Application of an Automated Fish Biomonitoring System at Old O-Field for Continuous Acute Toxicity Effluent Monitoring

TL;DRAbstract

An Automated Fish Biomonitoring System was developed by the U.S. Army Biomedical Research and Development Laboratory (USABRDL) to identify developing toxic conditions in water by continuously monitoring the ventilation and movement patterns of the bluegill (Lepomus macrochiris). Physiological stress to the bluegills, characterized by changes in fish ventilation and movement patterns, is used as an early warning to identify developing acute toxicity of a treated groundwater (effluent) discharge at Old 0-Field, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. An IBM compatible personal computer continuously monitors and records ventilatory rate, ventilation depth, cough rate, and whole body movement of up to 32 fish simultaneously. Monitoring begins with 16 fish held in control water for a three-day acclimation period followed by four days of baseline data collection. The fish are then divided into two groups (8 fish in control water and 8 fish in effluent). During the subsequent continuous exposure to effl

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