Impact of chronic cadmium exposure at environmental dose on escape behaviour in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.; Teleostei, Moronidae)

Type Article
Date 2008
Language English
Author(s) Faucher Karine1, Fichet Denis, Miramand Pierre, Lagardere Jean-Paul1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, ULR, CNRS, UMR 6217,Ctr Rech Ecosyst Littoraux Anthropises, F-17137 Lhoumeau, France.
Source Environmental Pollution (0269-7491) (Elsevier), 2008 , Vol. 151 , N. 1 , P. 148-157
DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.02.017
WOS© Times Cited 26
Keyword(s) Bioaccumulation, Escape behaviour, Chronic cadmium exposure, Neuromast, Fish lateral system
Abstract The effect of chronic exposure to a low concentration (0.5 mu g l(-1)) of cadmium ions was investigated on escape behaviour of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, using video analysis. Observations were also performed on the microanatomy of lateral system neuromasts. When fish were exposed for 4 h per day over 8 days to the cadmium ions, most of both types of neuromasts observed remained intact. However, some of them presented damaged sensory maculae. Whereas before cadmium exposure, fish responded positively to nearly all the lateral system stimulations, after exposure they decreased by about 10% their positive responses to Stimulations. From the 15th day after the beginning of cadmium exposure, neuromasts presented progressively less damage, cadmium accumulation in gills and scales decreased significantly and fish escape behaviour had recovered. This study presents a new concept in ecotoxicology: using behavioural change to reveal the effects of pollution levels, scarcely detectable by currently used techniques (physiological responses). (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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