Mass Mortalities and Behaviour of Brook Trout and Juvenile Atlantic Salmon in a Stream Polluted by Agricultural Pesticides

Abstract

After accidental spillage of the agricultural pesticides nabam and endrin into Mill River, Prince Edward Island, there were extensive mortalities among brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill)) and juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar Linnaeus). Surviving trout and salmon showed abnormal behaviour including unseasonal downstream movements in summer and unusual response to an electric field. The abnormal behaviour could provide a useful biological indicator of pollution by the pesticides.