Potential effects of internal physio-ecological changes on the online biomonitoring of water quality: The behavior responses with circadian rhythms of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to different chemicals

Abstract

The online biomonitoring of aquatic accidental pollution is very important to realize the assessment of complex toxicity. However, the monitoring results would be affected greatly by the internal physio-ecological changes of test organisms, and circadian rhythms might contribute greatly to this kind of effects. In the present study, the behavior responses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to different concentrations of Deltamethrin, Atrazine, and Thallium (Tl) in 15 days were investigated using an online behavior monitoring system. The results showed that the average behavior strength (BS) value of dark period (0.71 ± 0.16) was lower than that of light period (0.88 ± 0.09) in the control group. Similar pattern was observed in all other treatments with negative relationship between exposure concentrations and mean BS values. It is concluded that the 24 h circadian rhythms in the behavior responses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) could be observed clearly in the online biomonitoring system, and the online monitoring results would be affected obviously in the characteristics of behavior periodicity abnormal and time delay. Therefore, it is suggested that internal physio-ecological characteristics of organisms must be considered once they have the chance to play roles in bio-induced technologies. More investigations are warranted to clear the effects of internal physio-ecological changes on the exported results.