Behavioural responses of fathead minnows to carbohydrates found in aquatic environments

Carbohydrates make up a significant portion of dissolved organic carbon in waterways. Apart from studies demonstrating that chondroitin causes avoidance behaviours in some fish species, no work has been done to determine how fish respond to carbohydrates commonly found in their environment. In this study fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were attracted to N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, avoided d-arabinose and had no response to either d-xylose or d-glucose using a behavioural assay. This study provides further evidence that carbohydrates may be important chemosensory cues for fish.