Rapid Detection of Sublethal Toxicity Using Locomotor Activity of Rainbow Trout Juveniles

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2018-02, Vol.100 (2), p.221-227
• Main Authors: Makaras, Tomas, Svecevičius, Gintaras, Kazlauskienė, Nijolė, Montvydienė, Danguolė
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acclimation; Acclimatization; Aquatic Pollution; Average velocity; Chromium; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Exposure; Fish; Fish behavior; Heavy metals; Hexavalent chromium; Juveniles; Landfills; Leachates; Locomotor activity; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Organic compounds; Pollutant identification; Pollutants; Pollution; Salmon; Soil Science & Conservation; Toxicity; Trout; Waste disposal sites; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-017-2244-x

This study examined changes in locomotor activity of the rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) juveniles exposed to sublethal concentrations of hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+ ) (as a single pollutant) and landfill leachate (as an complex mixture of mainly organic compounds, including trace amounts of metals). Fish were first examined for baseline behavior patterns for 3 h to determine the appropriate duration of acclimation and the control level. The average velocity of fish was found to be the most informative among other endpoints throughout the 3 h long acclimation. Under the effect of both test substances, fish locomotor activity significantly increased after 5 min reaching maximum values after 10 min of exposure. The juveniles exposed to leachate were more responsive than those exposed to Cr 6+ . However, in this study we did not succeed in identifying pollutants from the elicited fish behavioral response patterns.