Resistance to a heavy metal mixture in Oreochromis niloticus progenies from parents chronically exposed to the same metals

Abstract

Adult Oreochromis niloticus were mass spawned in concrete tanks. The one-month old progenies (F₁) were exposed for two months to a mixture of 0.01 mg L⁻¹ Hg, 0.1 mg L⁻¹ Cd and 1.0 mg L⁻¹ Zn. The survivors were grown to sexual maturity in a natural environment (lake). The fish were spawned and the progenies (F₂) of the exposed F₁ (EF₁) were exposed to another mixture of the three metals: 3.0 mg L⁻¹ Zn, 0.30 mg L⁻¹ Cd and 0.01 mg L⁻¹ Hg, both in a static and static-renewal system. Another group of F₂ from unexposed F₁ (UF₁) received the same treatment. Results showed that in both exposure systems, survival of the F₂ of EF₁ was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those from UF₁. The medial lethal time (LT₅₀) of the F₂'s were estimated from the time-response curve following regression analysis: 5.16 days (F₂ of UF₁) and 9.03 days (F₂ of EF₁) in the static exposure experiment; 3.34 days (F₂ of UF₁) and 5.52 days (F₂ of EF₁) in the static-renewal run. Exposure of the parental stock resulted in the culling out of individuals which were more susceptible to the heavy metals. The more resistant members of the population (survivors) which have the ability to adapt to the toxicants were able to pass on the resistance to their offspring. The results are supported by other studies in the field which demonstrate high resistance in populations of organisms living in contaminated sites.