Pollution and developmental abnormalities of Atlantic fishes

摘要: Planktonic ‘eggs’ of Atlantic mackerel,Scomber scombrus, provide evidence that pollution is associated with mortality, malformation, and abnormal chromosome division fish embryos developing about the surface U.S. coast. Embryo data are substantiated by finding adults mackerel, windowpane flounder,Scophthalmus acquosus, winter flounder,Pseudopleuronectes americanus, from more polluted coastal areas also have higher frequencies mitotic abnormality than those less regions Mid- North Atlantic. No ontogenetic interval escapes contamination. All likely to be adversely influenced, resulting in considerable direct indirect cumulative effect on total early-life survival. Development genetic epigenetic resistance reproductively harmful influences contaminants may interfere other modifications structure function necessitated natural environmental fluctuations, changes climate, fishing itself.