Examining the Physiological Phenotype of Dying Coho Salmon Exposed to Urban Stormwater Runoff.
Presentation Abstract
Since the 1990’s, in areas of the Salish Sea watershed with increased urbanization, high rates of adult coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kistuch) have been observed dead in streams prior to spawning. This “pre-spawning mortality” (PSM) has been linked to urban stormwater runoff. The symptoms of affected sea-run anadromous coho broods progress from lethargy and disorientation to loss of equilibrium, immobility, and eventually death as soon as 90 minutes after exposure to urban stormwater runoff. Adult freshwater captive-bred coho broods were also exposed to urban stormwater runoff to evaluate if anadromy underlies the phenotype of PSM in mature coho.
Preliminary data collected using a point-of-care blood analysis tool suggest that fatal exposures on sea-run anadromous coho broods present symptoms for metabolic acidosis and coincident loss of osmoregulation. Death appeared to be not as rapid or certain in the exposed freshwater captive coho brood, which primarily showed signs of metabolic acidosis without the disruption in osmoregulation. These observations justify additional side-by-side comparisons between freshwater captive-bred coho and anadromous broods. Additionally, these future studies are needed to establish cause of death in sea-run anadromous coho or their freshwater relatives exposed to urban stormwater runoff.
Session Title
General Pollution Topics
Conference Track
Fate and Effects of Pollutants
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Coho salmon--Effect of water pollution on--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Examining the Physiological Phenotype of Dying Coho Salmon Exposed to Urban Stormwater Runoff.
2016SSEC
Since the 1990’s, in areas of the Salish Sea watershed with increased urbanization, high rates of adult coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kistuch) have been observed dead in streams prior to spawning. This “pre-spawning mortality” (PSM) has been linked to urban stormwater runoff. The symptoms of affected sea-run anadromous coho broods progress from lethargy and disorientation to loss of equilibrium, immobility, and eventually death as soon as 90 minutes after exposure to urban stormwater runoff. Adult freshwater captive-bred coho broods were also exposed to urban stormwater runoff to evaluate if anadromy underlies the phenotype of PSM in mature coho.
Preliminary data collected using a point-of-care blood analysis tool suggest that fatal exposures on sea-run anadromous coho broods present symptoms for metabolic acidosis and coincident loss of osmoregulation. Death appeared to be not as rapid or certain in the exposed freshwater captive coho brood, which primarily showed signs of metabolic acidosis without the disruption in osmoregulation. These observations justify additional side-by-side comparisons between freshwater captive-bred coho and anadromous broods. Additionally, these future studies are needed to establish cause of death in sea-run anadromous coho or their freshwater relatives exposed to urban stormwater runoff.
