Dibutyl phthalate and chromium, contaminants found in urban rivers, increase aggressive behavior of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (728.26)

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are being affected by many sources of pollution related to anthropogenic activities, particularly in highly developed urbanized areas. Dominance and fighting behavior in crustaceans vary depending on a number of circumstances such as food availability, shelter, reproductive partners, environment, health status, and exposure to contaminants. The impact of urban contaminants on crustacean behavior has not been thoroughly studied yet and may serve as a means to monitor potential contamination in rivers in highly populated regions, such as the island of Puerto Rico, We hypothesized that organic compounds, such as phthalates, and heavy metal contaminants present in urban rivers of Puerto Rico can affect interactive behaviors of the freshwater prawn even at relatively low concentrations. Submissive prawns of interacting pairs were injected with dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or chromium (Cr III), at levels allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. Results show that low concentrations of both DBP and Cr III increase levels of aggression of submissive prawns in a reversible and repeatable manner. It is possible that these contaminants may have an effect in the mechanisms and neural circuitry underlying aggression in the freshwater prawn. Additional studies using immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology approaches will be conducted to test this possibility.Grant Funding Source: NSF HRD‐1137725; NSF DBI‐0932955; NIH NIGMS 5SC3GM084763