The Open Oceanography Journal

2007, 1 : 1-7
Published online 2007 November 9. DOI: 10.2174/1874252100701010001
Publisher ID: TOOCEAJ-1-1

Increased Zooplankton Behavioral Stress in Response to Short-Term Exposure to Hydrocarbon Contamination

Laurent Seuront and Sophie C. Leterme
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001, South Australia, Australia.

ABSTRACT

The swimming behavior of the calanoid copepod Centropages hamatus is used as a very sensitive real-time screening tool to assess hydrocarbon contamination in marine waters. A behavioral stress index based on the complexity of swimming sequences is suggested as a potential tool to critically assess behavioral responses to natural and anthropogenic forcing in the marine environment.