Swimming behavior as an indicator of sublethal toxicity in fish

Abstract Swimming behavior of fish is impaired by exposure to a diversity of contaminants. Gross aberrations in swimming can be qualitatively assessed while subtle changes in swimming behavior arising from sublethal exposures can be detected through a more detailed analysis of this response. Compared to other swimming behavior variables, the physical capacity to swim against water flow tends to be affected at relatively high toxicant concentrations and often presages mortality. Orientation to water flow, however, is altered at sublethal concentrations. Frequency of activity is a more sensitive measure in detecting contamination than measurements of survival alone. Alterations in swimming behavior have been detected during exposures to various contaminants at concentrations as low as 0.7 to 5% of their LC50 values and at concentrations that subsequently inhibited growth after longer periods of exposure. Analysis of swimming patterns provides even higher resolution for analysis of swimming behavior, and increased availability of the instrumentation necessary for such measurements should facilitate use of this approach. Fish swimming activity can easily be incorporated in test protocols to expand the sensitivity of standard toxicity tests.