Abstract
Four measures of behavior-spontaneous swimming activity, swimming capacity, feeding behavior, and vulnerability to predation-were assessed as indicators of sublethal toxicity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in 96-hr exposures to sublethal concentrations of six agricultural chemicals: carbaryl, chlordane, dimethylamine salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DMA), tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DBF 1), methyl parathion, and pentachlorophenol. After exposures, behavioral changes consistently demonstrated sublethal toxicity, but effects on specific behaviors varied with contaminants and their concentrations were altered by the water quality criterion concentration for chlordane (2 μg/L), and at a concentration of DEF (5 μg/L) that had previously been shown to inhibit growth and survival after a 90-day exposure. Feeding behavior was inhibited most by exposure to DEF, 2,4-DMA, and methyl parathion. Vulnerability to predation was heightened most by exposure to carbaryl and pentachlorophenol. Although all chemicals inhibited spontaneous swimming activity, only carbaryl, DEF, and 2,4-DMA influenced swimming capacity.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Atchison GJ, Henry MG, Sandheinrich MB (1987) Effects of metals on fish behavior: A review. Environ Biol Fishes 18:11–25
Brett JR (1971) Energetic response of salmon to temperature. A study of some thermal relations in the physiology and fresh-water ecology of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Am Zool 11:99–113
Brown JA, Johansen PH, Colgan PW, Mathers RA (1987) Impairment of early feeding behavior of largemouth bass by pentachlorophenol exposure: A preliminary assessment. Trans Am Fish Soc 116:71–78
— (1985) Changes in the predator-avoidance behavior of juvenile guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exposed to pentachlorophenol. Can J Zool 63:2001–2005
Bull CJ, McInerney JE (1974) Behavior of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) exposed to Sumithion® (fenitrothion), an organophosphate insecticide. J Fish Res Board Can 31:1867–1872
Cleveland L, Hamilton SJ (1983) Toxicity of the organophosphorous defoliant DEF to rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Aquat Toxicol 4:341–355
Cleveland L, Little EE, Hamilton SJ, Buckler DR, Hunn JB (1986) Interactive toxicity of aluminum and acidity to early life stages of brook trout. Trans Am Fish Soc 115:610–620
Cleveland L, Buckler DR, Mayer FL, Branson DR (1982) Toxicity of three preparations of pentachlorophenol to fathead minnows — A comparative study. Environ Toxicol Chem 1:205–212
Drummond RA, Spoor WA, Olsen GF (1973) Some short-term indicators of sublethal effects of copper on brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis. J Fish Res Board Can 30:698–701
Eichelberger JW, Lichtenberg JJ (1971) Persistence of pesticides in river water. Environ Sci Technol 5:541–544
Ellgaard EG, Ochsner JC, Cox JK (1977) Locomotor hyperactivity induced in bluegill sunfish,Lepomis macrochirus, by sublethal concentrations of DDT. Can Zool 55:1077–1081
Environmental Protection Agency (1980) Ambient water quality criteria for chlordane. US Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 440/5-80-027, Washington, DC, 54 pp
Farr JA (1977) Impairment of antipredator behavior inPalaemonetes pugio by exposure to sublethal doses of parathion. Trans Am Fish Soc 106:287–290
Finger SE, Little EE, Henry MG, Fairchild JF, Boyle TP (1985) Comparison of laboratory and field assessment of fluorene—Part 1: Effects of fluorene on the survival, growth reproduction, and behavior of aquatic organisms in laboratory tests.In: Boyle TP (ed) Validation and predictability of laboratory methods for assessing the fate and effects of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. ASTM STP 865, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA, pp 120–133
Goodyear CP (1972) A simple technique for detecting effects of toxicants or other stresses on a predator-prey interaction. Trans Am Fish Soc 101:367–370
Hamilton SJ, Cleveland L, Smith LM, Lebo JA, Mayer FL (1986) Toxicity of pure pentachlorophenol and chlorinated phenoxyphenol impurities to fathead minnows. Environ Toxicol Chem 5:543–552
Johnson WW, Finley MT (1980) Handbook of acute toxicity of chemicals to fish and aquatic invertebrates. U.S. Fish Wildl Serv Resour Publ 137, Washington, DC, 97 pp
Laurence GC (1972) Comparative swimming abilities of fed and starved larval largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). J Fish Biol 4:73–78
Little EE, Flerov BA, Ruzhinskaya NN (1985) Behavioral approaches in aquatic toxicity: A review. In: Mehrle PM, Gray RH, Kendall RL (eds) Toxic substances in the aquatic environment: An international perspective. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD, pp 72–98
Mehrle PM, Buckler DR, Little EE, Smith LM, Petty JD, Peterman PH, Stalling DL, DeGraeve GM, Coyle JJ, Adams WJ (1988) Toxicity and bioconcentration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran in rainbow trout. Environ Toxicol Chem 7:47–62
Oliver JD, Holeton GD, Chua KE (1979) Overwintering mortality of fingerling smallmouth bass in relation to size, relative energy stores and environmental temperature. Trans Am Fish Soc 108:130–136
Peterson RH (1974) Influence of fenitrothion on swimming velocities of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). J Fish Res Board Can 31:1757–1762
Post G, Leasure RH (1974) Sublethal effect of malathion to three salmonid species. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 12:312–319
Sandheinrich MB, Atchison GJ (1988) Sublethal copper effects on bluegillLepomis macrochirus foraging behavior. Can J Fish Aquat Sci (in press)
Sprague JB (1971) Measurements of pollutant toxicity to fish. III. Sublethal effects and “safe” concentrations. Water Res 5:246–266
Steele CW (1983) Effects of exposure to sublethal copper on the locomotor behavior of the sea catfish,Arius felis. Aquat Toxicol 4:83–93
Weis P, Weis JS (1974) Schooling behavior ofMenidia menidia in the presence of the insecticide Sevin® (carbaryl). Mar Biol 28:261–263
Werner EE, Hall DJ (1974) Optimal foraging and the size selection of prey by the bluegill sunfish, (Lepomis macrochirus). Ecology 55:1042–1052
Woodward DF, Little EE, Smith LM (1987) Toxicity of five shale oils to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 16:239–246
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Little, E.E., Archeski, R.D., Flerov, B.A. et al. Behavioral indicators of sublethal toxicity in rainbow trout. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 19, 380–385 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054982
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054982