Age and Growth of Rainbow Darter Fish in the Grand River Watershed, Ontario

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Rainbow darter, a type of fish, from both upstream and downstream sites of the wastewater treatment plants, and will be aged using their ear bones (otoliths). From this, their population structure and growth can be determined to compare potential impacts of wastewater effluent. Condition factor will also be computed using their lengths and weights to determine which endpoint is more sensitive (condition factor or growth). A minimum of 25 male and 20 female rainbow darter are being caught from various sites across the in the Grand River using an electrofisher between August and September each year. Fish length, weight, gonad weight, liver weight were all measured in the field. Frozen fish samples are used to extract otoliths, and process them for age determination.

The purpose of this research is to develop sensitive endpoints to detect impacts of wastewater effluent on fish health. We are examining the age and growth of rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) in the Grand River watershed to understand potential impacts of wastewater effluent. Aging fish helps us determine the potential time of exposure, and this can be used to link age and intersex, which is then used to for modelling. This data set is collected to support the project titled “Linking multiple stressors to adverse ecological response". This is a Pillar 1-2 project under the Global Water Futures Program funded by Canada First Research Excellence Fund

Servos, M., Hayat, S., Bragg, L., Dhiyebi, H., Law, P., McMaster, M., & Tetreault, G. (2019). Age and Growth of Rainbow Darter Fish in the Grand River Watershed, Ontario. Waterloo, Canada: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network (CCIN). (Unpublished Data).

Grand River Watershed, Ontario - FBIYS