Abstract
Biomarkers have become an effective tool to monitor the viability of aquatic environments and influences on human health. Early detection of exposure to pollutants in fish and assessments of their biological responses are an efficient way to keep track of environmental changes. The present study aims to investigate potential relationships between physiological abnormalities observed in 11 fish species that were in contact with contaminated sediment from different sites across northeast Ohio. Fish were collected from the Cuyahoga River, Silver Creek Lake, Sippo Lake, Tappan Lake, and Killbuck Creek. The sampled fish species were collected through hoop netting, gill netting, and electrofishing techniques. Examinations and analyses for external and internal abnormalities were conducted as defined by the guidelines from Illustrated Guide for Assessing External and Internal Anomalies in Fish and Biomarkers of exposure of brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) to contaminants in the lower Great Lakes, North America. In total, 45 fish were collected with 121 abnormalities counted across the study. Fish from the Cuyahoga River test site had a total of six abnormalities present across the body (n=6), while fish from Silver Creek Lake had n=10, Sippo Lake n=16, and Tappan Lake n=32 abnormalities. Samples from Killbuck Creek had a range of n=8 to n=49 total anomalies depending on the site location. Results suggest that fish from heavily polluted sites containing contaminated sediment may have adapted for better survival in a carcinogenetic environment, having a smaller body size and larger internal organs, for example. Additionally, there was an observed pattern of discoloration, hemorrhaging, scarring, and fin erosion in fish collected from sites contaminated with bacterial infection, high PAH chemical concentrations, and solid waste pollution.
Advisor
Williams, Rebecca
Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Recommended Citation
Stringer, Kyle, "Investigating Physiological Abnormalities Induced by Contaminated Aquatic Sites in Freshwater Fish Across Northeast Ohio" (2024). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11241.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11241
Disciplines
Biochemistry | Molecular Biology
Keywords
Adaptations, Biomarkers, Ohio, Pollution, Sediment, Toxicology
Publication Date
2024
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2024 Kyle Stringer