Abstract
The influence of magnetic fields and natural geomagnetic storms on biological circadian rhythms are actively studied. This study reveals an impact of local natural perturbations in the geomagnetic field that occurred at different times of the day on circadian patterns of locomotor activity of zebrafish. A decrease in zebrafish swimming speed was observed during the geomagnetic disturbances before or after the fluctuations of diurnal geomagnetic variation. However, if the geomagnetic perturbations coincided with the fluctuations of diurnal geomagnetic variation, the decrease in zebrafish swimming speed was insignificant. This result suggests that the biological effects of geomagnetic disturbances may depend on synchronization with the diurnal geomagnetic variation. It implies that the previously published correlations between geomagnetic activity and medical or biological parameters could result from a disruption in circadian biorhythms.
Highlights
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a model organism widely used to study various biological processes
A decrease in zebrafish swimming speed, increase in the percentage of freezing time, and decrease in the percentage of swimming time are observed as a general trend during the geomagnetic disturbances, with local K-index = 4 compared to the values obtained from the same fish during the magnetically quiet period (Table 1)
There was no significant influence on swimming speed, percentage of freezing time, and percentage of swimming time if the perturbations in the geomagnetic field coincided with the morning fluctuations of diurnal geomagnetic variation (31 August 2020)
Summary
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a model organism widely used to study various biological processes Locomotor activity of this species is a commonly used behavioral endpoint [1]. Changes in the circadian pattern of zebrafish locomotor activity are used for neurophysiological studies and are suggested to be a tool for toxicity assessment [2,3,4,5,6]. In this regard, the evaluation of natural factors influencing the locomotor activity of zebrafish is of significant interest. The issue of the influence of natural geomagnetic disturbances on the locomotor activity of zebrafish remains obscured
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