Quantifying Fish Swimming Behavior in Response to Acute Exposure of Aqueous Copper Using Computer Assisted Video and Digital Image Analysis

Abstract

Behavioral responses of aquatic organisms to environmental contaminants can be precursors of other effects such as survival, growth, or reproduction. However, these responses may be subtle, and measurement can be challenging. Using juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) with copper exposures, this paper illustrates techniques used for quantifying behavioral responses using computer assisted video and digital image analysis. In previous studies severe impairments in swimming behavior were observed among early life stage white sturgeon during acute and chronic exposures to copper. Sturgeon behavior was rapidly impaired and to the extent that survival in the field would be jeopardized, as fish would be swept downstream, or readily captured by predators. The objectives of this investigation were to illustrate protocols to quantify swimming activity during a series of acute copper exposures to determine time to effect during early lifestage development, and to understand the significance of these responses relative to survival of these vulnerable early lifestage fish. With mortality being on a time continuum, determining when copper first affects swimming ability helps us to understand the implications for population level effects. The techniques used are readily adaptable to experimental designs with other organisms and stressors.

Microplastics ingestion in the ephyra stage of Aurelia sp. triggers acute and behavioral responses

“…This may account for the high sensitivity of the behavioral response compared to Immobility. Behavioral responses can provide initial health condition indications before the organism death (Calfee et al 2016).…”

Comparison on growth performance, body coloration changes and stress response of juvenile river catfish, Pangasius hypophthalmus reared in different tank background colour

“…The metric ruler was placed inside the tank and attached on the bottom. The method used was a modified from Calfee, Puglis, Little, Brumbaugh, and Mebane (). Swimming speed of the fish was recorded using a slow‐motion camera when a fish swam through a distance of 15 cm.…”

Scientific integrity issues in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Improving research reproducibility, credibility, and transparency

“…The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) is an innovative peer‐reviewed, science methods journal in which the articles are a unique blend of the conventional printed article with professionally produced videography. Ecotoxicology methods articles have begun to be published in this format (van Iersel et al ; Calfee et al ). The field would benefit from broader use of new visualization techniques to document new methods and to improve education and training on techniques that need to be highly standardized to be repeatable.…”