Reproductive potential of crimson-spotted rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) following short-term exposure to bass strait crude oil and dispersed crude oil.

An examination of the potential of crude oil and mixtures of dispersants and crude oil to act as reproductive toxicants is reported in this article. The short-term effects of a water-accommodated fraction of crude oil (WAF) and a dispersed crude oil water-accommodated fraction (DCWAF) on selected reproductive end points were measured by conducting 3-day exposures to the crimson-spotted rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis). Exposures were followed by 14-day depuration periods to determine the ability of fish to recover from the exposure. There were no changes to egg production, hatchability, or larval lengths for the WAF and DCWAF test periods. There were no changes to plasma estradiol or testosterone concentrations, gonadosomatic indices, or histopathological organization of gonad tissues after the exposure and depuration periods for both WAF and DCWAF. As reproductive parameters were not altered after 3 days of exposure and 14 days of depuration, crimson-spotted rainbowfish were able to endure short-term exposures to crude oil and dispersed crude oil.