A FIELD-STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIOINDICATORS OF MATERNAL CONTAMINANT EXPOSURE AND EGG AND LARVAL VIABILITY OF ENGLISH SOLE (PAROPHRYS-VETULUS)

Our studies have shown that early stages of the reproductive process in female English sole (Parophrys vetulus) are disrupted by contaminant exposure. To determine the potential for contaminants to affect later stages of the reproductive cycle, we examined the effects of maternal contaminant exposure on egg and larval viability in this species, in afield study conducted on running ripe fish collected for two consecutive years from spawning grounds. Maternal contaminant exposure was assessed by several methods. Stepwise multiple regression of the data showed that contaminant exposure was only a minor factor in determining egg and larval viability. However, because the range of contaminant exposure in the spawning fish did not encompass the high levels seen in non-spawning fish captured from contaminated areas, it can be hypothesized that female English sole exposed to substantial levels of contaminants might be at least partially excluded from the spawning population.