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Comparative analysis of toxicity sensitivity and functional traits in fish
Randel Kreitsberg1, Richard Meitern1, Ciara Baines2
1Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Liivi 2, 50409, Tartu, Estonia.
Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|June 4, 2025
Summary
Closely related fish species show significant differences in pollution sensitivity, challenging the idea of a strong phylogenetic signal for toxicant response. This variation may stem from adaptations to diverse ecological niches and life histories.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Aquatic ecology
- Ecotoxicology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Anthropogenic pollution significantly impacts aquatic ecosystems.
- Predicting the toxicity of emerging pollutants across diverse aquatic organisms is challenging.
- Existing toxicity testing methods are limited in scope.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phylogenetic signal of toxicant sensitivity in fish.
- To explore the relationship between ecological and life history traits and chemical sensitivity.
- To understand the evolutionary basis of pollution sensitivity in aquatic species.
Main Methods:
- Compiled LC50 data for 269 fish species and 29 chemicals from the ECOTOX database.
- Extracted anatomical, ecological, and life history traits from various data sources.
- Conducted a comparative analysis, accounting for phylogenetic relationships.
Main Results:
- A low phylogenetic signal for toxicant sensitivity was observed.
- Closely related fish species exhibited marked differences in their sensitivity to chemicals.
- Maximum length, migration type, habitat salinity, and air-breathing ability correlated with sensitivity when phylogeny was not considered.
Conclusions:
- Pollution sensitivity and tolerance can evolve as byproducts of adaptation to different ecological niches.
- Microevolutionary changes driving species divergence may lead to arbitrary differences in toxicant sensitivity.
- Understanding these evolutionary dynamics is crucial for predicting and mitigating pollution impacts in aquatic ecosystems.
