PARENT SESSION

2Q - Online Biomonitoring
Poster Hall
8:30 AM - Wednesday, 30 April 2003
Chair: Gerhardt, A.¹, ¹

(WEP/157) The impact of an impedance converter apparatus on sensor species behaviour under varying ammonia toxicity.

Craig, S.¹, Laming, P.¹, ¹ Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT- The validity of using an automated online biomonitoring system, the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor (MFB), in recording the physiological and behavioural activities of an indigenous (the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteous aculeatus) and aquacultured (rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) fish species, is assessed. The direct impact of the alternating electrical current generated by the impedance converter on fish activity was measured using a repeated measure design, machine on/ machine off. 10-12 subjects were exposed to varying concentrations of ammonia. Sticklebacks were subjected to a) control, b) 0.071mgl-1 and c) 7.1mgl-1 UIA-N (n=36) and rainbow trout to 5 concentrations of ammonia a) control, b) 0.125gl-1, 1.25gl-1, 12.5gl-1, 125gl-1 UIA-N (n=53) . Impedance generated waves were compared to corresponding manually recorded behavioural observations in an attempt to calibrate the MFB, assigning particular behaviours to a particular frequency and amplitude range. Data analysis suggests that the MFB current failed to affect subject behaviour at any of the contamination levels studied. Furthermore, analyses suggest that MFB behavioural data was not significantly different from that manually recorded, indicating similar significant differences in behaviour with change in ammonia levels, verifying that the MFB recorded the behaviours that were concurrently observed. The feasibility of using the MFB as an effective Behavioural Early Warning System (BEWS) in an aquacultural environment and as a scientific tool for toxicity testing is discussed.

Key words: impedance converter, biomonitoring, ammonia, rainbow trout