Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Exposure to metals
Hight energy cost
Induction of MT 4
Cost of tolerance
Vertical swimming of amphipods 1
Swimming stamina of amphipods 2
Diminution of prey capture 4
Spillover 4
Impairment of enzymes 3
Low energy cost
Horizontal swimming of amphipods 1
Pleopod beats (amphipods) 2
FIGURE 10.3
Relationship between behavioral and metabolic disruption: case of aquatic invertebrates exposed to increasing
levels of metals. ( 1 Wallace and Estephan 2004; 2 Lawrence and Poulter 1998; 3 Louie and Meade 1999; 4 Wallace et al.
2000). (From Amiard-Triquet, C. et al., eds, Tolerance to Environmental Contaminants , Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press.)
concentrations bound to high molecular weight proteins, that is to say, enzymes. With the
impairment of enzymes, toxic effects may appear such as the diminution of prey capture
observed in the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio . At this stage, even behaviors with lower
energy cost may be disturbed.
10.3 Behavioral Effects of Aquatic Pollutants
In Table 10.1, we have listed studies showing the effect of different classes of chemicals on
different categories of behavior in different zoological taxa.
Many organisms are able to detect chemicals in their environment and to avoid them.
Avoidance of contaminated food results in the reduction of toxicant uptake but also, of
food intake as a source of energy (see Chapter 11). Organisms can also detect and avoid
contaminants present in water and sediments. Fish are able to react at low metal concen-
trations, of the order of magnitude of those encountered in the field in contaminated areas
(Scherer and McNicol 1998; Hansen et al. 1999a and literature quoted therein). Fish can
also react to the presence of organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocar-
bons (PAHs). Invertebrates are also responsive to the presence of different classes of con-
taminants in their medium. On the other hand, Tierney et al. (2011) provide evidence for
a behavioral preference toward environmental concentrations of urban-use herbicides in
the fish Oncorhynchus kisutch . Consequently, these juvenile Coho salmon place themselves
in conditions of exposure that alter their attraction response to l-alanine, an amino acid
prevalent in food that therefore represents a cue necessary for survival.
The ability of fish to avoid their predators often falls off as a consequence of sublethal
exposure to toxicants. As discussed in Section 10.2.1, this may be due to chemosensory
deprivation delaying the appropriate response, but also to disturbances in schooling
behavior of prey species (Nakayama et al. 2005). The literature provides numerous exam-
ples of reduced survival of contaminated fish in the presence of their predators (see review
by Scott and Sloman 2004).
Locomotion is a key factor in performing an appropriate behavior since it has a
direct impact on interactions between prey and predators, relationships of dominance/
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