Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada.
Environ Pollut. 2017 Jun;225:40-46. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.03.041. Epub 2017 Mar 26.
Oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) - a byproduct of the oil sands industry in Northern Alberta, Canada - is currently stored in on-site tailings ponds. The goal of the present study was to investigate the interaction of OSPW with the olfactory system and olfactory-mediated behaviours of fish upon the first encounter with OSPW. The response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10%) of OSPW was studied using a choice maze and electro-olfactography (EOG), respectively. The results of the present study showed that rainbow trout are capable of detecting and avoiding OSPW at a concentration as low as 0.1%. Exposure to 1% OSPW impaired (i.e. reduced sensitivity) the olfactory response of rainbow trout to alarm and food cues within 5 min or less. The results of the present study demonstrated that fish could detect and avoid minute concentrations of OSPW. However, if fish were exposed to OSPW-contaminated water and unable to escape, their olfaction would be impaired.
油砂处理废水（OSPW）是加拿大阿尔伯塔省北部油砂工业的副产品，目前储存在现场尾矿池中。本研究的目的是研究 OSPW 与嗅觉系统的相互作用，以及鱼类在第一次接触 OSPW 时的嗅觉介导行为。本研究分别使用选择迷宫和电嗅觉图（EOG）研究了虹鳟鱼（Oncorhynchus mykiss）对不同浓度（0.1%、1%和 10%）OSPW 的反应。本研究结果表明，虹鳟鱼能够检测到并避开低至 0.1%浓度的 OSPW。暴露于 1%的 OSPW 会在 5 分钟或更短的时间内降低虹鳟鱼对警报和食物线索的嗅觉反应（即降低敏感性）。本研究结果表明，鱼类能够检测到并避开极少量的 OSPW。然而，如果鱼类暴露在受 OSPW 污染的水中并且无法逃脱，它们的嗅觉将会受损。
