SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1986
STP29043S

Behavioral and Morphological Changes in Fathead Minnow ( ) as Diagnostic Endpoints for Screening Chemicals According to Mode of Action

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Acute (96-h) toxicity tests were conducted using 30-day old fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). A total of 139 chemicals were tested under flow-through conditions at a temperature of 25 ± 1.0°C using Lake Superior water. A checklist was developed for systematically recording visual observations of behavioral and morphological changes. The checklist contained 40 different code items representing 10 general categories such as locomotor activity, morphological anomalies, etc. Loss of schooling behavior appeared to be the most sensitive indicator of general stress and was observed with 96% of the tested chemicals. Although deviate changes in behavior were found to be sensitive indictors of stress, they cannot be used solely to classify chemicals according to mode of action. Gross morphological changes are equally important. Development of a model, based on combinations of behavioral and morphological data, appears possible for screening and differentiating chemicals according to toxic action.

Author Information

Drummond, RA
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth, Duluth, MN
Russom, CL
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth, Duluth, MN
Geiger, DL
Center for Lake Superior Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Superior, Superior, WI
DeFoe, DL
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth, Duluth, MN
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Details
Developed by Committee: E47
Pages: 415–435
DOI: 10.1520/STP29043S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4986-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0489-1