Altered Larval Yellow Perch Swimming Behavior Due to Methylmercury and PCB126 Detected Using Hidden Markov Chain...

Area of Science:

• Aquatic Ecotoxicology
• Neurotoxicology
• Behavioral Ecology

Background:

• Fish swimming behavior is a key indicator in aquatic ecotoxicology, reflecting whole-organism responses.
• Advancements in behavioral models like hidden Markov chain models (HMM) offer improved toxicological analysis.
• Developmental exposure to environmental contaminants can lead to neurodevelopmental alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the sublethal effects of PCB126 and methylmercury on yellow perch (YP) larvae swimming behavior.
• To compare traditional behavioral analysis with advanced HMM approaches.
• To identify specific behavioral changes indicative of neurotoxicity.

Main Methods:

• Exposure of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) larvae to three doses of PCB126 and methylmercury.
• Utilizing both traditional and hidden Markov chain models (HMM) to analyze swimming behavior.
• Quantifying changes in activity levels, swimming states, and state transitions.

Main Results:

• Both PCB126 and methylmercury exposure increased larval activity.
• Methylmercury exposure altered behavior patterns, increasing swimming time and bouts, and slowing swimming speed.
• PCB126 exposure influenced transitions between swimming states and the proportion of time in fast swimming states.

Conclusions:

• Developmental exposure to low doses of PCB126 and methylmercury significantly alters yellow perch larvae swimming behavior.
• Observed behavioral changes suggest underlying neurodevelopmental alterations.
• Advanced behavioral models provide sensitive detection of toxicant-induced effects.