Can sticklebacks indicate water quality?

Re-post 07.2011

On the photo: massive deaths of sticklebacks due to pollution at Rauma - Finland.

It has recently been proposed that this fish could be used as indicator of water quality. For instance, heavy metals can accumulate in the body and alter physiological functions. The accumulation of metals in the fish is measurable and could be used to monitor pollution.

More here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2002.tb01747.x/abstract