SEASONAL-VARIATION IN PLASMA NONESTERIFIED FATTY-ACIDS OF LAKE STURGEON (ACIPENSER-FULVESCENS) IN THE VICINITY OF HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES

To establish the effects of hydroelectric generation on the health of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), seasonal variations in plasma no nesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) upstream and downstream from hydroelec tric stations were measured over a 2-yr period. Plasma NEFA profiles w ere also compared up- and downstream of the stations for differences i n utilization of individual NEFA species as substrates for lipid oxida tion. Significantly higher levels of total plasma NEFA were found in l ake sturgeon upstream (2355 +/- 395.9 nmol/mL) compared with those dow nstream (798 +/- 133.5 nmol/mL) of the generating stations during the spring. The NEFA profiles for several key fatty acid species differed significantly among seasons up- and downstream of the facilities. In p articular, during spring and summer, the levels of oleic acid (18:1n9) were highest upstream of the stations and levels of a polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3), were higher below rather t han above the stations. The differences in plasma NEFA concentration m ay be attributed to altered nutritional Status due to the varying flow regime located downstream of the hydroelectric stations.