Reproductive toxicity and transgenerational effects of petroleum mixtures in fish (ToxiGen)

Polar Cod Study Reveals Crude Oil's Impact on Spawning Adults

In a recent study, we have unveiled the significant impact of crude oil exposure on the spawning behavior of polar cod. This study marks the remarkable journey, of first author, Leah Strople, who initially explored these findings in her master's thesis, ultimately achieving publication in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.
Polar cod, a vital species in the Arctic ecosystem, faces potential risks from oil exposure during their spawning season. Despite the well-documented sensitivity of fish early life stages to crude oil, little is known about how adult polar cod and their gametes are affected during their spawning season.
Illustration @Leah Strople

Our team's research revealed that crude oil exposure during late vitellogenesis disrupts the timing of spawning in adult polar cod, irrespective of food availability. This study advances our understanding of polar cod's vulnerability to environmental stressors and marks the very first findings that led to the development of the ToxiGen research project.

This study was funded by the Nansen Legacy project (Norwegian Research Council) and is based on Strople's master's thesis. The full research article, titled "Spawning time in adult polar cod (Boreogadus saida) altered by crude oil exposure, independent of food availability" is available online (open access) here.