Type of Document	Technical Report
Author	Grippo, Mark
Author's Email Address	mgrippo@vt.edu
URN	etd-05242001-200752
Title	The Effect of Mercury on the Feeding Behavior of Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas)
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Biology
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Heath, Alan G. Committee Chair Angermeier, Paul L. Committee Member Jenssen, Thomas A. Committee Member
Keywords	Fathead Minnows Neurotransmitters Mercury; Foraging Behavior Learning
Date of Defense	2001-04-13
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to mercury (1.69, 6.79, and 13. 57 µg/l HgCl2; 10 d exposure) and afterwards tested using various metrics of foraging ability while feeding in a vegetated habitat. Among the foraging metrics were foraging efficiency, capture speed, and the ability to learn and retain information regarding habitat characteristics. Comparisons with control fish and fish from the two highest exposure groups revealed consistent performance deficits in foraging efficiency and capture speed. However, no treatment effects on learning were detected. In determining the underlying proximate cause of the foraging deficits, it is believed that the greater pause time exhibited by treatment fish while foraging was the main cause of treatment differences. In the future, behavioral studies will continue to allow toxicity testing of environmentally relevant variables such as those used by behavioral ecologists. Such tests, when combined with tests of field collected specimens, could prove powerful in linking laboratory toxicity to toxicity in wild populations.
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