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The effects of brief exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons on feeding and avoidance behaviour in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch
Author(s) -
Purdy J. E.
Publication year - 1989
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.1095-8649.1989.tb03340.x
Subject(s) - oncorhynchus , biology , acetone , pollutant , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , toxicology , avoidance behaviour , salmonidae , fishery , ecology , biochemistry , psychology , salmo , psychotherapist
Two experiments determined the effects of exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons on feeding and avoidance behaviour in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch . Subjects received brief exposure to different concentrations of a mixture of seven aromatic hydrocarbons dissolved in acetone and sea water. Exposure to a low concentration decreased feeding. At a higher level, all fish stopped feeding for 3 days and one fish stopped feeding for 10 days. Salmon exposed only to acetone fed normally. Experiment 2 subjects were trained to avoid electric shock. Exposure to a low level of pollutant caused an initial reduction in avoidance response. Exposure to the high level caused a greater reduction and a longer reaction time to the conditioned stimulus. Results suggested that exposure to these levels of aromatic hydrocarbons could limit a fish's ability to survive.