TY - JOUR
T1 - Dispersed oil decreases the ability of a model fish (Dicentrarchus labrax) to cope with hydrostatic pressure
AU - Dussauze, Matthieu
AU - Pichavant-Rafini, Karine
AU - Belhomme, Marc
AU - Buzzacott, Peter
AU - Privat, Killian
AU - Le Floch, Stéphane
AU - Lemaire, Philippe
AU - Theron, Michaël
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Data on the biological impact of oil dispersion in deep-sea environment are scarce. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential interest of a pressure challenge as a new experimental approach for the assessment of consequences of chemically dispersed oil, followed by a high hydrostatic pressure challenge. This work was conducted on a model fish: juvenile Dicentrarchus labrax. Seabass were exposed for 48 h to dispersant alone (nominal concentration (NC) = 4 mg L−1), mechanically dispersed oil (NC = 80 mg L−1), two chemically dispersed types of oil (NC = 50 and 80 mg L−1 with a dispersant/oil ratio of 1/20), or kept in clean seawater. Fish were then exposed for 30 min at a simulated depth of 1350 m, corresponding to pressure of 136 absolute atmospheres (ATA). The probability of fish exhibiting normal activity after the pressure challenge significantly increased from 0.40 to 0.55 when they were exposed to the dispersant but decreased to 0.26 and 0.11 in the case of chemical dispersion of oil (at 50 and 80 mg L−1, respectively). The chemical dispersion at 80 mg L−1 also induced an increase in probability of death after the pressure challenge (from 0.08 to 0.26). This study clearly demonstrates the ability of a pressure challenge test to give evidence of the effects of a contaminant on the capacity of fish to face hydrostatic pressure. It opens new perspectives on the analysis of the biological impact of chemical dispersion of oil at depth, especially on marine species performing vertical migrations.
AB - Data on the biological impact of oil dispersion in deep-sea environment are scarce. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential interest of a pressure challenge as a new experimental approach for the assessment of consequences of chemically dispersed oil, followed by a high hydrostatic pressure challenge. This work was conducted on a model fish: juvenile Dicentrarchus labrax. Seabass were exposed for 48 h to dispersant alone (nominal concentration (NC) = 4 mg L−1), mechanically dispersed oil (NC = 80 mg L−1), two chemically dispersed types of oil (NC = 50 and 80 mg L−1 with a dispersant/oil ratio of 1/20), or kept in clean seawater. Fish were then exposed for 30 min at a simulated depth of 1350 m, corresponding to pressure of 136 absolute atmospheres (ATA). The probability of fish exhibiting normal activity after the pressure challenge significantly increased from 0.40 to 0.55 when they were exposed to the dispersant but decreased to 0.26 and 0.11 in the case of chemical dispersion of oil (at 50 and 80 mg L−1, respectively). The chemical dispersion at 80 mg L−1 also induced an increase in probability of death after the pressure challenge (from 0.08 to 0.26). This study clearly demonstrates the ability of a pressure challenge test to give evidence of the effects of a contaminant on the capacity of fish to face hydrostatic pressure. It opens new perspectives on the analysis of the biological impact of chemical dispersion of oil at depth, especially on marine species performing vertical migrations.
KW - Deep sea
KW - Dispersant
KW - Hyperbaric challenge
KW - Oil spill
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84995421859&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11356-016-7955-8
DO - 10.1007/s11356-016-7955-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 27854059
AN - SCOPUS:84995421859
SN - 0944-1344
VL - 24
SP - 3054
EP - 3062
JO - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
JF - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
IS - 3
ER -