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Latent behavioural toxicity of copper to sea catfish, Arius felis , and sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus
Author(s) -
Steele C. W.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb03209.x
Subject(s) - hypoactivity , catfish , biology , toxicity , felis , zoology , copper , toxicology , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , cats , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , organic chemistry
To assess quantitatively the latent (delayed) toxicity of acutely sublethal exposure to copper on the locomotor and orientation behaviour of marine teleosts, the movements of individual sea catfish, Arius felis , and sheepshead porgy, Archosargus probatocephalus , were monitored electronically in a multiple‐choice rosette tank immediately after 72‐h static exposure to copper (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg Cu l −1 ) and 1 week later. Initial hyperactivity following copper‐exposure was exhibited by all fish of both species (except controls), as indicated by significant changes in the behavioural variables used to quantify locomotor activity. In addition, the orientation angles of successive movements in the monitor tank increased significantly for sea catfish, producing a decrease in the frequency of turning. Orientation angles of sheepshead showed a significant enhancement of the ‘normal’ tendency of this species to make small‐angle turns in the tank, and to return immediately to the compartment just vacated (indicative of an increase in the frequency of turning). One week following exposure, all copper‐exposed fish exhibited extreme hypoactivity which was significantly different from their behaviour immediately after exposure, and from the behaviour of control fish. This hypoactivity did not correspond, therefore, to ‘normal’ activity in either species. The delayed effect of copper exposure on orientation was to exacerbate significantly the species specific turning behaviour seen immediately following exposure. These results are discussed in terms of presumed accumulated physiological damage resulting from the exposure to copper and the initial hyperactivity such exposure elicits, and of general behavioural ecology.