Deformities were the focus of the literature review, which this table is based upon. It includes compiled data from both laboratory experiments and field studies. A review by Weis and Weis (1989) was the source of much of the information from laboratory field studies. The aim of the study was to relate fish abnormalities to environmental quality.

This table was developed to bring together prevalences of specific externally visible abnormalities in fish populations, as reported from field studies, and causal agents of specific abnormalities, as reported from laboratory experiments. The table provides examples of the use of fish abnormalities as environmental indicators, and, where possible, provides information linking these same abnormalities to agents of environmental degradation. Information provided for each record in the table includes species, life stage, geographic location, time of year, locality, type of abnormality, the prevalence (mainly from field studies), stressor or suspected stressor (usually only known with certainty from laboratory studies), concentration (only for lab studies), primary reference (immediate source of information) and a secondary reference (original source of information). In addition, notes are provided to expand on or clarify information given in a record.

To get to the ABNORM table, you click on the Biology button in the SPECIES window, the Morphology and physiology button in the BIOLOGY window and the Abnormalities button in the following window.