Examining the role of estrogenic activity and ocean temperature on declines of a coastal demersal flatfish population near the municipal wastewater outfall of Orange County, California, USA

Andrzejczyk, Nicolette; Sakamoto, Ken; Armstrong, Jeff; Schlenk, Daniel

Examining the role of estrogenic activity and ocean temperature on declines of a coastal demersal flatfish population near the municipal wastewater outfall of Orange County, California, USA

2018

Andrzejczyk, Nicolette | Sakamoto, Ken | Armstrong, Jeff | Schlenk, Daniel

Wastewater treatment plant effluent introduces a mixture of pollutants into marine environments; however, the impacts of chronic sublethal exposures on populations are often unclear. Presence of estrogenic agents in sediments and uptake of these compounds by demersal flatfishes has been reported at the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) wastewater outfall. Furthermore, estrogenic activity has been identified in male flatfish in the area, potentially contributing to observed population declines in the OCSD region. Rising ocean temperatures may further contribute to flatfish declines as relationships between temperature and abundance have been reported in the Southern California Bight. To investigate declines, sex ratios, condition factor, organ health indices, hormones, and vitellogenin were quantified in flatfish collected at OCSD outfall and reference sites. Additionally, historical temperature data was examined for trends with population abundances. Rather than being linked to estrogenic activity, results indicated that population declines were more correlated to increases in ocean temperature.

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