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Combined effects of crude oil exposure and warming on eggs and larvae of an arctic forage fish

Abstract

Climate change, along with environmental pollution, can act synergistically on an organism to amplify adverse effects of exposure. The Arctic is undergoing profound climatic change and an increase in human activity, resulting in a heightened risk of accidental oil spills. Embryos and larvae of polar cod (Boreogadus saida), a key Arctic forage fish species, were exposed to low levels of crude oil concurrently with a 2.3 °C increase in water temperature. Here we show synergistic adverse effects of increased temperature and crude oil exposure on early life stages documented by an increased prevalence of malformations and mortality in exposed larvae. The combined effects of these stressors were most prevalent in the first feeding larval stages despite embryonic exposure, highlighting potential long-term consequences of exposure for survival, growth, and reproduction. Our findings suggest that a warmer Arctic with greater human activity will adversely impact early life stages of this circumpolar forage fish.
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Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Morgan Lizabeth Bender
  • Julia Giebichenstein
  • Ragnar Teisrud
  • Jennifer Malica Laurent
  • Marianne Frantzen
  • James P. Meador
  • Lisbet Sørensen
  • Bjørn Henrik Hansen
  • Helena Reinardy
  • Benjamin J. Laurel
  • Jasmine Nahrgang

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Ocean / Climate and Environment
  • Scottish Association for Marine Science
  • UiT The Arctic University of Norway
  • The University Centre in Svalbard
  • Akvaplan-niva AS
  • Northwest Fisheries Science Center
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Year

2021

Published in

Scientific Reports

Volume

11

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository