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The rise in offshore oil and gas operations, maritime shipping, and tourism in northern latitudes enhances the risk of oil spills to sub-Arctic and Arctic coastal environments. Therefore, there is a need to understand the potential adverse effects of petroleum on key species in these areas. Here, we investigated the effects of oil exposure on the early life stages of capelin (Mallotus villosus), an ecologically and commercially important Barents Sea forage fish species that spawns along the coast of Northern Norway. Capelin embryos were exposed to five different concentrations (corresponding to 0.5–19 µg/L total PAHs) of water-soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil from 6 days post fertilization (dpf) until hatch (25 dpf), and development of larvae in clean seawater was monitored until 52 dpf. None of the investigated endpoints (embryo development, larval length, heart rate, arrhythmia, and larval mortality) showed any effects. Our results suggest that the early life stages of capelin may be more robust to crude oil exposure than similar life stages of other fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing human presence in the Arctic shelf seas, with the expansion of oil and gas industries and maritime shipping, poses a risk for Arctic marine organisms such as the key species polar cod (Boreogadus saida). The impact of dietary crude oil on growth and metabolism of polar cod was investigated in the early spring (March–April) when individuals are expected to be in a vulnerable physiological state with poor energy stores. Adult polar cod were exposed dietarily to three doses of Kobbe crude oil during an eight weeks period and followed by two weeks of depuration. Significant dose-responses in exposure biomarkers (hepatic ethoxyresorufine-O-deethylase [EROD] activity and 1-OH phenanthrene metabolites in bile) indicated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were bioavailable. Condition indices (i.e. Fulton's condition factor, hepatosomatic index), growth, whole body respiration, and total lipid content in the liver were monitored over the course of the experiment. The majority of females were immature, while a few had spawned during the season and showed low hepatic lipid content during the experiment. In contrast, males were all, except for one immature individual, in a post-spawning stage and had larger hepatic energy stores than females. Most specimens, independent of sex, showed a loss in weight, that was exacerbated by exposure to crude oil and low hepatic liver lipids. Furthermore, females exposed to crude oil showed a significant elevation of oxygen consumption compared to controls, although not dose-dependent. This study highlights the importance of the energy status of individuals for their response to a crude oil exposure. • Low dietary crude oil induced exposure biomarkers dose-dependently. • Post-spawning females had lower hepatic energy reserves than males in the same reproductive stage. • Polar cod showed a dose-dependent loss in weight with oil exposure, that was exacerbated by low hepatic liver lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Norway, mine tailings waste can be deposited by coastal submarine dispersal. Mine tailings slurry includes fine particles <10 µm with elevated levels of metals (e.g., copper, iron) from residual mineral ore. Prolonged suspension of small particles in the water column may bring them into contact with locally spawned pelagic fish eggs, including Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. Newly fertilized cod embryos were exposed to suspended mine tailings particles up to 3.2 mg/L in flow‐through aquaria for a total of 21 d. Significantly more particles adhered to the surface of the chorion from the high treatment after 11‐d exposure, and dissolved Cu concentrations increased in the water (up to 0.36 ± 0.06 µg/L). There was no adverse effect on embryo mortality but an 8% elevation in larval mortality. There were no differences with treatment on timing of hatching, embryo and larva morphometrics, abnormalities, or cardiac activity. There was a treatment‐dependent up‐regulation of stress marker genes (hspa8, cyp1c1) but no indication of metal‐induced activation of metallothionien (mt gene transcription). Transcription markers for DNA and histone methyltransferases did show treatment‐related up‐regulation, indicative of altered methylation in larvae when developmental methylation patterns are determined, indicating some level of chronic toxicity that may have longer‐term effects. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1446–1454. © 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to increase knowledge regarding baseline biology of Arctic mussels (Mytilus spp.) in terms of lipid class content at different stages of reproductive development throughout the year. Lipid composition in the mantle and digestive glands were studied in mussels from the intertidal and subtidal zones of mussel beds located in the Norwegian Sea and the White Sea. Thin-layer chromatography was used to quantify phospholipids, triacylglycerols, sterols and their esters. The differences in climatic and hydrological conditions between the studied geographical locations of mussel beds were reflected not only in the timing and duration of the mussel’s reproductive stages, mainly active gametogenesis (stage II) and maturity (stage III), but also in the lipid composition of mussel mantle and digestive gland. The differences in environmental conditions between intertidal and subtidal zones of the studied mussel beds were also reflected in the lipid composition of mussels from both geographic locations, and determined the modifications of their lipid composition during the reproductive development. Although environmental conditions caused specificity in the distribution of the lipid composition in the mantle and digestive gland of Arctic Mytilus spp., the lipid composition variations that accompany the reproductive processes in bivalve mollusks were not affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing human activities in the Arctic raise the risk of petroleum pollution, thus posing an elevated risk for Arctic organisms to be chronically exposed to petroleum compounds. The endocrine disrupting properties of some of these compounds (i.e. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]) present in crude oil may have negative effects on the long and energy intensive reproductive development of polar cod ( Boreogadus saida ), an Arctic keystone species. In the present study, selected reproductive parameters were examined in feral polar cod exposed to crude oil via a natural diet (0.11, 0.57 and 1.14 μg crude oil/g fish/day [corresponding to low, medium and high treatments, respectively]) for 31 weeks prior to spawning. Fish maturing in the current reproductive period made up 92% of the experimental population while 5% were immature and 3% were identified as resting fish. Phase I metabolism of PAHs, indicated by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, showed a dose-dependent increase in high and medium crude oil treatments at week 6 and 22, respectively. Decreasing EROD activity and increasing PAH bile metabolite concentrations over the experimental period may be explained by reproductive maturity stage. Significant alterations in sperm motility were observed in crude oil exposed males compared to the controls. The investigated somatic indices (gonad and hepatic), germ cell development and plasma steroid levels (estradiol-17β [females], testosterone [males and females] and 11-ketotestosterone [males]) were not significantly altered by chronic dietary exposure to crude oil. The environmentally realistic doses polar cod were chronically exposed to in this study were likely not high enough to induce adverse effects in this ecologically important fish species. This study elucidated many baseline aspects of polar cod reproductive physiology and emphasized the influence of maturation state on biomarkers of PAH biotransformation (EROD and PAH bile metabolites). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing anthropogenic activities in the Arctic represent an enhanced threat for oil pollution in a marine environment that is already at risk from climate warming. In particular, this applies to species with free-living pelagic larvae that aggregate in surface waters and under the sea ice where hydrocarbons are likely to remain for extended periods of time due to low temperatures. We exposed the positively buoyant eggs of polar cod ( Boreogadus saida ), an arctic keystone species, to realistic concentrations of a crude oil water-soluble fraction (WSF), mimicking exposure of eggs aggregating under the ice to oil WSF leaking from brine channels following encapsulation in ice. Total hydrocarbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels were in the ng/L range, with most exposure concentrations below the limits of detection throughout the experiment for all treatments. The proportion of viable, free-swimming larvae decreased significantly with dose and showed increases in the incidence and severity of spine curvature, yolk sac alterations and a reduction in spine length. These effects are expected to compromise the motility, feeding capacity, and predator avoidance during critical early life stages for this important species. Our results imply that the viability and fitness of polar cod early life stages is significantly reduced when exposed to extremely low and environmentally realistic levels of aqueous hydrocarbons, which may have important implications for arctic food web dynamics and ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to simulate conditions in which dispersant (Dasic NS) might be used to combat an oil spill in coastal sub-Arctic water of limited depth and water exchange in order to produce input data for Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) of Arctic and sub-Arctic coastal areas. Concentration dependent differences in acute responses and long-term effects of a 48 h acute exposure to dispersed oil, with and without the application of a chemical dispersant, were assessed on the Arctic filter feeding bivalve Chlamys islandica. Icelandic scallops were exposed for 48 h to a range of spiked concentrations of mechanically and chemically dispersed oil. Short-term effects were assessed in terms of lysosomal membrane stability, superoxide dismutase, catalase, gluthatione S-transferases, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione reductase, glutathione, total oxyradical scavenging capacity, lipid peroxidation and peroxisomal proliferation. Post-exposure survival, growth and reproductive investment were followed for 2 months to evaluate any long-term consequence. Generally, similar effects were observed in scallops exposed to mechanically and chemically dispersed oil. Limited short-term effects were observed after 48 h, suggesting that a different timing would be required for measuring the possible onset of such effects. There was a concentration dependent increase in cumulative post-exposure mortality, but long-term effects on gonadosomatic index, somatic growth/condition factor did not differ among treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-related activities in the Arctic have raised concerns about the adverse effects of potential oil spill on the environment and living organisms. Polar cod plays a key role in the Arctic marine ecosystem and is an important species for monitoring oil pollution in this region. We examined potential interactions of oil pollution and global warming by analysing liver transcriptome changes in polar cod exposed to crude oil at elevated temperature. Adult males and females were kept at high (11 °C) or normal (4 °C) temperature for 5 days before exposure to mechanically dispersed crude oil for 2 days followed by recovery in clean sea water for 11 days at the two temperatures. Genome-wide microarray analysis of liver samples revealed numerous differentially expressed genes induced by uptake of oil as confirmed by increased levels of bile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites. The hepatic response included genes playing important roles in xenobiotic detoxification and closely related biochemical processes, but also of importance for protein stress response, cell repair and immunity. Though magnitude of transcriptome responses was similar at both temperatures, the upregulated expression of cyp1a1 and several chaperone genes was much stronger at 11 °C. Most gene expression changes returned to basal levels after recovery. The microarray results were validated by qPCR measurement of eleven selected genes representing both known and novel biomarkers to assess exposure to anthropogenic threats on polar cod. Strong upregulation of the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor 7 is proposed to protect the liver of polar fish with aglomerular kidneys from the toxic effect of accumulated biliary compounds. The highly altered liver transcriptome patterns after acute oil exposure and recovery suggests rapid responses in polar cod to oil pollutants and the ability to cope with toxicity in relatively short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Due to a northward shift in oil and gas activities, there is an increasing need to understand the potential anthropogenic impacts of oil-related compounds on sub-Arctic and Arctic organisms, particularly those in coastal habitats. Capelin (Mallotus villosus), a key fish species in the Barents Sea ecosystem, undertakes aggregated spawning at both intertidal and subtidal coastal localities in northern Norway. To investigate the sensitivity of capelin embryos to oil compounds, newly fertilized capelin eggs were collected from a spawning beach and exposed until hatch (32 days) to either the water soluble fraction of crude oil or the single PAH compound, pyrene. Threshold levels for egg mortality, development and hatching success were determined. Concentrations of 40μg/L crude oil (∑26 PAHs) and 55μg/L pyrene significantly increased embryonic mortality rates and decreased hatching success, compared with controls, indicating that a potential oil spill in the vicinity of capelin spawning grounds may cause significant impacts. No significant incidence of adverse effects such as yolk sac oedema, pericardia oedema, haemorrhages, craniofacial abnormalities, premature hatch or inhibited growth was observed. Histological studies of hatched larvae did not reveal specific sublethal effects in tissues and organs. Developmental delays and subsequent embryo death were noticed at the period of eye pigmentation in affected groups. Early life-history stages of capelin are sensitive indicators of PAH impacts, but the mechanisms responsible for the toxic effects require further investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The work compares the characteristics of milt produced by diploid and triploid Atlantic cod in terms of sperm motility, density, DNA content, seminal-fluid composition and the ability of sperm to fertilize the eggs. The mean track velocity (VCL) was higher in the sperm of diploid than in the triploid males at 20 s post-activation (p.a.; 124.04 ± 6.91 vs. 113.32 ± 6.32 μm s−1), but not at 40 s p.a. No differences between ploidies were observed for the remaining sperm-motility descriptors as for spermatozoa density, spermatocrit or seminal fluid's variables like pH, osmolarity, Cl−, Na+, Ca2+ and K+ concentration. Triploid males produced aneuploid sperm cells (average 1.46 n, range 1.2–1.6 n) and the larvae generated from artificial crossings with diploid females showed abnormal morphology and did not survive to exogenous feeding. Plasma concentration of 11-ketotestosterone in sexually mature diploid and triploid males was similar (5.35 ± 1.54 vs. 4.82 ± 1.15 ng mL−1) and no differences were found in the ability of males of both ploidies to induce spawning when held in tanks with diploid females. The paper provides evidence of gametic sterility of triploid males and examines the use of triploid fish as a management option to address the issues of genetic containment of farmed cod alongside measures for securing present fish-farming technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four groups of Arctic charr (age 3+), previously exposed to natural photoperiod, were subjected to different photoperiod regimes from February 20: Simulated natural photoperiod (SNP; Tromsø 70°N), continuous light (LD 24:0) followed by short day (LD 6:18) from either May 1 (LFeb–May) or June 25 (LFeb–June), or continuous light (LD 24:0) throughout the experiment (LContinuous). In females, peak levels of estradiol-17β and testosterone were 6 and 10, 6 and 7, and 3 and 5 weeks advanced, in LFeb–May, LFeb–June and LContinuous, respectively, whereas in males plasma levels of 11-ketotestosterone peaked 8 weeks earlier in LFeb–May and LFeb–June than in SNP and LContinuous. Median ovulation time in LFeb–May and LFeb–June was advanced by 10 weeks compared to SNP and LContinuous, and median spermiation time (first observation of running milt in each individual) in LFeb–May, LFeb–June and LContinuous was advanced by 10, 7 and 5 weeks, compared to SNP. A switch from long to short day early in the reproductive cycle (LFeb–May and LFeb–June) apparently resulted in stronger synchronization of both ovulation and spermiation. Ovulation in LFeb–May and LFeb–June occurred over 3 weeks (LFeb–May) and 8 weeks (LFeb–June), as compared to 10 weeks in the SNP group, whereas all males (except one individual) began spermiating over a period of 3 weeks (LFeb–June), or less (LFeb–May), as compared to 7 weeks in the SNP group. Lack of a short day stimulus (LContinuous), on the other hand, resulted in larger variation in the timing of final maturation, with ovulation and spermiation being spread over 15 weeks. Low egg survival in LFeb–May (17% versus 60% and 97% for LContinuous and SNP) indicate that a long day signal of 10 weeks early in the reproductive cycle may be too short to ensure good egg and sperm quality. Photoperiod manipulation did not affect the proportion of maturing fish. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fish early life stages are well known for their sensitivity to crude oil exposure. However, the effect of crude oil exposure on adults and their gametes during their spawning period is not well studied. Polar cod, a key arctic fish, may be at risk for crude oil exposure during this potentially sensitive life stage. Additionally, this species experiences lower food availability during their spawning season, with unknown combined consequences. In the present study, wild-caught polar cod were exposed to decreasing levels of a water-soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil or control conditions and fed either at a low or high feed ration to assess the combined effect of both stressors. Samples were taken during late gonadal development, during active spawning (spawning window), and in the post-spawning period. Histology analysis of gonads from fish sampled during the spawning window showed that oil-exposed polar cod were more likely to have spawned compared to controls. Oil-exposed females had 947 differentially regulated hepatic genes, and their eggs had a higher polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon body burden compared to controls. Feed ration did not consistently affect polar cod’s response to oil exposure for the endpoints measured, however, did alone result in decreases in some sperm motility parameters. These results suggest that polar cod’s spawning period is a sensitive life event to crude oil exposure, while feed limitation may play a minor role for this supposedly capital breeder. The effects of adult exposure to crude oil on gamete quality and the next generation warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Climate change and pollution resulting from human activities in the Arctic require reliable monitoring systems in sentinel species. Mytilus spp. are used as sentinel species all around the world. The use of Mytilus spp. in environmental monitoring requires knowledge about natural variations in pollution biomarkers. Seasonal variations in baseline levels of biomarkers were studied over a year in the mussels from both upper and lower littoral zones in Rakkfjorden, Norway, as they underwent their annual reproductive cycle. Spatial variations of these biomarker baseline levels were measured in five mussel populations within a 60-km radius from Rakkfjorden to investigate universality of the results from the specific population of Rakkfjorden at a regional scale. Seasonal variations in biomarker baseline levels were revealed and seemed to be related to the reproductive state of the mussels and the tidal zone. The mussels appeared to be more sensitive to oxidative stress during gametogenesis in autumn and winter, when having lower lysosome membrane stability and lower baseline levels of antioxidant biomarkers. An increase in baseline levels of these biomarkers was reported during spawning in spring, however, it was not possible to reveal whether these changes were due to spawning, or to a higher metabolic activity in mussels in response to elevated water temperature and food abundance. The differences between the tidal zones were reflected in reduced size of the mussels from the upper littoral zone, their late spawning in the season and increased baseline levels of antioxidant biomarkers during the coldest month, indicating a more challenging environment in the upper littoral zone. The spatial study indicated that the biomarker baseline levels measured in Rakkfjorden were no different from the levels measured in the mussels from five other sites and thus, are representative for mussels on a regional scale. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Maturity phase and tidal zone had the strongest influence on biomarker baseline levels. • Spawning was partial during summer when water temperature ranged from 10 to 14 °C. • Contaminant levels accumulated in mussels significantly increased from 2010 to 2014. • Neutral red retention assay has to be adjusted to mussel ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Kvalsund, Northern Norway, a permit for submarine mine tailings disposal in Repparfjorden was recently issued for a copper mine with expected operation from 2019. A copper mine was active in the same area in the 1970s and also deposited mine tailings in the fjord. Investigations of the metal binding in the historic and new mine tailings (produced from bedrock in the area) have been undertaken in this study. Acid and base extraction experiments provided desorption curves of mine tailing suspensions as a function of pH (0.5–12.7), and showed that Cu was more easily desorbed in the historic mine tailings. Substantial desorption (>40%) for both historic and new mine tailings occurred at pH values below 3 and above 12. These results combined with metal speciation, showing that the binding of Cu in the sediment changes around pH values 3 and 10, indicate potential for extraction of more Cu from the new mine tailings. Electrodialysis, based on applying an electric field of low intensity to extract metals from polluted soils/sediments, was designed for acidic and alkaline extraction, and in both cases more Cu was extracted than in the pure acid/base extractions, while maintaining low mobilisation of other metals. Electrodialysis can hence be designed to target extraction of Cu while limiting the mobilisation of other metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The populations of Arctic charr ( Salvelinus alpinus ) residing in Lake Ellasjøen at Bjørnøya Island in the Norwegian Arctic (74° 30′N, 19° 00′E) possess substantially higher levels of organohalogenated compounds (strongly dominated by polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs) than conspecifics residing in other, proximate lakes on the island. In the present study we sampled large (<400 g), immature charr from Lake Ellasjøen (high PCB levels) and Lake Laksvatn (reference lake, low PCB levels) by hook and line for an immediate blood sampling, and blood and tissue sampling after a 1 h confinement stressor. This was done in order to investigate possible effects of pollutants on an acute stress performance in a high-latitude fish species by comparing muscle PCB levels, hepatic cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) biomarker activation and functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis between these two populations of Arctic charr. As expected sum PCB muscle levels were 8-fold higher on a wet weigh basis, and 19-fold higher on a lipid weight basis, in charr from Ellasjøen than in charr from Laksvatn. This was accompanied by a 3.5-fold higher liver cyp1a mRNA abundance in the Ellasjøen charr compared to Laksvatn charr. Brain transcript levels encoding glucocorticoid receptor 1 and 2 ( GR2 ) and corticotropin-releasing factor, and pituitary transcript levels encoding GR2 and proopiomelanocortin A1 and A2 were higher in Ellasjøen charr than in Laksvatn charr, while interrenal transcript levels encoding melanocortin 2 receptor and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein were lower. There were no differences in plasma cortisol concentration between the two charr populations immediately after capture and one hour after confinement. The strong biomarker response to OHCs and altered mRNA abundances of key genes related to HPI axis functioning in the Ellasjøen charr suggest endocrine disruptive effects of OHCs in this charr population. Possible ecological implications are not known, but it cannot be excluded that a slower growth rate in Ellasjøen charr compared to Laksvatn charr due to an increased metabolic demand associated with the activation of xenobiotic defense and detoxification systems may have contributed to the lower body mass of Ellasjøen charr compared to Laksvatn charr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]