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Integrating Bioavailability of Metals in Fish Population Models
Sharon D Janssen1, Karel P J Viaene2, Patrick Van Sprang2
1Environmental Toxicology Unit, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
|July 13, 2021
Summary
This study integrates metal bioavailability into population models for rainbow trout, predicting higher population-level effects than laboratory toxicity tests. The new model enhances understanding of metal impacts on aquatic populations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Ecotoxicology
- Population Modeling
Background:
- Population models are crucial for extrapolating chemical effects from individuals to populations.
- Accurate prediction of metal toxicity in aquatic environments requires considering bioavailability.
- Existing models lack integration of metal bioavailability into population-level assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To incorporate copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) bioavailability into an individual-based model (IBM) for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
- To predict population-level effects from survival-time concentration data.
- To develop a robust model for assessing metal impacts on aquatic populations.
Main Methods:
- Calibrated reduced versions of the General Unified Threshold Model of Survival (GUTS-RED) using survival-time concentration data.
- Developed a GUTS bioavailability model (GUTS-BLM) based on the relationship between GUTS-RED-IT parameters and water chemistry (ion activities).
- Integrated the GUTS-BLM with the inSTREAM-Gen individual-based model (IBM) to create the GUTS-BLM-IBM.
Main Results:
- The GUTS-RED individual tolerance (IT) model demonstrated the best fit across different test waters.
- The GUTS-BLM accurately predicted 30-day x% lethal concentration (LCx) values within a 2-fold error.
- Predicted population-level effect concentrations were 1.3 to 6.2 times higher than 30-day laboratory LCx values, influenced by interindividual variation in metal sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The developed GUTS-BLM-IBM provides valuable insights into metal bioavailability and population-level effects.
- The model highlights that population-level effects can be significantly higher than acute laboratory toxicity values.
- Future improvements could include incorporating sublethal effects of copper and zinc for a more comprehensive assessment.
Keywords:
BioavailabilityBiotic ligand modelCopperGeneral unified threshold model of survivalIndividual-based modelOncorhynchus mykissZincMore Related Videos
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