A1 Journal article (refereed)
Condition and Sperm Characteristics of Perch Perca fluviatilis inhabiting Boreal Lakes Receiving Metal Mining Effluents (2020)

Karjalainen, J., Arola, H. E., Wallin, J., Väisänen, A., & Karjalainen, A. K. (2020). Condition and Sperm Characteristics of Perch Perca fluviatilis inhabiting Boreal Lakes Receiving Metal Mining Effluents. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 79(2), 270-281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-020-00752-9

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Karjalainen, Juha; Arola, Hanna E.; Wallin, Jaana; Väisänen, Ari; Karjalainen, Anna K.

Journal or series: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

ISSN: 0090-4341

eISSN: 1432-0703

Publication year: 2020

Publication date: 21/07/2020

Volume: 79

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 270-281

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-020-00752-9

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71228

Abstract

One of the world’s largest, but low-grade, sulfide nickel deposits in northeastern Finland has been exploited by a bioheapleaching technology since 2008. Bioheapleaching is a relatively new, cost-effective technology, but humid climate, e.g., in boreal temperate environments, causes challenges to the management of the water balance in the ore heaps with wide catchment area, and the mining effluents have caused substantial metal and salting contamination of the receiving waterbodies. In our study, the impacts of metal-extracting bioheapleaching mine effluents on muscle and liver element concentrations, body condition, liver and testes mass, and sperm count and motility of male perch Perca fluviatilis were analysed. Liver, testes, and carcass mass of perch in relation to their length were lower in the mining-impacted lakes than in the reference lake, which may be due to the metal contamination, food availability, and energy demand under multistressor conditions. The sperm counts of the males in the mining-impacted lakes were lower, but the endurance of their sperm motility was longer than the endurance of sperm of the reference males. These findings suggested that the condition and sperm characteristics of perch were altered in lakes receiving metal mining effluents. Measured variables seem to be useful indicators for metal mining impacts on freshwater fish but only if high natural variation in these characteristics can be controlled by multiyear monitoring scheme.

Keywords: mines (quarries); mining activity; sewage; extractive waste; emissions; water systems; effects on waterways; bioremediation

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1