Pollution Research Paper

MERCURY INDUCED BEHAVIORAL ALTERATIONS IN CHANNA PUNCTATUS

NEERAJ GUPTA AND ANISH DUA

Abstract

Heavy metals impose a major threat to the aquatic environment for the last few decades. Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that is found both naturally and can be introduced in the environment by anthropogenic activities. The present study was performed in order to investigate different behavior aspects of Channa punctatus on exposure to sublethal concentrations of mercuric chloride. LC50 value was calculated and its sublethal concentrations were made. The fishes were exposed to these concentrations for 24h and 15 days. Mercuric chloride exposure caused hypoxia, loss of equilibrium, decrease in resting period and opercular movements and showed erratic and speedy movements.