NJ WSC and Leetown Science Center scientists in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were tasked with characterizing endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass from New Jersey.
Priority Questions:
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Do biological manifestations of ED occur in smallmouth bass in NJ lakes and streams?
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Is estrogenic activity, used as a screen for EDC's, present in NJ surface waters at concentrations sufficient to elicit a biological response?
A sampling network of over 100 sites (lakes and streams) was established based on existing monitoring networks and geospatial information. Surface water was collected under low flow conditions at 16 reservoirs and 85 river locations and analyzed for estrogenicity (hormone assay used as an indicator of estrogenic compounds).
Estrogenicity in water collected under low flow conditions in combination with land-use gradients and fish population information was used to select the nine priority sites for fish health assessments. At each fish location surface water was collected and analyzed for estrogenicity in the spring during fish sampling and again the following fall under low flow conditions.
Smallmouth bass (10 per sex) were sampled pre-spawn (spring) from 7 reservoirs and 2 river locations.
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External health assessment
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Length/width, sex and age data collected
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All internal organs preserved for histopathology
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Assessment of males for intersex
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Blood collected for plasma vitellogenin measurement (egg yolk precursor protein, another line of evidence related to intersex conditions).
Information gained from this study will help state cooperators better understand the occurrence and potential effects of EDCs in surface water and determine feasible management steps necessary to help ameliorate the effects.
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USGS NJWSC Team: Anna Boetsma, Brianna Williams, Kristin Romanok
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Cooperators/Stakeholders
NJDEP
Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health
Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
Division of Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries
Below are publications associated with this project.
Reconnaissance of surface water estrogenicity and the prevalence of intersex in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) inhabiting New Jersey
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
NJ WSC and Leetown Science Center scientists in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were tasked with characterizing endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass from New Jersey.
Scientists conducting health assessment on smallmouth bass collected from Echo Lake, NJ.(Credit: Robert Newby, NJ DEP. Public domain.) Priority Questions:
-
Do biological manifestations of ED occur in smallmouth bass in NJ lakes and streams?
-
Is estrogenic activity, used as a screen for EDC's, present in NJ surface waters at concentrations sufficient to elicit a biological response?
MAp of the Intersex Fish sampling sites in New Jersey(Public domain.) A sampling network of over 100 sites (lakes and streams) was established based on existing monitoring networks and geospatial information. Surface water was collected under low flow conditions at 16 reservoirs and 85 river locations and analyzed for estrogenicity (hormone assay used as an indicator of estrogenic compounds).
Estrogenicity in water collected under low flow conditions in combination with land-use gradients and fish population information was used to select the nine priority sites for fish health assessments. At each fish location surface water was collected and analyzed for estrogenicity in the spring during fish sampling and again the following fall under low flow conditions.
NJ Department of Environmental Protection scientists collecting smallmouth bass from the Delaware River near Lambertville, NJ.(Credit: Robert Newby, NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Public domain.) Smallmouth bass (10 per sex) were sampled pre-spawn (spring) from 7 reservoirs and 2 river locations.
-
External health assessment
-
Length/width, sex and age data collected
-
All internal organs preserved for histopathology
-
Assessment of males for intersex
-
Blood collected for plasma vitellogenin measurement (egg yolk precursor protein, another line of evidence related to intersex conditions).
Information gained from this study will help state cooperators better understand the occurrence and potential effects of EDCs in surface water and determine feasible management steps necessary to help ameliorate the effects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USGS NJWSC Team: Anna Boetsma, Brianna Williams, Kristin Romanok
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cooperators/Stakeholders
NJDEP
Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health
Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
Division of Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries
-
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Reconnaissance of surface water estrogenicity and the prevalence of intersex in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) inhabiting New Jersey
The observation of testicular oocytes in male fishes has been utilized as a biomarker of estrogenic endocrine disruption. A reconnaissance project led in the Northeastern United States (US) during the period of 2008–2010 identified a high prevalence of intersex smallmouth bass on or near US Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges that included the observation of 100% prevalence in smallmAuthorsLuke Iwanowicz, Kelly Smalling, Vicki S. Blazer, Ryan P. Braham, Lakyn R. Sanders, Anna Boetsma, Nick Procopio, Sandra Goodrow, Gary Buchanan, Daniel Millemann, Bruce Ruppel, John Vile, Brian Henning, John Abatemarco - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.