| Project Title |  |
| Project
C2: Assessing biological effects of chronic metal exposures in fish.
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| Research Team | |
| C. Wood, McMaster
Univ. Email: woodcm@mcmaster.ca Tel: 905-525-9140 Co-Investigators:
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| Project Summary | |
| This research employs laboratory studies to model chronic impacts of waterborne and dietary Cu, Cd, and Zn on fish. Emphasis is placed on the modifying effects of water chemistry and dietary ration on toxicity. The ultimate goal is to develop a Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) for chronic toxicity comparable to the acute BLM that is currently being used to develop new site-specific, acute Ambient Water Quality Criteria for metals. In this context, the first major objective is a detailed examination of chronic sublethal effects of waterborne Cu, Cd, and Zn on yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a species native to metal-impacted lakes of Rouyn-Noranda and elsewhere. The goal is to compare chronic physiological effects of Cu, Cd and Zn in yellow perch with those in rainbow trout (a less environmentally relevant "model" species on which most BLM development work has been performed to date), and to determine role of dietary ration in toxicity modification in both yellow perch and rainbow trout. Year 1 tasks included establishing yellow perch in the McMaster fish laboratory and determining acute and chronic toxicity endpoints for yellow perch (these will serve as benchmarks for the subsequent chronic studies). | |