Behaviour of freshwater snails (Radix balthica) exposed to the pharmaceutical sertraline under simulated predation risk

Abstract

Due to their potential for affecting the modulation of behaviour, effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the environment are particularly interesting regarding interspecies interactions and non-consumptive effects (NCEs) induced by predator cues in prey organisms. We evaluated the effects of sertraline (0.4, 40 ng/L, 40 µg/L) over 8 days on activity and habitat choice in the freshwater snail Radix balthica, on snails’ boldness in response to mechanical stimulation (simulating predator attack), and their activity/habitat choice in response to chemical cues from predatory fish. We hypothesised that sertraline exposure would detrimentally impact NCEs elicited by predator cues, increasing predation risk. Although there were no effects of sertraline on NCEs, there were observed effects of chemical cue from predatory fish on snail behaviour independent of sertraline exposure. Snails reduced their activity in which the percentage of active snails decreased by almost 50% after exposure to fish cue. Additionally, snails changed their habitat use by moving away from open (exposed) areas. The general lack of effects of sertraline on snails’ activity and other behaviours in this study is interesting considering that other SSRIs have been shown to induce changes in gastropod behaviour. This raises questions on the modes of action of various SSRIs in gastropods, as well as the potential for a trophic “mismatch” of effects between fish predators and snail prey in aquatic systems.

Total Release of 21 Indicator Pharmaceuticals Listed by the Swedish Medical Products Agency from Wastewater Treatment Plants to Surface Water Bodies in the 1.3 Million Populated County Skåne (Scania), Sweden

“…Sertraline is also an SSRI-type antidepressant, as citalopram above. Swedish researchers have studied the behavior of freshwater snails ( Radix balthica ) exposed to the pharmaceutical, observing a general lack of effects on the snail’s activity [ 57 ]. In contrast, the same researchers found that the fish species Eurasian perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) presented an exposure-dependent decrease in feeding habits with increasing sertraline concentrations at a µg/L level [ 58 ].…”

Previous stress causes a contrasting response to cadmium toxicity in the aquatic snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum: lethal and behavioral endpoints

“…Besides, several behavioral endpoints have been monitored in an ample range of mollusk species. For instance, feeding and movement variables have been amply used to assess the sensitivity of gastropods to different toxicants and other sources of stress (Snider and Gilliam 2008 ; Hedgespeth et al 2018 ; Alonso and Valle-Torres 2018 ; Alonso 2021 ). From an ecological perspective, movement behaviors, such as time to reach the food, swimming capacity, and time to start normal activity, are directly related to animal fitness (Scott and Sloman 2004 ; Snider and Gilliam 2008 ; Alonso and Camargo 2009a ; Hellou 2011 ; Silva et al 2018 ; Alonso 2021 ).…”

The hidden impact: exploring sublethal effects of pharmaceutical disruption on aquatic ecosystem functioning

“…behavioural modifications upon exposure to pharmaceuticals can be tracked in short exposure periods. For example, for the end-point such as re-emergence of antennae from the shell in freshwater snails (Radix balthica) upon exposure to sertraline, exposure duration 3 min was sufficient (Hedgespeth et al, 2018). However, the sub-lethal effects on ecosystem dynamics to evaluate species sensitivity, and effect of trophic interactions demand a longer exposure period (Jarvis et al, 2014).…”