title: Ecological effects of pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems--impacts through behavioural alterations.
abstract: The study of animal behaviour is important for both ecology and ecotoxicology, yet research in these two fields is currently developing independently. Here, we synthesize the available knowledge on drug-induced behavioural alterations in fish, discuss potential ecological consequences and report results from an experiment in which we quantify both uptake and behavioural impact of a psychiatric drug on a predatory fish (Perca fluviatilis) and its invertebrate prey (Coenagrion hastulatum). We show that perch became more active while damselfly behaviour was unaffected, illustrating that behavioural effects of pharmaceuticals can differ between species. Furthermore, we demonstrate that prey consumption can be an important exposure route as on average 46% of the pharmaceutical in ingested prey accumulated in the predator. This suggests that investigations of exposure through bioconcentration, where trophic interactions and subsequent bioaccumulation of exposed individuals are ignored, underestimate exposure. Wildlife may therefore be exposed to higher levels of behaviourally altering pharmaceuticals than predictions based on commonly used exposure assays and pharmaceutical concentrations found in environmental monitoring programmes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden tomas.brodin@emg.umu.se.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brodin
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Fiji Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piovano
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jerker
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fick
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jonatan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klaminder
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heynen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Micael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jonsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D063191:Odonata / Q000502:physiology*; D010076:Oxazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010471:Perches / Q000502:physiology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010076:Oxazepam
keywords: Perca fluviatilis; behaviour; benzodiazepines; bioconcentration; contaminants; ecological effects