e.g. population status). Extrapolation of the population modeling construct demonstrated at the Jackfish Bay site can be made to other white sucker populations at sites that are less data rich.