Behavioral Response and Acute Toxicity of Fingerlings of African Cat Fish, Clarias Gariepinus Exposed To Paraquat Dichloride - Behavioral Response and Acute Toxicity of Fingerlings of African Cat Fish, Clarias Gariepinus Exposed To Paraquat Dichloride - Open Access Pub

This study evaluated the behavioural response and toxicity of paraquat dichloride to fingerlings of Clariasgariepinus. The fishes were acclimatized for 14 days and exposed to sublethal concentration of 0.00 ppm, 16.56 ppm, 22.08 ppm, 27.60 ppm, 33.12 ppm and 38.64 ppm. A 24 hours’ renewal bioassay was adopted in this study. Results showed that the fishes exhibited change in swimming, opercular movement, body pigmentation, surfacing and air gulping. Mortality rate increased significantly at p<0.05 as the concentration of the toxicant increased as well as the exposure period. LC50 values at 24, 48, 72 and 96 were 59.95, 47.59, 38.12 and 26.18ppm, respectively. Based on the results, Paraquat dichloride users need to discard the remains of empty cans properly to avoid contamination. Also there is need to exercise caution when using paraquat dichloride based herbicides in agricultural fields close to surface water resources. DOI10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-19-2779 In the recent times environmental resources (soil, water and ambient air quality) are threatened due to pollution resulting from anthropogenic activities 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The potability and domestic utilization of water resources especially by humans have been widely studied 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Surface water exists as freshwater, brackish and marine water. They are basically classified based on their physicochemical characteristics especially salinity, conductivity, hardness etc. Each of these surface water resources have their unique features they possess. This surface water is the major recipients of wastes streams resulting from human activities. Studies have indicated that surface water such as Epie creek, receives different kinds of wastes resulting from anthropogenic activities which has led to changes in the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the surface water of the creek 12, 13. Sewage is also discharged into the aquatic ecosystem through direct means especially in several coastal communities in Bayelsa state 14, 15. After rainfall, runoff carries several materials and deposits them in the aquatic ecosystem. Instances of substances recalcitrant to degradation (such as heavy metals) has been reported in surface water system in the Niger Delta 2, 16. Some of these toxic substances have the tendency to bioaccumulate in fishes 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Typically, fishes are among the common protein source, and harvesting from the wild is a source of livelihood to indigenous people in many coastal regions of Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Pesticides are substances that are used for