Jd. Fitzsimons et al., OCCURRENCE OF A SWIM-UP SYNDROME IN LAKE-ONTARIO LAKE TROUT IN RELATION TO CONTAMINANTS AND CULTURAL-PRACTICES, Journal of Great Lakes research, 21, 1995, pp. 277-285
Collections of lake trout eggs were made from Lake Ontario adults to e
valuate the occurrence of a swim-up mortality syndrome and determine i
ts relationship to cultural practices and egg contaminant burdens (PCB
s, pesticides, dioxins, furans, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and
trace metals). The syndrome, characterized by hyperexcitability, anor
exia, loss of equilibrium, and eventual death, was observed in fry hat
ched from eggs of 21 of 24 (87.5%) females. Mortality due to the syndr
ome averaged 33.5% but was not correlated with fertilization rate, hat
ching rate, or ally of six specific mortality types monitored in eggs
and fry. Occurrence of the syndrome was not related to rearing tempera
ture (i.e., 4 degrees C vs. 8 degrees C) or feeding (i.e., fed vs. unf
ed). No significant correlations existed between any of the contaminan
ts measured and either swim-up syndrome mortality or the sir mortality
types monitored.