Behavioral Responses in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Exposed to Heavy Metal and Insecticide Induced Stress

Abstract

Background: Changes in fish behavior can help identify accidental chemical pollution. Heavy metals and pesticides are two of the most found pollutants to investigate the different behavioral responses of fish to these two types of pollutants exposure. Methods: Real-time computer imaging was utilized to record parameters of fish behaviors, including swimming speed, turning frequency, depth and distance between fish. Deltamethrin and cadmium were 0.015 ppm and 3.5 ppm, respectively. It was conducted for a total period of 180 min. Fish behaviors were recorded with dechlorinated water during the first 60 mins, then deltamethrin and cadmium was introduced to observe behavioral responses of zebrafish during the next 120 mins. Result: As a result of increased swimming activity, the first response of zebrafish is avoidance followed by a changed distribution in the test chamber. The duration of hyperactivity during deltamethrin exposure was lasted 35 minutes larger than Cd exposure and the average swimming depth showed totally different trends with increased from 140 mm to 226 mm during deltamethrin exposure but decreased from 161 to 84 mm during cadmium exposure. It is proved that these different responses do exist under in the two chemicals studied and this may contribute to the development of biological early warning system to separate accidental chemical pollution types.