Pre-spawn mortality in coho salmon

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Pre-spawn mortality is a phenomenon where adult coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, die before spawning when returning to freshwater streams to spawn. [1] [2] It is also known as Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome in more recent studies. [3] [4] This occurrence has been observed in much of the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest. [5] During fall migration, salmonids (trout and salmon) pass through urban watersheds which are contaminated with stormwater runoff. [2] As the coho salmon pass through these waters, many will show symptoms of lethargy, loss of equilibrium and disorientation, and die within a few hours of showing these symptoms. [2] [5] These symptoms and behaviors are prevalent after rain events. [5] Mortality often occurs before salmon have the opportunity to spawn, which is determined by cutting open female carcasses and observing for unfertilized eggs. [5] Rates of pre-spawn mortality could impact the local salmon populations. [2] Based on model projections, if rates continue, populations of coho salmon could become extinct within the next few decades. [2]

Contents

Weight of evidence suggests coho salmon pre-spawn mortality is due to exposure to stormwater runoff. A ubiquitous tire rubber–derived chemical induces acute mortality in coho salmon. [6] [7] A negative correlation exists between the incidence of pre-spawn mortality and urban land use, specifically with the impervious surfaces, commercial property type, and local roads. [1] [5] Exposure to metals and petroleum hydrocarbons displayed some response to pre-spawn mortality, while exposure to pesticides, diseases, and water quality variables did not elicit this effect. [7] This trend has not been observed in any other life history stage of the coho salmon nor in other salmon species in the Puget Sound region. [1]

History

Pre-spawn mortality was first observed in the Puget Sound after efforts had gone into restoring urban watersheds in hopes of drawing salmon back to these areas. Restoration consisted of removing culverts, debris, and any other barriers. [8] [9] Restoration projects were successful in that salmon returned to these runs, however, in initial surveys of restoration success, the pre-spawn mortality symptoms were observed. [7] It is now recognized that in restoring watersheds, water quality and contamination must also be considered for successful spawning events of coho salmon if the population is to persist. [7]

Upon displaying specific symptoms (below), mortality of the coho salmon can be expected within a few hours. Mortality usually occurs before these fish have had a chance to spawn. In fact, in observing the female coho salmon carcasses, most of the fish have retained greater than 90 percent of their eggs. [7] Pre-spawn mortality occurs in both male and female salmon, however, it is difficult to determine if male salmon have spawned, thus, pre-spawn mortality is usually signified by egg retention of female salmon. [7] Pre-spawn mortality has also been observed in both wild and hatchery fish alike. [7]

Symptoms

Salmon of pre-spawn mortality display unusual behaviors and symptoms, such as swimming in circles or exhibiting other erratic swimming patterns. [2] Other symptoms include lethargy, disorientation, loss of equilibrium, gaping, and fin splaying. [1] [2] Death of the coho salmon occurs within hours after observing these symptoms. [1] [2]

Fish behavior and swimming patterns

Coho salmon that are affected by pre-spawn mortality show behavioral symptoms that are easily identified. The fish displayed behaviors like swimming near the surface of the water, swimming in circular patterns, or consistently running into the river bank. [2] [7] This may be due to a loss of equilibrium and orientation of the fish. [7]

Gaping

This symptom consists of the salmon repeatedly opening and closing its mouth. [7] This action in some species of fish (e.g. eels) is used to push water over the gills to meet respiratory demands. For coho salmon, this could be an indication that the fish is not getting enough dissolved oxygen, signifying stress to the respiratory system or that the muscular system has been affected and this gaping is a forced action. [10]

Fin splaying

Fin splaying occurs when the pectoral fin of the salmon is rigid and extended perpendicular to the body of the fish instead of laying flat against the fish. [7] [11] In other fish, e.g. kelp bass, this action is a startle response. [11]

Cause

A study indicated that road runoff and water samples collected at coho salmon URMS cases were chemically similar with tire tread wear particle leachate. [4] Further investigation on URMS and tire wear leachate narrowed down the scope from thousands of chemicals to one unknown chemical, which was found as an ozonation product of the common antiozonant 6PPD. [12] This toxic transformation product, called 6PPD-quinone, kills coho salmon at nanogram per liter concentrations. [13] It has been detected in road runoff and creek stormwater when URMS occurred.

Nonpoint source pollution

Urban and stormwater runoff

Many of the contaminants that are responsible for degrading urban watersheds come from nonpoint source pollution. [2] This consists of a wide array of contaminants coming from a variety of sources and locations.

The contaminants that have been found in stormwater runoff include metals, such as aluminum, barium, cobalt, iron, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc, [14] polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons (motor oil and fuel), and pesticides (including insecticides). [7] [15]

Anthropogenic sources are responsible for many of the contaminants in stormwater runoff in urban areas. These anthropogenic sources include motor vehicles, which contribute metals, antifreeze or coolants, and petroleum hydrocarbons from brake pads and leaking fluids. [7] [14] Many of these contaminants will collect on impervious surfaces (e.g. roads and parking lots) and with rain, will wash into streams, rivers, and the ocean. Other sources of runoff include pesticides and fertilizers used on residential and commercial properties, which can be washed into storm drains during rain events. [15]

Effects of runoff

There are a number of possibilities as to the cause of pre-spawn mortality. It is possible that this mortality is due to acute cardiorespiratory toxicity to the fish. [7] The symptoms (discussed above) and rapid rate of mortality are consistent with this type of toxicity. [7] The exact chemical combination or mixture responsible for this early mortality is not known. However, a few possible explanations are discussed below.

Narcotic effects

Narcosis is a phenomenon that occurs when a combination of organic toxicants, each at low concentrations, have a toxic effect on an organism. [16] Narcosis has a nonspecific mode of action, where it does not target one specific site of action, but instead affects the membranes and protoplasm. [16] These individual organic toxicants affect the fish at sublethal levels, however, the combination of contaminants can lead to mortality of the organism. However, if the stressor is removed narcotic effects can be reversed. [16] Fish influenced by narcosis may display lethargic symptoms. [16] Narcosis can also result in respiratory-cardiovascular responses to fish. [17]

Mixtures

Pre-spawn mortality may be attributed to a mixture of contaminants. In nonpoint source runoff, there is often more than one chemical, thus organisms may be influenced by the combination or mixture of different contaminants. Mixtures of chemicals may have the same mode of action, which can increase toxicity due to two or more chemicals influencing the same site of an organism. [18] The mixture of two or more contaminants may have a number of different effects to an organism, such as additive or synergistic effects. Additive toxicity occurs when the toxicity of individual contaminants (with a similar mode of action) can be summed to determine the final toxicity. [18] Synergism occurs when the sum of two or more toxicants is greater than the sum of the individual components.

Additional combinations of effects may result from contaminants and pathogens [19] or contaminants and physiological effects. [7] As anadromous fish migrate from the ocean to freshwater streams, many changes take place in the osmoregulatory and ionregulatory systems due to the changes in composition between freshwater and saltwater. [7] [20] These changes in combination with chemical pollutants may cause the observed symptoms and death of these coho salmon. However, these specific symptoms and resulting pre-spawn mortality are not observed in other anadromous fish, thus, the coho salmon may be a more sensitive species than other salmonids. [7]

Metals

Many metal contaminants enter the watershed due to motor vehicles and impervious surfaces near rivers and streams. Results from experiments analyzing the effects of metal contaminants on fish discovered an increase in cadmium, lead, and nickel in the gill tissue. [7] Studies on copper and other metals demonstrate toxicity to fish due its ability to influence ionoregulation. The copper competes with other cations for the binding site on the gill of fish, and mortality may result with high enough concentrations of copper binding to these sites (see Biotic Ligand Model). [21] Dissolved copper can also affect the olfactory nervous system in fish, by directly influencing the sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium. [5] This results in a reduction of olfactory senses, increasing the vulnerability of the fish to predation, as they are no longer able to use chemical cues to locate and avoid predators. [5] These olfactory neurotoxic effects may also influence the salmons ability to navigate and find adequate streams for spawning. [5]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Impervious surfaces and vehicles also contribute contaminants such as fossil fuels or gasoline, lubricating oils, and chemical sealants for parking lots (e.g. coal tar based sealants). [5] [22] These contaminants are grouped as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Effects of PAHs on fish have shown that these contaminants can be carcinogenic and also impact early life history stages of fish. They may also influence cardiovascular physiology in fish. [5] Additional studies are needed to determine the full effect of PAHs on fish. [5]

Efforts to reduce urban stormwater runoff

One approach to decrease runoff from entering streams and rivers is the implementation of low-impact development practices. These bioretention practices aim to filter water and contaminants in the soil and vegetation with the goal of reducing the volume of water and contaminants that enter the streams. [15] Bioretention practices include rain gardens, vegetated swales, decrease impervious surfaces (instead using Pervious concrete), and green roofs. [15]

Additional examples

Pre-spawn mortality has been observed in other species of fish, including Chinook and sockeye salmon and steelhead. [7] The cause of pre-spawn mortality in these fish in the Fraser River (sockeye salmon) and Klamath River (Chinook salmon and steelhead trout) differ than that observed in the coho salmon. The cause of pre-spawn mortality for the sockeye salmon in the Fraser River, BC, and Bristol Bay, Alaska, can be attributed to factors such as fish returning to spawn too early, warmer water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen and disease or parasites. [20] [23] In the Klamath River, mortality before spawning was due to disease, thermal stress, a low water flow and increasing numbers of salmon migrating within the same time period. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stormwater</span> Water that originates during precipitation events and snow/ice melt

Stormwater, also written storm water, is water that originates from precipitation (storm), including heavy rain and meltwater from hail and snow. Stormwater can soak into the soil (infiltrate) and become groundwater, be stored on depressed land surface in ponds and puddles, evaporate back into the atmosphere, or contribute to surface runoff. Most runoff is conveyed directly as surface water to nearby streams, rivers or other large water bodies without treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water pollution</span> Contamination of water bodies

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, with a negative impact on their uses. It is usually a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with these water bodies. Contaminants can come from one of four main sources. These are sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater. Water pollution may affect either surface water or groundwater. This form of pollution can lead to many problems. One is the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. Another is spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation. Water pollution also reduces the ecosystem services such as drinking water provided by the water resource.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental chemistry</span> Scientific study of the chemical and phenomena that occur in natural places

Environmental chemistry is the scientific study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in natural places. It should not be confused with green chemistry, which seeks to reduce potential pollution at its source. It can be defined as the study of the sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in the air, soil, and water environments; and the effect of human activity and biological activity on these. Environmental chemistry is an interdisciplinary science that includes atmospheric, aquatic and soil chemistry, as well as heavily relying on analytical chemistry and being related to environmental and other areas of science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salmon run</span> Annual migration of salmon

A salmon run is an annual fish migration event where many salmonid species, which are typically hatched in fresh water and live most of the adult life downstream in the ocean, swim back against the stream to the upper reaches of rivers to spawn on the gravel beds of small creeks. After spawning, all species of Pacific salmon and most Atlantic salmon die, and the salmon life cycle starts over again with the new generation of hatchlings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquatic toxicology</span> Study of manufactured products on aquatic organisms

Aquatic toxicology is the study of the effects of manufactured chemicals and other anthropogenic and natural materials and activities on aquatic organisms at various levels of organization, from subcellular through individual organisms to communities and ecosystems. Aquatic toxicology is a multidisciplinary field which integrates toxicology, aquatic ecology and aquatic chemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coho salmon</span> Species of fish

The coho salmon is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family and one of the five Pacific salmon species. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon and is often sold as medium red salmon. The scientific species name is based on the Russian common name kizhuch (кижуч).

Puget Sound salmon recovery is a collective effort of federal, state and local authorities and non-profit coalitions of universities, scientists, business and industry aimed at restoring Pacific salmon and anadromous forms of Pacific trout (Oncorhynchus) within the Puget Sound region. The Puget Sound lies within the native range of the Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus) and two sea-run forms of Pacific trout, the coastal rainbow trout or steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout. Populations of Oncorhynchus have seen significant declines since the middle of the 19th century due to over fishing, habitat loss, pollution and disease. Salmon species residing in or migrating through the Puget Sound to spawning streams include Chum, Coho, Chinook, Sockeye, and Pink salmon. Pacific salmon require freshwater rivers for spawning and most major tributaries of the Puget Sound have salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout spawning runs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association</span>

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) was formed in 1990 as a non-profit organization with an overall goal of seeing an increase in returning natural spawning salmon to the over 1,600 km of rivers and streams in Whatcom County, Washington in the United States. The association was formed as part of Washington State's Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups Program established by the Washington State Legislature in 1990 to involve local communities, citizen volunteers, and landowners in the state's salmon recovery efforts. NSEA is one of 14 groups in Washington State each with the common goal of restoring salmonid populations and habitat within their region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rain garden</span> Runoff reducing landscaping method

Rain gardens, also called bioretention facilities, are one of a variety of practices designed to increase rain runoff reabsorption by the soil. They can also be used to treat polluted stormwater runoff. Rain gardens are designed landscape sites that reduce the flow rate, total quantity, and pollutant load of runoff from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas. Rain gardens rely on plants and natural or engineered soil medium to retain stormwater and increase the lag time of infiltration, while remediating and filtering pollutants carried by urban runoff. Rain gardens provide a method to reuse and optimize any rain that falls, reducing or avoiding the need for additional irrigation. A benefit of planting rain gardens is the consequential decrease in ambient air and water temperature, a mitigation that is especially effective in urban areas containing an abundance of impervious surfaces that absorb heat in a phenomenon known as the heat-island effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface runoff</span> Flow of excess rainwater not infiltrating in the ground over its surface

Surface runoff is the unconfined flow of water over the ground surface, in contrast to channel runoff. It occurs when excess rainwater, stormwater, meltwater, or other sources, can no longer sufficiently rapidly infiltrate in the soil. This can occur when the soil is saturated by water to its full capacity, and the rain arrives more quickly than the soil can absorb it. Surface runoff often occurs because impervious areas do not allow water to soak into the ground. Furthermore, runoff can occur either through natural or human-made processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylighting (streams)</span> Restoring covered streams to more natural conditions

Daylighting is the opening up and restoration of a previously buried watercourse, one which had at some point been diverted below ground. Typically, the rationale behind returning the riparian environment of a stream, wash, or river to a more natural above-ground state is to reduce runoff, create habitat for species in need of it, or improve an area's aesthetics. In the United Kingdom, the practice is also known as deculverting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban runoff</span> Surface runoff of water caused by urbanization

Urban runoff is surface runoff of rainwater, landscape irrigation, and car washing created by urbanization. Impervious surfaces are constructed during land development. During rain, storms, and other precipitation events, these surfaces, along with rooftops, carry polluted stormwater to storm drains, instead of allowing the water to percolate through soil. This causes lowering of the water table and flooding since the amount of water that remains on the surface is greater. Most municipal storm sewer systems discharge untreated stormwater to streams, rivers, and bays. This excess water can also make its way into people's properties through basement backups and seepage through building wall and floors.

SPAWN, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, is a project of the Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN), a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental issues with salmon</span>

Salmon population levels are of concern in the Atlantic and in some parts of the Pacific. Salmon are typically anadromous - they rear and grow in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to reach sexual maturity, and then return to freshwater to spawn. Determining how environmental stressors and climate change will affect these fisheries is challenging due to their lives split between fresh and saltwater. Environmental variables like warming temperatures and habitat loss are detrimental to salmon abundance and survival. Other human influenced effects on salmon like overfishing and gillnets, sea lice from farm raised salmon, and competition from hatchery released salmon have negative effects as well.

Fish acute toxicity syndrome (FATS) is a set of common chemical and functional responses in fish resulting from a short-term, acute exposure to a lethal concentration of a toxicant, a chemical or material that can produce an unfavorable effect in a living organism. By definition, modes of action are characterized by FATS because the combination of common responses that represent each fish acute toxicity syndrome characterize an adverse biological effect. Therefore, toxicants that have the same mode of action elicit similar sets of responses in the organism and can be classified by the same fish acute toxicity syndrome.

Ecological death is the inability of an organism to function in an ecological context, leading to death. This term can be used in many fields of biology to describe any species. In the context of aquatic toxicology, a toxic chemical, or toxicant, directly affects an aquatic organism but does not immediately kill it; instead it impairs an organism's normal ecological functions which then lead to death or lack of offspring. The toxicant makes the organism unable to function ecologically in some way, even though it does not suffer obviously from the toxicant. Ecological death may be caused by sublethal toxicological effects that can be behavioral, physiological, biochemical, or histological.

The olfactory system is the system related to the sense of smell (olfaction). Many fish activities are dependent on olfaction, such as: mating, discriminating kin, avoiding predators, locating food, contaminant avoidance, imprinting and homing. These activities are referred to as “olfactory-mediated.” Impairment of the olfactory system threatens survival and has been used as an ecologically relevant sub-lethal toxicological endpoint for fish within studies. Olfactory information is received by sensory neurons, like the olfactory nerve, that are in a covered cavity separated from the aquatic environment by mucus. Since they are in almost direct contact with the surrounding environment, these neurons are vulnerable to environmental changes. Fish can detect natural chemical cues in aquatic environments at concentrations as low as parts per billion (ppb) or parts per trillion (ppt).

Oil pollution toxicity to marine fish has been observed from oil spills such as the Exxon Valdez disaster, and from nonpoint sources, such as surface runoff, which is the largest source of oil pollution in marine waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6PPD</span> Organic chemical used in rubber tires

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Creek (Canada)</span> Stream in British Columbia, Canada

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