Behavioral and reproductive effects in Poecilia vivipara males from a tropical estuary affected by estrogenic contaminants.

Contamination of aquatic habitats by endocrine disruptor chemicals is a major concern globally. This study evaluated histochemical, behavioral, and reproductive effects on adult male Poecilia vivipara sampled from Capibaribe River Estuarine System (CRES), compared to laboratory control males after breeding with virgin control females. CRES is contaminated by a mixture of estrogenic contaminants estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-Ethinylestradiol, bisphenol A and caffeine in concentrations averaging 13.9; 4.2; 19.5; 8.6; 27 and 23.2 ng L-1, respectively. Estrogenic risk in 17β-estradiol-equivalent-concentrations is above probable no effect concentrations. Males sampled from CRES indicated liver phosphoprotein induction, decreased number of contacts and copulation attempts when paired with control females, slower swimming speed and lower female impregnation success rates, compared to control males. A reduction of 62% in fecundity was observed in control females paired with field sampled males compared with control males. Our results highlight hazards posed to fish reproduction by estrogenic micropollutants.