In the center of Stockholm, a lock by the name Victoriaslussen is being renovated, where in conjunction with this, a fishway is being designed. The purpose of the fishway is to facilitate migration of weak-swimming fish between the Lake Mälaren and the Salt Lake. Perch (Perca fluviatilis) is counted among these weak swimming species. The aim of the study is to, based on research results, reports, and interviews, create an analysis of the challenges the perch face today, and in the future, as well as assessing the need of a fishway in this location. Data show that the perch population in Sweden is in a steady state today, although a reduction in catches in the study area has occurred during the last 25 years. Based on the accessible data it was stated that there is sufficient scientific evidence to draw conclusions about the sustainability of the perch’s stock in lake Mälaren today. The study shows that the decrease in stock can be attributed to human impact on the environment in the form of pollution of the water as well as to climate change. Furthermore, the impact of climate change on the lake’s ecological status, for instance, through an increase in temperature, resulting in eutrophication and descending oxygen levels, will amount to consequences for the perch such as changes in metabolism, size structure in the stock (population and body size). The fishway system created is a circuit (In Swedish: omlöp), which is the most natural and gentle system for a wide diversity of weak-swimming fish. The study concluded that the perch would benefit from a fishway in Victoriaslussen. It would improve the perch’s situation in Mälaren. Although the stock is in a steady state for the time being, climate change in the future will bring new challenges which would make the fishway useful solution.

No description available.

La perchaude (Perca flavescens) constitue une ressource socioéconomique de grande importance dans le Lac Saint-Pierre (Québec, Canada). Bien que ce lac fluvial soit désigné réserve de la biosphère par l’UNESCO, le statut de la perchaude est préoccupant. Afin de permettre à l’espèce de persister en fonction des diverses pressions anthropiques, il est important de comprendre sa dynamique populationnelle et les mécanismes qui en sont responsables. La perchaude est connue pour sa philopatrie ; le fait de toujours se reproduire à son site de naissance peut entraîner la subdivision d’une espèce en de multiples populations, où chacune pourra être pourvue d’adaptations locales distinctes. Il est possible d’étudier ces processus à l’aide des signaux génétiques associés à la reproduction des individus. Toutefois, une faible différentiation génétique entre les populations du Lac Saint-Pierre est envisagée en raison de la colonisation récente du système (moins de 8000 ans). L’objectif de cette étude est de déterminer s’il existe plusieurs populations de perchaude dans le Lac Saint-Pierre. Les simulations réalisées ont révélé que l’utilisation de marqueurs AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism), permettant une analyse globale du génome, affiche une meilleure détection de la différentiation des populations que celle des marqueurs microsatellites. Afin d’associer les individus à leur site de naissance, la méthode d’AFLP et des microsatellites ont été utilisées sur des larves capturées suite à l’éclosion des oeufs. Trois analyses distinctes d’AFLP ont indiqué une corrélation entre la composition génétique des individus et des sites géographiques, confirmant ainsi la présence de plusieurs populations sympatriques dans le Lac Saint-Pierre, découlant vraisemblablement de la philopatrie de l’espèce. L’absence de différentiation génétique relatée par les marqueurs microsatellites vient confirmer l’importance du choix des marqueurs génétiques. Bien que la différentiation génétique observée soit relativement faible, la gestion de la perchaude devrait tenir compte de la dynamique des populations distinctes dans ce système. / Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is a commercially-exploited freshwater fish species in Lake Saint-Pierre (Quebec, Canada). Even if this fluvial lake is designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the yellow perch status is of concern. To ensure the persistence of species facing to anthropogenic pressures, understanding dynamics and mechanism that structure populations are of major importance. Because the habitat characteristics are spatially structured and this species is known to display natal site fidelity, a subdivision of the species in multiple populations and local adaptations may occur. It is possible to detect these processes according to genetic signal associated with individuals’ reproduction. However, low genetic differentiation is hypothesised due to the recent colonization of the system (< 8 K years). This study aims at determining if there are multiple populations of yellow perch in Lake Saint-Pierre. Simulations was first performed to confirm that population differentiation is better depicted by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) than microsatellite markers. In order to associate individuals to their site of birth, larvae captured after hatching were used. A survey of the variation throughout the entire genome was then performed by using the AFLP approach and variations at microsatellite loci were used to further investigate the organization of these populations. Three distinct AFLP analyses indicated a correlation between genetic composition of individuals and spawning sites, and thus confirmed the presence of multiple sympatric populations in Lake Saint-Pierre, resulting likely from natal site fidelity. At the opposite, the lack of genetic differentiation reported by microsatellites markers confirms the importance of the choice of genetic markers. While the genetic differentiation is very low, the management of this species should take into account the existence of distinct population structures in this system.

Durch die Flutung stillgelegter Tagebaue entstehen zahlreiche Seen in den ostdeutschen Braunkohlerevieren. Sie sind überwiegend groß, oligo- bis mesotroph, und ihr Litoral ist nur in geringem Umfang durch Makrophyten strukturiert. Viele von ihnen sind versauert oder versauerungsgefährdet. In einer Feldstudie wurden (1) die Auswirkung von Seemorphologie und Habitatstruktur auf die Fischgemeinschaft des Senftenberger Sees, eines 1050 ha großen mesotrophen Tagebausees, und (2) die Säuretoleranz einheimischer Fischarten unter den hydrochemischen Bedingungen der geogen versauerten Tagebauseen untersucht. Die Fischgemeinschaft des Senftenberger Sees wurde von Barschen (Perca fluviatilis) und Plötzen (Rutilus rutilus) dominiert, wobei die verschiedenen Barsch- und Plötzengrößenklassen ihre Habitate durch Nutzung verschiedener Tiefenbereiche des Litorals segregierten. Innerhalb der flachen Litoralbereiche waren juvenile Plötzen und juvenile Güstern deutlich stärker auf die wenigen Makrophytenbestände fixiert als juvenile Barsche. Die Habitatwahl der Barsche zeigt, dass diese in mesotrophen Seen wahrscheinlich eher von den guten Sichtverhältnissen als von der strukturellen Komplexität submerser Makrophytenbestände profitieren. Als Ursache für die unterschiedliche Habitatwahl juveniler Barsche, Plötzen und Güstern wird postuliert, dass diese generell verschiedene Habitatwahlstrategien verfolgen. Während der entscheidende Parameter für die Habitatwahl juveniler Barsche die Optimierung der Energieaufnahme ist, folgen juvenile Plötzen und Güstern vorrangig einer Räubervermeidungsstrategie und sind daher sehr viel stärker auf strukturreiche Bereiche angewiesen. Die kritischen pH-Untergrenzen für die einzelnen Fischarten entsprachen weitgehend den publizierten Ergebnissen aus regenversauerten Weichwasserseen. Vermutlich wurde in den Tagebauseen der Säurestress, den die erhöhte Al-Konzentration von bis zu 0,6 mg/L verursachte, durch die ebenfalls erhöhte Ca-Konzentration kompensiert. / Numerous post-mining lakes are created by flooding the pits remaining from open-cast lignite mining in eastern Germany. They are typically large, oligo- or mesotrophic and only sparsely structured by macrophytes. Many of them are acidified or at risk of acidification. The aim of this study was (1) to determine the effects of lake morphology and habitat structure on the fish community of Lake Senftenberg, a large mesotrophic post-mining lake, and (2) to determine the acid tolerance of indigenous fish species under the hydrochemical conditions of geogenically acidified post-mining lakes. The most abundant fish species in Lake Senftenberg were Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus). Different size classes of both species segregated along a depth gradient within the littoral zone. Unvegetated shallow littoral areas (depth 1-3 m) were mainly used by juvenile perch, whereas juvenile roach and juvenile white bream (Blicca bjoerkna) preferred macrophyte stands. This indicates that the structural complexity of submersed macrophytes is not the key factor favouring perch over roach under mesotrophic conditions. Instead, low turbidity is probably the most important factor. The habitat choice of juvenile perch, roach and white bream is suggested to reflect different habitat selection strategies. Whereas habitat selection of juvenile perch is predominantly driven by maximisation of food consumption rates, juvenile roach and juvenile white bream aim at minimising predation risk. Consequently, they are much more dependent on structurally complex habitats. The critical lower pH-thresholds of the fish species investigated in this study were similar to the values derived from soft water lakes affected by acid rain. The deleterious effects of elevated Al-concentrations (up to 0.6 mg/L) in the post-mining lakes were probably mitigated by high Ca-concentrations.

La perchaude (Perca flavescens) constitue une ressource socioéconomique de grande importance dans le Lac Saint-Pierre (Québec, Canada). Bien que ce lac fluvial soit désigné réserve de la biosphère par l’UNESCO, le statut de la perchaude est préoccupant. Afin de permettre à l’espèce de persister en fonction des diverses pressions anthropiques, il est important de comprendre sa dynamique populationnelle et les mécanismes qui en sont responsables. La perchaude est connue pour sa philopatrie ; le fait de toujours se reproduire à son site de naissance peut entraîner la subdivision d’une espèce en de multiples populations, où chacune pourra être pourvue d’adaptations locales distinctes. Il est possible d’étudier ces processus à l’aide des signaux génétiques associés à la reproduction des individus. Toutefois, une faible différentiation génétique entre les populations du Lac Saint-Pierre est envisagée en raison de la colonisation récente du système (moins de 8000 ans). L’objectif de cette étude est de déterminer s’il existe plusieurs populations de perchaude dans le Lac Saint-Pierre. Les simulations réalisées ont révélé que l’utilisation de marqueurs AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism), permettant une analyse globale du génome, affiche une meilleure détection de la différentiation des populations que celle des marqueurs microsatellites. Afin d’associer les individus à leur site de naissance, la méthode d’AFLP et des microsatellites ont été utilisées sur des larves capturées suite à l’éclosion des oeufs. Trois analyses distinctes d’AFLP ont indiqué une corrélation entre la composition génétique des individus et des sites géographiques, confirmant ainsi la présence de plusieurs populations sympatriques dans le Lac Saint-Pierre, découlant vraisemblablement de la philopatrie de l’espèce. L’absence de différentiation génétique relatée par les marqueurs microsatellites vient confirmer l’importance du choix des marqueurs génétiques. Bien que la différentiation génétique observée soit relativement faible, la gestion de la perchaude devrait tenir compte de la dynamique des populations distinctes dans ce système. / Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is a commercially-exploited freshwater fish species in Lake Saint-Pierre (Quebec, Canada). Even if this fluvial lake is designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the yellow perch status is of concern. To ensure the persistence of species facing to anthropogenic pressures, understanding dynamics and mechanism that structure populations are of major importance. Because the habitat characteristics are spatially structured and this species is known to display natal site fidelity, a subdivision of the species in multiple populations and local adaptations may occur. It is possible to detect these processes according to genetic signal associated with individuals’ reproduction. However, low genetic differentiation is hypothesised due to the recent colonization of the system (< 8 K years). This study aims at determining if there are multiple populations of yellow perch in Lake Saint-Pierre. Simulations was first performed to confirm that population differentiation is better depicted by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) than microsatellite markers. In order to associate individuals to their site of birth, larvae captured after hatching were used. A survey of the variation throughout the entire genome was then performed by using the AFLP approach and variations at microsatellite loci were used to further investigate the organization of these populations. Three distinct AFLP analyses indicated a correlation between genetic composition of individuals and spawning sites, and thus confirmed the presence of multiple sympatric populations in Lake Saint-Pierre, resulting likely from natal site fidelity. At the opposite, the lack of genetic differentiation reported by microsatellites markers confirms the importance of the choice of genetic markers. While the genetic differentiation is very low, the management of this species should take into account the existence of distinct population structures in this system.

Dams play an important role in our society, but their negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems have led to a need for conservation efforts to mitigate the negative effects. In some instances, dam removal has been suggested to be the most economically and ecologically beneficial restoration method to improve longitudinal connectivity. This, however, has increased the need of more research about the effects dam removal have on aquatic ecosystems, since the outcomes of this restoration method can be unpredictable. In this study, I investigated ecological impacts of dam removals in Swedish inland waters. I collected field data from five different lakes in Värmland and Dalarna, two lakes with dam removal in 2017/2018 and three without. I studied how dam removal affected different trophic levels of the aquatic ecosystem, where I predicted that a top-down effect would increase abundances of piscivorous European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and zooplankton, but decrease phytoplankton, whereas a bottom-up effect would lead to increases in biomass at all trophic levels (with most pronounced effects on nutrient concentration). If both top-down and bottom-up effects would operate in parallel, all the above mentioned effects could occur. I also predicted that if dam removal affected the fish community, there would be a change in species diversity and fish biomass. Moreover, if perch demography was affected, there would be a change in perch length and abundance of different age classes. To investigate this, I collected data on fish, plankton, nutrients (P, N), DOC, pH and conductivity in the five lakes and compared this with already existing historical data using a BACI design. Two-way ANOVAs were used to study the effects of dam removals on these variables. There were not enough historical data on P concentration or zoo-and phytoplankton to be analyzed statistically. I did, however, conduct correlation analyses with zoo- and phytoplankton. Contradictory to my prediction, the results showed no effect of dam removal on fish biomass or diversity, water chemistry or perch demography in the studied lakes. There was, however, a statistically significant effect of time on Tot-N, with lower values after the years of 2017/2018 (regardless of dam removal). There were also some differences between the lakes in species diversity, concentration of Tot-N, potentially piscivorous perch and perch length. The outcomes of dam removal are unpredictable, as are the expected time-lapse of the effects, which means that changes may yet occur in the studied lakes. Knowledge about ecosystem responses to dam removal enables managers to better predict the effects of dam removal, and thereby facilitate decision makings related to this restoration method. / Dammar spelar en viktig roll i vårt samhälle, men deras negativa påverkan på akvatiska ekosystem har ökat behovet av bevarandeinsatser för att minska de negativa effekterna. I somliga fall har dammutrivning föreslagits vara den mest ekonomiskt och ekologiskt gynnsamma bevarandemetoden för att förbättra longitudinell konnektivitet. Detta har dock ökat behovet av mer forskning gällande dammutrivningars effekter på akvatiska ekosystem, eftersom utfallen av denna bevarandemetod kan vara oförutsägbara. I denna studie undersökte jag dammutrivningars ekologiska effekter i svenska inlandsvatten. Jag samlade data i fält från fem olika sjöar i Värmland och Dalarna, två sjöar med dammutrivningar under 2017/2018 och tre utan. Jag undersökte hur dammutrivning påverkade olika trofiska nivåer i det akvatiska ekosystemet, med förväntningarna att en top-down-effekt skulle öka abundansen av fiskätande abborre (Perca fluviatilis) samt djurplankton, men minska växtplankton, medan en bottom-up-effekt skulle leda till ökad biomassa inom samtliga trofiska nivåer (men med mest effekter på näringskoncentration). Om både top-down- och bottom-up-effekter skulle verka parallellt kunde samtliga ovanstående nämnda effekter förekomma. Jag förväntade även att om dammutrivning påverkade fisksamhället skulle det ske en förändring i artdiversitet och fiskbiomassa. Därtill bör en effekt på demografi hos abborre leda till förändringar i abborrlängd- och abundans i olika åldersklasser. För att undersöka detta samlade jag in data över fisk, plankton, näringsämnen (P, N), DOC, pH och konduktivitet i de fem sjöarna och jämförde detta med redan existerande historiska data med en BACI design. Tvåvägs-ANOVAs användes för att studera effekterna av dammutrivningar på dessa variabler. Det fanns inte tillräckligt med historiska data över P-koncentration eller djur- och växtplankton för att analyseras statistiskt. Jag utförde dock korrelationsanalyser med djur- och växtplankton. I kontrast till min förväntan visade resultaten ingen effekt av dammutrivning på fiskbiomassa- eller diversitet, vattenkemi eller demografi hos abborre i de studerade sjöarna. Det var däremot en statistiskt signifikant effekt av tid på Tot-N, med lägre värden efter 2017/2018 (oberoende av dammutrivning). Det var även en del skillnader mellan sjöarna i artdiversitet, koncentration av Tot-N, potentiellt fiskätande abborre samt abborrlängder. Utfallen av damutrivningar är oförutsägbara, och detsamma gäller tidsintervallet för effekterna, vilket innebär att det fortfarande kan ske förändringar i de studerade sjöarna. Kunskap om ekosystemrespons till dammutrivning möjliggör för förvaltare att lättare bedöma effekter av dammutrivningar, och underlättar därav beslutsfattning relaterat till denna bevarandemetod.

<p>This thesis reports the results of biomarker measurements in three environmental monitoring projects. In the first project, which was part of the Swedish national environmental monitoring, biomarkers were measured annually in female perch (<i>Perca fluviatilis</i>) in two background areas in the Baltic Sea during 1988–2000, resulting in a unique 13-year series of measurements. The most important results were a strong decreasing temporal trend in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and a strong increasing temporal trend in the hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in the Baltic Proper. In the second project, biomarkers and concentrations of classic pollutants were measured in female perch in the Stockholm recipient 1999–2001. This was the first time a large city was investigated as a point source of pollution, and the gradient was longer and included more stations than customary. Severe pollution conditions in central Stockholm were indicated by the poor health status of the perch: retarded growth, decreased frequency of sexually mature females, low GSI, disturbed visceral fat metabolism, increased hepatic EROD activity, decreased muscle acetylcholinesterase activity, increased frequency of hepatic DNA adducts, and a high concentration of biliary 1-pyrenol. Muscle ΣDDT and ΣPCB were measured as pollution indicators and were 10–28 respectively 12–35 times higher than the background levels in perch from the Baltic Proper. In the Stockholm archipelago two superimposed gradients were found. Whereas the response of several biomarkers consistently decreased with increasing distance from central Stockholm, the response of others first decreased from Stockholm to the middle archipelago and then increased to the open Baltic Sea. The latter biomarkers included the frequency of sexually mature females, GSI, hepatic EROD activity, and hepatic DNA adducts. In the third project, potential toxicity from munitions on the seafloor, at a dumpsite in the Stockholm archipelago, was analysed by the nanoinjection of sediment extracts into newly fertilised rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) eggs, followed by the measurement of biomarkers in the developing larvae. No biological effects of the dumped munitions were found. The same stations in the Stockholm archipelago as in the second project were investigated as a positive control. The results of the three projects agreed well, which demonstrated the continuous pollution of the Baltic Sea and the severe pollution conditions and adverse biological effects in central Stockholm. Further investigations are urgently needed to identify which pollutants or other factors are causing the observed biological effects, both in the background areas in the Baltic Sea and in the Stockholm recipient.</p>

This thesis reports the results of biomarker measurements in three environmental monitoring projects. In the first project, which was part of the Swedish national environmental monitoring, biomarkers were measured annually in female perch (Perca fluviatilis) in two background areas in the Baltic Sea during 1988–2000, resulting in a unique 13-year series of measurements. The most important results were a strong decreasing temporal trend in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and a strong increasing temporal trend in the hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in the Baltic Proper. In the second project, biomarkers and concentrations of classic pollutants were measured in female perch in the Stockholm recipient 1999–2001. This was the first time a large city was investigated as a point source of pollution, and the gradient was longer and included more stations than customary. Severe pollution conditions in central Stockholm were indicated by the poor health status of the perch: retarded growth, decreased frequency of sexually mature females, low GSI, disturbed visceral fat metabolism, increased hepatic EROD activity, decreased muscle acetylcholinesterase activity, increased frequency of hepatic DNA adducts, and a high concentration of biliary 1-pyrenol. Muscle ΣDDT and ΣPCB were measured as pollution indicators and were 10–28 respectively 12–35 times higher than the background levels in perch from the Baltic Proper. In the Stockholm archipelago two superimposed gradients were found. Whereas the response of several biomarkers consistently decreased with increasing distance from central Stockholm, the response of others first decreased from Stockholm to the middle archipelago and then increased to the open Baltic Sea. The latter biomarkers included the frequency of sexually mature females, GSI, hepatic EROD activity, and hepatic DNA adducts. In the third project, potential toxicity from munitions on the seafloor, at a dumpsite in the Stockholm archipelago, was analysed by the nanoinjection of sediment extracts into newly fertilised rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs, followed by the measurement of biomarkers in the developing larvae. No biological effects of the dumped munitions were found. The same stations in the Stockholm archipelago as in the second project were investigated as a positive control. The results of the three projects agreed well, which demonstrated the continuous pollution of the Baltic Sea and the severe pollution conditions and adverse biological effects in central Stockholm. Further investigations are urgently needed to identify which pollutants or other factors are causing the observed biological effects, both in the background areas in the Baltic Sea and in the Stockholm recipient.

BAKGRUND: Per- och polyfluorerade alkylsubstanser, PFAS, är ett samlingsnamn för en stor grupp mycket stabila substanser. Vissa PFAS är klassade som persistenta, bioackumulerbara och toxiska (PBT-ämnen) och har en negativ hälsoeffekt på människor och djur. De är vanligt förekommande i exempelvis brandskum och förhöjda halter finns därför ofta i vattensystem som ligger nära brandövningsområden. Perflourooktansyra (PFOS) är idag den enda PFAS som är förbjuden inom EU och är förmodligen den mest toxiska. Tolerabla gränsvärden finns idag endast för två PFAS; PFOS och PFOA. En av de största källorna för humanexponering av PFOS är fiskkonsumtion, medan PFOA inte brukar vara detekterbar i fisk. SYFTE: Syftet med denna studie var att analysera humanexponering av 11 olika PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFNA, PFDA, PFDS, PFBS, PFUnDA och PFOSA) efter konsumtion av abborre (Perca fluviatilis), baserad på analysdata från Stockholms stads miljögiftsövervakning. Då fokus i arbetet framförallt ligger på PFOS så har uppskattat PFOS-intag via denna exponeringsväg jämförts med tillgängliga toxikologiska referensvärden. Likaså syftar arbetet att undersöka hur PFOS- exponeringen via konsumtion av sötvattenfisk förhåller sig till bakgrundsexponering av PFOS i normalbefolkningen. METOD: PFOS-exponeringen via konsumtion av sötvattenfisk beräkandes för tvånivåer av fiskkonsumenter; ”mest sannolik exponeringsnivå” (MSE, där man äteregenfångad sötvattenfisk max 6 ggr per år), och ”hög exponeringssnivå” (HE, där manäter egenfångad sötvattenfisk 1 ggr/vecka). En vidare uppdelning gjordes på”normalkonsumenter” (person som äter normalstora portioner och har en medelvikt) och ”storkonsumenter” (person med låg vikt som äter stora portioner). Beräkningarna grundar sig på tre års analysdata (2015-2017) på abborre från 14 olika vattensystem kring Stockholm stad, vilka kan betraktas som representativa fiskevatten i en urban miljö, utan känd PFOS-påverkan från punktkälla. PFOS-analyser i fisk användes tillsammans med data från litteraturen över fiskkonsumtion och kroppsvikt. Litteraturdata användes även för att beräkna exponeringen i normalbefolkningen viaandra livsmedel och dricksvatten. Även här gjordes beräkningarna för ”mest sannolik exponering” (normalkonsumtion av dricksvatten och normalexponering av PFOS via övriga livsmedel) och ”hög exponering” (storkonsumtion av dricksvatten och högexponering via övriga livsmedel). Därefter jämfördes resultatet med tolerabla dagliga intag (TDI) och PFOS-exponeringen via fiskkonsumtion relaterades till det PFOS-intag som normalbefolkningen blir utsatt för via konsumtion av dricksvatten och andra livsmedel. RESULTAT: I de analyserade proverna av abborrmuskel stod PFOS för ca 90% av PFAS-innehållet, PFOS är den förening som exponeringsberäkningarna gjorts för. Bakgrundsexponeringen för PFOS i normalbefolkningen, via konsumtion av dricksvatten och andra livsmedel (även köpt fisk), beräknades till ca 0,5 ng/kg/dag (vuxna) och 0,7 ng/kg/dag (barn) för den mest sannolika exponeringsnivån (MSE). För den högre exponeringsnivån (HE) beräknades intaget till ca 1,7 ng/kg/dag för både vuxna och barn – alltså väl under EFSAs rådande TDI-värde på 150 ng/kg/dag. Vid jämförelse med dessa bakgrundsnivåer visade sig följande för de 4 exponeringsnivåer som karakteriserats vid konsumtion av egenfångad insjöfisk: MSE – normalkonsument: I denna grupp var PFOS-exponeringen via konsumtionen av egenfångad sötvattenfisk omkring 0,5 ng/kg/dag (vuxna) och 1,1 ng/kg/dag (barn), innebärandes att redan individer som konsumerar egenfångad fisk 6 ggr/år dubblerar sin PFOS-exponering. Det totala intaget ligger dock långt ifrån rådande TDI-värde. MSE – storkonsument: För vuxna och barn beräknades PFOS-exponeringen via sötvattenfisk till ca 1 respektive 2 ng/kg/dag. HE – normalkonsument: För kvinnor blev PFOS-exponeringen 17 ng/kg/dag och för män 18 ng/kg/dag medan resultatet för barn var 37 ng/kg/dag. HE – storkonsument: PFOS-exponeringen från insjöfiskkonsumtion, i detta ”worst-case-scenario”, var 27 och 33 ng/kg/dag för kvinnor respektive män och 69 ng/kg/dag för barn. Hos denna grupp blev exponeringen runt 15 gånger högre än i normalbefolkningens hos vuxna och 40 gånger hos barn. DISKUSSION: Att PFOS stod för den största delen PFAS stämmer väl med förväntat resultat. Studien visar att normal- och storkonsumtion, inom ”den mest sannolika exponeringsnivån”, av sötvattenfisk från de vattensystem i närheten av Stockholm stadsom omfattats av studien, inte utgör någon hälsofara enligt de TDI som gäller idag även om det ger en procentuellt sett stor ökning av PFOS-intaget relativt vad som normalt är att förvänta via intag av livsmedel (även dricksvatten inräknat). Storkonsumenter inomkategorin ”hög exponeringsnivå” utgör ett worst case-scenario, där barn i gruppen kommer upp i ungefär halva TDI. Vid eventuell revidering av TDI så finns risk att både normal- och storkonsumenter, inom ”hög exponeringsnivå”, av sötvattenfisk hamnar påPFOS-intag runt eller över TDI. / BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) is a group of very stable molecules. Some PFAS are classed as persistant, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT-substances) with negative impacts on humans and animals. PFAS is a common ingredient in fire foam, and elevated levels are consequently often seen in water systems near fire drill areas. Today, perflourooctanoic acid (PFOS) is the only prohibited PFAS within the EU, and probably the most toxic.Tolerable daily intake (TDI) recommenadtions are only available for two PFAS within the EU; PFOS and PFOA. One of the main exposure routes of PFOS in humans are consumption of fish, whilePFOA usually isn’t detectable in fish. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze human exposure of 11 different PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFNA, PFDA, PFDS, PFBS, PFUnDA och PFOSA) after consumption of european perch (Perca fluviatilis) collected from water systems in an urban region of Sweden. The main focus substance of the study was PFOS, where different scenarios of PFOS-exposure after consumtion of perch were compared with toxicological reference values (TDIs) and with background exposure from consumtion of other foods and drinking water. METHODS: The PFOS-exposure from consumption of freshwater fish was calculatedfor two levels of consumers; a “most likely exposure level” (MSE, with a consumptionrate of maximum 6 times/year), and a “high exposure level” (HE, with a consumption rate of at least 1 time/week). The groups were further divided into “normal consumers” (who ate normal portions and had normal body weight) and “large consumers” (who atelarge portions and had a low body weight). The caclulations were based on three years of analysis data (2015-2017) on european perch from 14 different water systems around the city of Stockholm, which can be considered as representative fishing waters in an urban environment, without known PFOS point source. The analyzed PFOS concentrations in fish were used in conjunction with literature data on fish consumption and body weight to assess exposure. Data from the litterature were also used to calculate the exposure in the normal population, after consumption of other foods and drinkingwater. Also here a “most likely exposure level” (average consumtion of drinking water and average consumption rates and PFOS concentrations in other foods) and “high exposure level” (large consumer of drinking water and high PFOS exposure from other foods) were calculated. Thereafter, the results were compared with the tolerable daily intake (TDI), and the PFOS-exposure through consumption of perch was compared to the PFOS-intake following consumtion of other foods and drinking water. RESULTS: PFOS accounted for about 90% of the total PFAS in european perch. PFOS is the compound for which the exposure calculations were made.Background exposure by PFOS in the normal population, through consumtion of drinking water and other foods (including commercial fish), was calculated to 0,5 ng/kg/day (adults) and 0,7 ng/kg/day (children) for the most likely exposure level (MSE). För the higher exposure level (HE) the intake was calculated to 1,7 ng/kg/day for both adults and children, which is far below EFSA ́s current TDI of 150 ng/kg/day. When the background levels are related to the 4 exposure levels characterized after consumption of self-caught freshwater fish the results showed that: MSE – normal consumer: The PFOS exposure from consumption of freshwater fish in this group was 0,5 ng/kg/day (adults) and 1,1 ng/kg/day (children), which means that by consuming self-caught fish 6 times/year the PFOS-exposure will be doubled. Even so, the total intake is far below current TDI. MSE – high consumer: PFOS exposure from freshwater fish were 1 ng/kg/day and 2 ng/kg/day for adults and children respectively. HE – normal consumer: The PFOS exposure for women were 17 ng/kg/day and 18 ng/kg/day for men while the result form children were 37 ng/kg/day. HE – high consumer: The PFOS exposure in this “worst case scenario” was 27 and 33ng/kg/day for women and men respectively and 70 ng/kg/day for children. In this group the exposure were about 15 times higher than the background exposure for adults and 40 times higher for children. CONCLUSIONS: That PFOS accounted for the largest part of PFAS in fish is in accordance with previously published studies. Normal and large consumption offreshwater fish within the “MSE”-group, of freshwater fish, from the water systems near the city of Stockholm which are covered in the study, is not a health risk according to the TDI that apply today. However, it gives a percentually large increase in PFOS intake relative to what is normally expected from food intake (including drinkingwater). High consumers in the “HE”-group constitute a worst case scenario, where children in the group reach a PFOS-exposure of about half of TDI. In the event of a possible revision of TDI also normal consumers in the “HE”-group may close in to, or pass, the TDI-limits.

The work in this thesis deals with the ecology and evolution of adaptive individual variation. Ecologists have long used niche theory to describe the ecology of a species as a whole, treating conspecific individuals as ecological equivalent. During recent years, research about individual variation in diet and morphology has gained interest in adaptive radiations and ecological speciation. Such variation among individual niche use may have important conservation implications as well as ecological and evolutionary implications. However, up to date we know very little about the extension of this phenomenon in natural populations and the mechanisms behind it. The results in this thesis show that the extension of individual diet specialization is widely spread throughout the animal kingdom. The variation in diet is mainly correlated to morphological variation but not always. Furthermore, this variation in diet and morphology among individuals could be both genetically determined and environmentally induced and it mainly comes from trade-offs in foraging efficiency between different prey types. The results from a number of studies of perch also show that individual perch differ in morphology and diet depending on habitat, where littoral perch has a deeper body compared to pelagic perch. This difference in morphology corresponds to functional expectations and is related to foraging efficiency trade-offs between foraging in the littoral and pelagic zone of a lake. The variation in morphology in perch is mainly due to phenotypic plasticity but there are also small genetic differences between the littoral and pelagic perch. Two separate studies show that both predation and competition may be important mechanism for the variation in morphology and diet in perch. In conclusion, the results in this thesis show that individual variation in diet and habitat choice is a common phenomenon with lots of ecological and evolutionary implications. However, there are many mechanisms involved in this phenomenon on which we are just about to start learning more about, and only further research in this area will give us the full insight.