Genetic and demographic responses of mercury-exposed mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) populations: temporal stability and reproductive components of fitness

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2002 Oct;21(10):2191-7.

Abstract

Two previous mesocosm studies showed changes in glucosephosphate isomerase-2 (Gpi-2) allele frequencies in mosquitofish populations exposed to mercury for 111 d or two years. A previous selection component analysis of single-generation populations exposed for 111 d to 18 microg/L Hg suggested that female sexual selection and fecundity selection could contribute to changes in Gpi-2 allele frequencies. The present multigeneration study was conducted to determine the stability of Gpi-2 allele frequencies over four years of mercury exposure, measure the reproductive fitness of Gpi-2 genotypes inhabiting control and mercury-contaminated mesocosms to determine a mechanism explaining changes in Gpi-2 allele frequencies, investigate differences in the demographic characteristics of mercury-exposed and control populations, and investigate the water quality of the mesocosms to determine if variables other than mercury show concordant patterns among mesocosms. Differences in Gpi-2 allele frequencies between control and mercury-exposed populations were stable over four years (approximately eight generations) of mercury exposure. Mercury-exposed female mosquitofish had a lower probability of being gravid than control females (p = 0.001). Mercury-exposed females also had lower fecundity (total number of eggs and embryos) than control females (p = 0.036). Unlike the results of the more intense mercury exposures in the single generation study, no strong evidence was found that Gpi-2 genotype influenced fecundity or the probability of being gravid in both control and mercury-exposed females. The quantification of fitness components is difficult but has the potential to enhance our understanding of how toxicants alter allele frequencies in exposed populations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cyprinodontiformes / genetics*
  • Cyprinodontiformes / metabolism
  • Cyprinodontiformes / physiology
  • Female
  • Fertility / drug effects*
  • Fertility / genetics
  • Gene Frequency / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase / genetics
  • Male
  • Mercury / pharmacokinetics
  • Mercury / toxicity*
  • Selection, Genetic
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / pharmacokinetics
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase
  • Mercury