The Impacts of Oil Sand Operations on the Development, Survival, and Reproductive Capabilities of Fathead Minnows (Pimephales Promelas) in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Toxic contaminants discharged from oil sands mining processes are accruing in and around freshwater environments. The aim of this review is to arrive at a consensus regarding the impacts that these toxic pollutants have on the development, survival, and reproductive capabilities of fathead minnows or Pimephales promelas—a species of ray-finned fish in Alberta, Canada. The choice to focus specifically on fathead minnows was based on the fact that they are an indicator species, commonly used in environmental toxicology assessments. Additionally, they are both abundant and native to the oil sands region of Alberta. Based on my findings, toxic pollutants such as naphthenic acid fraction components, can either induce increased mortality of fathead minnow embryos or increase developmental abnormalities (typically cardiovascular irregularities) during hatching. Furthermore, wastewater generated from oil-sand handling can, for example, increase their hematocrit levels (ratio of red blood cells), decrease their leucocrit levels (ratio of white blood cells), and circulate lymphocytes in the blood. This suite of potential developmental complications has been observed to reduce the survivorship of fathead minnows. Lastly, large quantities of toxic pollutants, such as naphthenic acid accumulating in freshwater ecosystems, impairs the reproductive physiology of fathead minnows. The accumulation of toxic pollutants released by oil sands mining operations in freshwater ecosystems is significantly impairing the life cycle of the fathead minnow. It appears that even the smallest doses of such pollutant, can cause in detrimental effects on fathead minnow populations.