Evolution of pace-of-life syndrome under conditions of maternal PCB contamination and global warming in early life stages of cold stenothermic fish (Arctic char)

• Published in: Aquatic Toxicology
• Main Authors: Réalis-Doyelle, Emilie, Cottin, Nathalie, Daufresne, Martin, Naffrechoux, Emmanuel, Reynaud, Stéphane, Guillard, Jean
• Other Authors: Centre Alpin de Recherche sur les Réseaux Trophiques et Ecosystèmes Limniques (CARRTEL), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry ), Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne (EDYTEM), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Risques, Ecosystèmes, Vulnérabilité, Environnement, Résilience (RECOVER), Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA ), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: PCB; Temperature increase; Concurrent stress; POLS; Life history; [SDV.TOX]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Toxicology; Arctic; Global warming
• Online Access: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04051580; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106396

International audience The end of the 20th century was characterised by rapid modifications of ecosystem functioning under different pressures (such as eutrophication and toxic pollution). Increasing temperatures in the context of global warming could have indirect consequences, such as increased bioavailability of hydrophobic organic pollutants amongst aquatic species. According to the "pace-of-life syndrome" (POLS) theory, these stressors could lead to co-variations in many life traits. Lake Bourget is the largest natural lake in France and has been highly polluted from the fifties to the eighties both with a high load of nutrients (wastewater discharge) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (industrial effluent discharge). Despite improvements in water quality since the 21st century, PCB levels are still higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency cut-off for wildlife protection. The population of Arctic char, a cold stenothermic salmonid, has remained low in Lake Bourget for the last ten years despite restocking efforts and complete re-oligotrophication. We hypothesised that PCB pollution can affect the Arctic char population and that the increase in water temperature could magnify the effects of PCB. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal PCB contamination on offspring using a multiparametric and multiscale approach. Female Arctic char were contaminated with PCB before spawning, and each fertilised spawn was incubated at two temperatures (4 and 8.5 degrees C). The results showed that co-exposure to increased temperature and maternal PCB contamination influenced biodemographic, physiological, and behavioural pa-rameters. The effects were highly dependant on the developmental stage. Based on the POLS theory, a continuum of life traits that may reflect potential physiological and behavioural modifications in response to these con -current stressors is highlighted