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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Fluence Rate or Cumulative Dose? Vulnerability of Larval Northern Pike (Esox lucius) to Ultraviolet Radiation

subject

description

Newly hatched larvae of northern pike were exposed in the laboratory to four fluence rates of ultraviolet radiation (UVR; 290-400 nm) over three different time periods, resulting in total doses ranging from 3.0 +/- 0.2 to 63.0 +/- 4.4 kJ.m(-2). Mortality and behavior of the larvae were followed for 8-12 days, and growth measured at the end of the experiment. Also, the principle of reciprocity-that the UVR-induced mortality depends on the cumulative dose, independent of fluence rate-was tested. Fluence rates higher than 1480 +/- 150 mW.m(-2) caused mortality and growth retardation. The highest fluence rate (3040 +/- 210 mW.m(-2)) caused 100% mortality in 5 days. All fluence rates caused behavioral disorders, which led to death at fluence rates higher than 1480 mW.m(-2). Reciprocity failure occurred with the lowest and highest dose (550 +/- 45 and 3040 +/- 210 mW.m(-2), respectively). The results show that fluence rate is of primary importance when assessing the UVR-related risk.