Water quality of spawning grounds constrains the population dynamics of an emblematic diadromous species (Alosa alosa)

Abstract In this study, the role of water quality has been studied to assess its suitability for the allis shad ( Alosa alosa ), a diadromous fish for which abundance has drastically declined at the beginning of 2000 and is remaining critically low in the Garonne basin (France). The water quality regarding contamination at spawning grounds and its toxicity for embryos and larvae is one possible explanatory factor for this decline, which has not been investigated. Early life stages of fish are particularly sensitive to environmental conditions, including water contamination, making them useful for environmental monitoring. The ex situ biomonitoring method allows continuous exposure of organisms to river water while controlling for confounding factors such as temperature, oxygen, and photoperiod. Three ex situ exposures of allis shad embryos to the Garonne water were conducted during its spawning season, in spring 2022 and 2023, under optimal temperature and oxygen saturation rate. Survival in the control groups demonstrates the value of the ex situ approach, allowing for the exposure of early life stages in their natural environment. Results indicated a high mortality rate in embryos exposed to the Garonne water compared to control, with mortality occurring during organogenesis, which is a particularly critical period of development. These findings raise concerns about the suitability of the Garonne water for the early development of allis shad and consequently for the population dynamics of this species in the Garonne basin. Moreover, these results confirm previous approaches of risk assessment and experimentations, suggesting that water quality and contamination could have an impact on other fish species.