Species-specific impacts of suspended sediments on gill structure and function in coral reef fishes

Hess, Sybille, Prescott, Leteisha J., Hoey, Andrew S., McMahon, Shannon A., Wenger, Amelia S., and Rummer, Jodie L. (2017) Species-specific impacts of suspended sediments on gill structure and function in coral reef fishes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences, 284 (1866). 20171279.

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View at Publisher Website: http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.1279
 
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Abstract

Reduced water quality, in particular increases in suspended sediments, has been linked to declines in fish abundance on coral reefs. Changes in gill structure induced by suspended sediments have been hypothesized to impair gill function and may provide a mechanistic basis for the observed declines; yet, evidence for this is lacking. We exposed juveniles of three reef fish species (Amphiprion melanopus, Amphiprion percula and Acanthochromis polyacanthus) to suspended sediments (0–180 mg l−1) for 7 days and examined changes in gill structure and metabolic performance (i.e. oxygen consumption). Exposure to suspended sediments led to shorter gill lamellae in A. melanopus and A. polyacanthus and reduced oxygen diffusion distances in all three species. While A. melanopus exhibited impaired oxygen uptake after suspended sediment exposure, i.e. decreased maximum and increased resting oxygen consumption rates resulting in decreased aerobic scope, the oxygen consumption rates of the other two species remained unaffected. These findings imply that species sensitive to changes in gill structure such as A. melanopus may decline in abundance as reefs become more turbid, whereas species that are able to maintain metabolic performance despite suspended sediment exposure, such as A. polyacanthus or A. percula, may be able to persist or gain a competitive advantage.

Item ID: 51435
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1471-2954
Keywords: turbidity, suspended solids, dredging, fish health, coastal development, clownfish
Funders: Australian Research Council (ARC)
Research Data: http://dx.doi.org/10.4225/28/59364b00c5bce
Date Deposited: 02 Nov 2017 23:37
FoR Codes: 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310303 Ecological physiology @ 60%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 40%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960507 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments @ 15%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 85%
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