Vertebral defects in fourhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus quadricornis L., exposed to heavy metal pollution in the Gulf of Bothnia |
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| Authors: | Å . Bengtsson,,B. E. Bengtsson, G. Lithner,&dagger |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Animal Ecology, University of Umeå, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden;The Swedish Environmental Protection Board. Brackish Water Toxicology Laboratory, Studsvik, S-611 82 Nyköping, Sweden;The Swedish Environmental Protection Board, Water Pollution Research Laboratory, Biological Section, S-171 25 Solna, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Vertebral defects in adult fourhorn sculpin were used to trace heavy metal pollution in the Gulf of Bothnia (Baltic Sea). From 1978 to 1984 a total of 9789 specimens from 22 localities were X-rayed and analysed for vertebral deformities, e.g., scoliosis, deformation and/or dislocation of individual vertebrae, etc. The frequency of fish with vertebral defects ranged between 4.3 and 39.7%, the highest frequencies being found in the vicinity of a metal ore smeltery (Rönnskärsverken) emitting heavy metals and arsenic. The possible influence of genetic factors, migration, sex, size, age and parasitic infections on the results are discussed and evaluated. |
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