Does proximity to wastewater effluent alter bluegill sunfish behaviour?

Session: 07. - Effects of Environmental Contamination on Fish Communities

Adrienne McLean, McMaster University, [email protected]
Jasmine Choi, McMaster University, [email protected]
Brett Culbert, McMaster University, [email protected]
Sherry Du, McMaster University, [email protected]
Erin McCallum, [email protected]
Graham Scott, McMaster University, [email protected]
Sigal Balshine, McMaster University, [email protected]

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals are becoming more prevalent in aquatic systems due to increased human consumption and their release into the environment via treated wastewater effluent. Some of these pharmaceuticals are designed to alter human behaviour and act on similar biological targets found in other taxa, such as fish that encounter pharmaceuticals in released effluent. To date, most studies of effects of pharmaceuticals and even of effluent have taken place in a laboratory setting.  We examined if and how fish behaviour might be altered by wild exposure to environmentally relevant doses of treated wastewater effluent. Here we tested if bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) differed in their activity and willingness to take risks after being held (i) near a wastewater effluent release pipe, (ii) downstream of this wastewater effluent pipe, and (iii) in a nearby control stream without wastewater effluent release. Preliminary results suggest that fish held downstream of the wastewater effluent release pipe exhibit more risky behaviours compared to those held at the other two sites. This could have important implications for survival of fish downstream of wastewater effluent release pipes.  

1. Keyword
environmental contaminants

2. Keyword
fish behavior

3. Keyword
Hamilton Harbour

4. Additional Keyword
Bluegill Sunfish