Anthropogenic impact on the reproductive health of two wild Patagonian fish species with differing reproductive strategies

SUEIRO, M. C.; PALACIOS, M. G.; TRUDEAU, V. L.; SOMOZA, G.; AWRUCH, C.

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2022

0048-9697

A particularly concerning outcome of environmental pollution is the disturbance ofreproductive processes. However, studies on the impacts of pollution on the reproductivehealth of fish inhabiting South American environments are limited. We studied the impact of anthropogenic pollution on the reproductive health of two sympatric Patagonian marine fish species with different reproductive strategies: the live-bearing rockfish Sebastes oculatus and the egg-laying Brazilian sandperch Pinguipes brasilianus. Our findings reveal that both species presented some degree of reproductive disturbance when inhabiting an affected site, but the specific alterations differed depending on the species, sex, and season. During the reproductive season, 17β-estradiol levels were elevated in females of both species living in polluted areas, while no differences in androgen levels were observed in either species or season. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was affected in both sexes of S. oculatus during the non-reproductive season, while the gonadal stages were mainly affected in both sexes of P. brasilianus. No signs of intersex condition were observed. Our results highlight the importance of including diverse reproductive parameters to better understand anthropogenic effects on wild animals. Long-term studies including other fish species and includingoffspring (to evaluate possible transgenerational effects) will be necessary to determine theconsequences of the documented reproductive alterations, particularly whether fish speciesinhabiting Patagonian marine reef areas will be able to reproductively adapt to increasingmarine anthropogenic disturbances.