STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF DAIRY EFFLUENT ON THE BEHAVIOR OF CYPRINUS-CARPIO (CYPRINIDAE)

The behaviour of common cyprinoid fish Cyprinus carpio was studied und er laboratory conditions. Fish were exposed to various concentrations of dairy effluent (5%-50%). Behavioural changes in Cyprinus carpio in relation to immediate stress on exposure to different concentrations o f dairy effluent have been determined. Surfacing activity and the oper cular beating have been used as indicators of this stress. Both these activities registered notable increases under stress conditions. Beyon d a concentration of 35% effluent, the opercular beating was very high and erratic. Similarly surfacing activity increased with the increase in the concentrations of the effluent upto certain percentage (25%) a nd decreased thereafter.