Multitissue Molecular, Genomic, and Developmental Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Resident Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis)

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster resulted in crude oil contamination along the Gulf coast in sensitive estuaries. Toxicity from exposure to crude oil can affect populations of fish that live or breed in oiled habitats as seen following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In an ongoing study of the effects of Deepwater Horizon crude oil on fish, Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) were collected from an oiled site (Grande Terre, LA) and two reference locations (coastal MS and AL) and monitored for measures of exposure to crude oil. Killifish collected from Grande Terre had divergent gene expression in the liver and gill tissue coincident with the arrival of contaminating oil and up-regulation of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) protein in gill, liver, intestine, and head kidney for over one year following peak landfall of oil (August 2011) compared to fish collected from reference sites. Furthermore, laboratory exposures of Gulf killifish embryos to field-collected sediments from Grande Terre and Barataria Bay, LA, also resulted in increased CYP1A and developmental abnormalities when exposed to sediments collected from oiled sites compared to exposure to sediments collected from a reference site. These data are predictive of population-level impacts in fish exposed to sediments from oiled locations along the Gulf of Mexico coast

Multitissue Molecular, Genomic, and Developmental Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Resident Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis)

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster resulted in crude oil contamination along the Gulf coast in sensitive estuaries. Toxicity from exposure to crude oil can affect populations of fish that live or breed in oiled habitats as seen following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In an ongoing study of the effects of Deepwater Horizon crude oil on fish, Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) were collected from an oiled site (Grande Terre, LA) and two reference locations (coastal MS and AL) and monitored for measures of exposure to crude oil. Killifish collected from Grande Terre had divergent gene expression in the liver and gill tissue coincident with the arrival of contaminating oil and up-regulation of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) protein in gill, liver, intestine, and head kidney for over one year following peak landfall of oil (August 2011) compared to fish collected from reference sites. Furthermore, laboratory exposures of Gulf killifish embryos to field-collected sediments from Grande Terre and Barataria Bay, LA, also resulted in increased CYP1A and developmental abnormalities when exposed to sediments collected from oiled sites compared to exposure to sediments collected from a reference site. These data are predictive of population-level impacts in fish exposed to sediments from oiled locations along the Gulf of Mexico coast

Relationships between (A) Ba and (B) Sr concentrations in in Gulf killifish (<i>Fundulus grandis</i>) otoliths.

<p>Fish were collected in MB, FMA, GT, and BLB. Salinity averages include the months preceding pre-oil (white circles), peak (black circles), and post-oil (gray circles) collections. Because salinity data could not be obtained for May-Jun at FMA, salinity measured at the time of collection was used for this plot.</p

ANOVA table for two factor BACI design, pre- vs. peak oil comparison.

<p>ANOVA table for two factor BACI design, pre- vs. peak oil comparison.</p

Composite of trace element concentrations in Gulf killifish (<i>Fundulus grandis</i>) otoliths.

<p>Fish were collected pre- (white bars) and peak (black bars) oil contamination at impacted (GT) and control sites (FMA, BLB). Each plot depicts the mean elemental concentrations (mean ± SEM) in μmol/mol (V, Mn, Cu, Pb) or mmol/mol (Sr and Ba) of several otolith replicates. Sample sizes for the impacted sites are n = 6 (pre) and n = 6 (peak) and for control sites n = 12 (pre) and n = 12 (peak). Before-after (pre vs. peak), impacted-control, and/or interaction effects are noted with a BA, CI, and or BACI respectively along with <i>p</i> values. ANOVA tables for the two-way, before-after control-impact (BACI) design are included in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0162699#pone.0162699.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>.</p

Map of study sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

<p>General (inset) and specific location of Gulf killifish (<i>Fundulus grandis</i>) collection sites in Grande Terre [GT], LA; Bayou La Batre, AL [BLB]; Mobile Bay, AL [MB]; and Fort Morgan, AL [FMA], throughout 2010 (May-August). The point labeled DwH indicates the site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 20, 2010. The closest meteorological stations to the fish collection sites are marked by Xs.</p

Monthly mean temperature and salinity at fish collection sites.

<p>(A) Temperature values were obtained from Barataria Bay Pass, LA (USGS 073802516) and were considered representatives of surface waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The solid line represents the values for GT in 2010 and the dashed line the values for the 5-year mean. (B) Salinity values were obtained from stations near collection sites, including Maeher Park, AL (MB), Cedar Point, AL (BLB), Barataria Pass, LA (GT), and Dauphin Island, AL (FMA). The solid line represents values for GT in 2010 and the dashed line the values for the 5-year mean obtained from Barataria Pass.</p

Gulf killifish (<i>Fundulus grandis</i>) collection sites, coordinates, meteorological stations (for temperature and salinity records), and sampling dates during 2010.

<p>Gulf killifish (<i>Fundulus grandis</i>) collection sites, coordinates, meteorological stations (for temperature and salinity records), and sampling dates during 2010.</p