Meeting Abstract

P2-50   -   The effects of polystyrene exposure on cortisol release, behavior, and cognition in Gambusia affinis Irwin, K/I*; Gabor, C/R; Newton, A/E; Texas State University kbi4@txstate.edu

Microplastic pollution is an increasing concern for the health of aquatic ecosystems. As a profuse and non-biodegradable pollutant, microplastic particles existing in freshwater systems have a high probability of ingestion by vertebrates. The physiological, behavioral and cognitive effects of microplastic exposure in freshwater fish are not well studied. We investigate the relationship between polystyrene exposure, cognition performance, boldness, and cortisol release in the live-bearing mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. We exposed G.affinis to low and high concentrations of polystyrene microbeads in 2 pulses over 33 days and measured hormones, behavior and cognition midway and at the end of the experiment. Fish were then euthanized to measure particle accumulation. We predict that elevated microplastic exposure will be associated with increased particle accumulation in the body, increased cortisol release, and decreased cognitive performance and boldness in G. affinis