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Hydrazine: Acute Toxicity to Bluegills and Sublethal Effects on Dorsal Light Response and Aggression
Author(s) -
Fisher J. W.,
Harrah C. B.,
Berry W. O.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1980)109<304:h>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - toxicity , lepomis macrochirus , hydrazine (antidepressant) , acute toxicity , dorsum , toxicology , chemistry , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , pharmacology , anatomy , fishery , organic chemistry
The effects of hydrazine on bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, were assessed in terms of acute toxicity and by examining the alterations hydrazine induced in the dorsal light response and aggressiveness. The static 96‐hour median lethal concentration (LC50) of hydrazine was 1.08 mg/liter and the 96‐hour continuous‐flow no‐lethal‐effect concentration was 0.43 mg/liter. The dorsal light response in the presence of an artificial prey was significantly decreased within 15 minutes of exposure to hydrazine concentrations well below the 96‐hour static LC50. This was true both in static and in continuous‐flow conditions. In addition, aggressiveness, as measured by the number of attacks on the prey, was increased in a dose‐related manner. Control fish made no attacks, but attacks increased as the hydrazine concentrations increased. These behavioral measurements offer some promise as monitors of subtle, sublethal effects of hydrazine and possibly other aquatic pollutants on fish.