Study of changes in the behaviour of Channa punctatus exposed to carbamate pesticide carbaryl

Present work was undertaken to study the behavioural alterations and morphological deformities in the freshwater fish Channa punctatus developed due to exposure to different sublethal concentrations of carbamate pesticide carbaryl. Channa punctatus were exposed to concentrations ranging between 0.1ppm to 1.31ppm in in vitro conditions in the laboratory. 100% mortality was observed due to exposure to 1.17 ppm or more concentrations of carbaryl. Below this concentration fish remained alive but several morphological and behavioral changes were observed. It shows that the change in the aquatic environment causes altered behavioural responses in the animals living in it. Channa punctatus in this toxic medium exhibited erratic movements, hyperactivity, restlessness, and loss of buoyancy and they started swimming at the surface of water. The response of the fish towards toxicity was dependent on concentration of carbaryl and length of exposure. The changes in behavioural parameters were both time and dose dependent.