Methylmercury tolerance of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) embryos from a polluted vs non-polluted environment

1981 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Weis ◽  
P. Weis ◽  
M. Heber ◽  
S. Vaidya
Keyword(s):  
Fundulus Heteroclitus ◽  
Polluted Environment

scholarly journals Cost of Tolerance: Physiological Consequences of Evolved Resistance to Inhabit a Polluted Environment in Teleost Fish Fundulus heteroclitus

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (15) ◽  
pp. 8763-8772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nishad Jayasundara ◽  
Pani W. Fernando ◽  
Joshua S. Osterberg ◽  
Kristina M. Cammen ◽  
Thomas F. Schultz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Teleost Fish ◽  
Fundulus Heteroclitus ◽  
Polluted Environment ◽  
Cost Of Tolerance

scholarly journals Adaptive Significance of ERα Splice Variants in Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) Resident in an Estrogenic Environment

Endocrinology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (6) ◽  
pp. 2294-2308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kellie A. Cotter ◽  
Diane Nacci ◽  
Denise Champlin ◽  
Alan T. Yeo ◽  
Thomas D. Gilmore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor Alpha ◽  
Fundulus Heteroclitus ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Polluted Environment ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
Clean Environment ◽  
Heritable Change

The possibility that chronic, multigenerational exposure to environmental estrogens selects for adaptive hormone-response phenotypes is a critical unanswered question. Embryos/larvae of killifish from an estrogenic-polluted environment (New Bedford Harbor, MA [NBH]) compared with those from a reference site overexpress estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) mRNA but are hyporesponsive to estradiol. Analysis of ERα mRNAs in the two populations revealed differences in splicing of the gene encoding ERα (esr1). Here we tested the transactivation functions of four differentially expressed ERα mRNAs and tracked their association with the hyporesponsive phenotype for three generations after transfer of NBH parents to a clean environment. Deletion variants ERαΔ6 and ERαΔ6–8 were specific to NBH killifish, had dominant negative functions in an in vitro reporter assay, and were heritable. Morpholino-mediated induction of ERαΔ6 mRNA in zebrafish embryos verified its role as a dominant negative ER on natural estrogen-responsive promoters. Alternate long (ERαL) and short (ERαS) 5′-variants were similar transcriptionally but differed in estrogen responsiveness (ERαS ≫ ERαL). ERαS accounted for high total ERα expression in first generation (F1) NBH embryos/larvae but this trait was abolished by transfer to clean water. By contrast, the hyporesponsive phenotype of F1 NBH embryos/larvae persisted after long-term laboratory holding but reverted to a normal or hyper-responsive phenotype after two or three generations, suggesting the acquisition of physiological or biochemical traits that compensate for ongoing expression of negative-acting ERαΔ6 and ERαΔ6–8 isoforms. We conclude that a heritable change in the pattern of alternative splicing of ERα pre-mRNA is part of a genetic adaptive response to estrogens in a polluted environment.

Urbanization impacts on production and recruitment of Fundulus heteroclitus in salt marsh creeks

2020 ◽  
Vol 645 ◽  
pp. 187-204
Author(s):  
PJ Rudershausen ◽  
JA Buckel
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Fundulus Heteroclitus ◽  
Multiple Factor Analysis ◽  
Southeastern Usa ◽  
Density Dependent ◽  
Dependent Relationship ◽  
Juvenile Abundance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Throw Trap

It is unclear how urbanization affects secondary biological production in estuaries in the southeastern USA. We estimated production of larval/juvenile Fundulus heteroclitus in salt marsh areas of North Carolina tidal creeks and tested for factors influencing production. F. heteroclitus were collected with a throw trap in salt marshes of 5 creeks subjected to a range of urbanization intensities. Multiple factor analysis (MFA) was used to reduce dimensionality of habitat and urbanization effects in the creeks and their watersheds. Production was then related to the first 2 dimensions of the MFA, month, and year. Lastly, we determined the relationship between creek-wide larval/juvenile production and abundance from spring and abundance of adults from autumn of the same year. Production in marsh (g m-2 d-1) varied between years and was negatively related to the MFA dimension that indexed salt marsh; higher rates of production were related to creeks with higher percentages of marsh. An asymptotic relationship was found between abundance of adults and creek-wide production of larvae/juveniles and an even stronger density-dependent relationship was found between abundance of adults and creek-wide larval/juvenile abundance. Results demonstrate (1) the ability of F. heteroclitus to maintain production within salt marsh in creeks with a lesser percentage of marsh as long as this habitat is not removed altogether and (2) a density-dependent link between age-0 production/abundance and subsequent adult recruitment. Given the relationship between production and marsh area, natural resource agencies should consider impacts of development on production when permitting construction in the southeastern USA.

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