Response of the eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia duboulayi) to toxic Microcystis aeruginosa

Abstract

Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia duboulayi) were exposed to lysed cell suspensions of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa. Fish ventilatory behaviour was monitored with a computerized biomonitoring system. At its operational settings, the biomonitor did not detect a significant ventilatory response in the test fish when they were exposed to microcystin concentrations between 1.6 × 10^-3 and 2.6µg mL^-1 microcystin-LR equivalent. These results suggested that the fish respiratory system is unaffected by short-term exposure to microcystin or other biologically active compounds produced by M. aeruginosa.