ACUTE TOXICOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF UREA EXPOSURE IN GUPPY (Poecilia reticulata): MORTALITY AND ETHOLOGICAL RESPONSES

Guppies are considered as a good model for studying pesticide toxicity because of their sensitivity to various pollutants. Pesticides can affect the behavior of guppies, including their locomotor activity and avoidance responses. Guppy studies can help assess the impact of pesticide contamination on aquatic ecosystems. Since urea (carbonyl diamide) is a widely used in agriculture industry, rain fall leads loss of urea content into river or stream which causes production of ammonia in water. The high concentration of urea may cause physiological disruptions, behavioral change and even death in fishes. Pesticide contamination in aquatic environments can also pose risks to human health through the consumption of contaminated fish. The objective of this study is assessment of toxicity of urea on guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata). Different concentration of urea solution was added to the four experimental sets. One control set is maintained to analyse the effect of urea. It is clearly seen that at higher concentrations, the number of fish died is more. Observation of behavioral response of Guppy were conducted in control set and experimental sets throughout the experimental period. Numbers of fish died in the time period prescribed by the test were used to determine the mortality percent and lethal concentration. The acute toxicity of urea at relatively low concentrations highlights the need for careful management of fertilizer near aquaculture sites.