Brand, Jack
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Monash University
Research article2024Peer reviewedOpen access
Fergusson, Kate N.; Tanner, James L.; Brand, Jack A.; Hannington, Stephanie L.; Pettersen, Amanda K.; Sundin, Josefin; Saaristo, Minna; Bertram, Michael G.; Martin, Jake M.; Wong, Bob B. M.
Contamination of aquatic ecosystems by pharmaceuticals is a growing threat worldwide. The antidepressant fluoxetine is one such pharmaceutical that is frequently detected in aquatic ecosystems, and has been found to alter the behaviour and physiology of exposed wildlife. Few studies, however, have investigated potential combined effects on behaviour and metabolic rate. In addition, exposures are often short in duration and rarely conducted under ecologically relevant conditions. Here, we examined the impacts of long-term fluoxetine exposure on boldness (exploration, activity, and antipredator behaviour), metabolic rate, and morphology in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Specifically, fish were exposed for 8 months (corresponding to approximately two overlapping generations) in semi-natural mesocosms to one of three treatments: an unexposed control (0 ng L-1), or low or high fluoxetine (mean measured concentrations: 30 ng L-1 and 292 ng L-1, respectively). Following exposure, we quantified male exploratory behaviour and activity in a novel environment (maze arena) and antipredator behaviour in the presence or absence of a live predator (spangled perch, Leiopotherapon unicolor), as well as metabolic rate and morphology (mass, standard length, and scaled mass index). Fluoxetine exposure did not significantly alter boldness, metabolic rate, mass, or standard length. However, fluoxetine exposure did alter body condition, whereby fish in the high treatment had a higher scaled mass index than control fish. Our results, considered alongside previous work, underscore the importance of exposure duration in mediating the effects of fluoxetine on fitness-related traits. Continued research under extended exposure periods (i.e., spanning multiple generations) is essential if we are to accurately predict the ecological impacts of fluoxetine on exposed wildlife, and their underlying mechanism(s).
Activity; Boldness; Exploration; Multigenerational; Pharmaceutical pollution; Predator
Aquatic Toxicology
2024, Volume: 276, article number: 107082
SDG14 Life below water
Zoology
Ecology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107082
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132384