Temperature preference as an indicator of the chronic toxicity of cupric ions to Mozambique Tilapia

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01702000· OSTI ID:6789027

Welch, T J; Stauffer, Jr, J R; Morgan, II, R P ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Maryland, Frostburg (USA)

Evaluation of the effects of environmental contaminants on aquatic communities has focused primarily on acute bioassays. These bioassays provide rapid and reproducible concentration response curves based on death as an endpoint. In recent years, however, emphasis has shifted towards monitoring sublethal effects of toxicants. Temperature is an easily quantifiable parameter influencing both the behavior and survival of fishes. As poikilotherms, fish use behavioral responses to help regulate body temperature. Fish thermoregulatory behavior may be altered by various toxic substances. Some researchers found that a 24 hr exposure of sublethal concentrations of copper caused a significant decrease in preferred temperature of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), although the results were confounded due to variations in copper concentrations. In this study, the authors examined the feasibility of using acute temperature preference tests to assess the chronic toxicity of low concentrations of free cupric ions to Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters).

• OSTI ID: 6789027
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA), Vol. 43:5; ISSN 0007-4861
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COPPER COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
FISHES
BEHAVIOR
WATER POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BODY TEMPERATURE
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
IONS
JUVENILES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
POLLUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology