Effects of bis(tributyltin)oxide on antipredator behavior in threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus L.

Antipredator behavior was used as a parameter to detect effects caused by e xposure to the organotin compound bis(tributyltin)oxide (TBTO). Three group s of threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) were exposed to 3, 9 and 27 ppb TBTO, respectively. A fourth control group was given the same treatment as the other three groups, but no TBTO. Antipredator behavior of the fish was evoked using a dummy heron (Ardea cinerea) bill. TBTO exposur e caused significant changes in the spatial position of the fish in the aqu arium (P-Loc), their response to predator attack (P-Res), recovery time (P- Rec) and latency time (P-Lat) Some of the effects were, however. reversible after the exposure was terminated. We suggest that behavior as an indicato r of pollution may be used as an ecologically relevant integrative biomarke r. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.