Possible adverse impact of contaminants on Atlantic cod population dynamics in coastal ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: While many in-laboratory ecotoxicological studies have shown the adverse impact of pollutants to the fitness of an individual, direct evidence from the field on the population dynamics of wildlife animals has been lacking. Here, we provide empirical support for a negative effect of pollution on Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) population dynamics in coastal waters of Norway by combining unique time series of juvenile cod abundance, body size, environmental concentration of toxic contaminants and a spatially structured population dynamics model. The study shows that mercury concentration might have decreased the reproductive potential of cod in the region despite the general decline in the environmental concentration of mercury, cadmium and hexachlorobenzene since the implementation of national

SUBMITTER: Ono K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6710604 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature