Legacy Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination Impairs Male Embryonic Development in an Elasmobranch with Matrotrophic Histotrophy, the Round Stingray (Urobatis halleri)

摘要

Anthropogenic chemical exposure can result in overall reductions in reproductive success. Using the round stingray (Urobatis halleri) as an elasmobranch model with internal gestation, we measured female fecundity and embryo growth from postovulation to near parturition to test the hypothesis that environmental polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination would impair reproductive success. Two sites were sampled from southern California, USA: the mainland site was exposed to legacy PCB contamination (with low exposure to other anthropogenic contaminants), and the offshore reference site at Catalina Island was a separate population with low anthropogenic influence. Contaminant-exposed embryos weighed less at each stage of development than reference embryos, while accumulating proportionately more liver mass over development. Furthermore, environmental contamination negatively affected male embryos more than female embryos. The present study is the first study to demonstrate a negative effect of contaminant exposure on elasmobranch embryo growth, with probable fitness costs later in life. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2904-2911. (c) 2018 SETAC