Abstract
Adult bluegills were exposed to the synthetic pyrethroid esfenvalerate, during a reproduction study conducted in six littoral enclosures located in a 2-ha pond near Duluth, Minnesota. Bluegill reproductive success was determined after two applications of esfenvalerate at nominal concentrations of 0.0, 0.01, 0.08, 0.20, 1.0, and 5.0 μg/L. Responses measured were adult behavior and spawning, embryo hatchability, larval survival until swim-up, young-of-the-year (Y-O-Y) growth, and total biomass. All adult bluegills died within one day following the first application at 5.0 μg/L. Successful spawning and resulting hatching of offspring were observed at all esfenvalerate concentrations except 5.0 μg/L. Following exposure at 1.0 μg/L, spawning was delayed for 15 days and few or no larvae survived. Bluegill Y-O-Y growth was reduced by 62, 57, and 86% in the 0.08, 0.20, and 1.0 μg/L esfenvalerate treated enclosures. Delayed adult spawning and reduced Y-O-Y growth may result in poor Y-O-Y overwinter survival which would result in a diminished or extirpated year class.
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Tanner, D.K., Knuth, M.L. Effects of esfenvalerate on the reproductive success of the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus in littoral enclosures. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 31, 244–251 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212373
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212373