Exposure to a common antidepressant alters crayfish behavior and has potential subsequent ecosystem impacts

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous in aquatic environments, yet little is known regarding their impacts on ecological processes. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently prescribed human antidepressants and have been shown to alter crayfish behavior. These behavioral alterations are particularly relevant as crayfish play a central role in freshwater ecosystems and often reach high biomass in anthropogenically influenced environments commonly exposed to pharmaceutical contamination. Using a 14-d artificial stream experiment, we exposed spinycheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus) to citalopram, a common SSRI, at an environmentally realistic concentration (0.5 µg/L). We used a Yshaped flume to quantify the effects of SSRI exposure on crayfish behavior and food/conspecific preference. We also tested the interacting effects of citalopram and crayfish on habitat-specific and wholestream ecosystem functions and biomass. Crayfish exposed to SSRIs exhibited increased boldness (time to emerge from shelters; P < 0.05) and spent more time orienting to food resources than nonexposed crayfish. Crayfish increased water column chlorophyll a (P < 0.01) and benthic organic matter (P = 0.03). Furthermore, crayfish potentially increased water column respiration (P = 0.09) and potentially decreased nitrate uptake (P = 0.05). SSRI exposure exhibited a potential effect of decreasing benthic chlorophyll a (P = 0.07), but there were no significant CRAY+SSRI interactions. Neither crayfish nor SSRI treatments affected whole-stream metabolism. These results suggest that citalopram has the potential to affect algal biomass but did not affect ecosystem functioning. However, alterations to crayfish behavior driven by SSRI exposure could lead to subsequent ecosystem-level effects as crayfish did affect various response metrics. We were unable to detect the effects of altered crayfish behavior at the ecosystem scale during our study, likely due to the short time frame (2 weeks) of our experiment. Further work is needed to quantify longer-term ecosystem consequences of sublethal effects of pharmaceuticals, but these results show that ecological responses to pharmaceuticals should consider the entire ecosystem.

Bacteria communities and water quality parameters in riverine water and sediments near wastewater discharges

“…The discharge of effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into surrounding waterways can have detrimental effects on the health of aquatic ecosystems. For one, WWTPs discharge important pollutants, including pharmaceuticals 1 , 2 and household products 3 , which can impact on the local fauna 4 as well as microbial communities 5 , 6 . WWTP can also be a source of allochthonous microorganisms distinct from the receiving waterway, including pathogens 7 and antibiotic-resistant bacteria 8 .…”

Peek‐A‐Boo Test: A Simple Test for Assessing the Effect of Anxiolytics on Fish Behavior

“…Brodin et al (2013) reported that European perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) exposed to oxazepam, a type of benzodiazepine, at environmentally relevant concentrations were less social and bolder than unexposed individuals. It was also reported that spinycheek crayfish ( Faxonius limosus ) exposed to citalopram, a type of antidepressant, at an environmentally relevant concentration showed increased boldness (Reisinger et al, 2021). As these studies have shown, and as Bertram et al (2022) reviewed, the behavior of organisms can be remarkably sensitive to pollutants at even low concentrations.…”

Computational Modelling and Sustainable Synthesis of a Highly Selective Electrochemical MIP-Based Sensor for Citalopram Detection

“…In comparison with the previously introduced tricyclic antidepressants, CTL offers advantages owing to its therapeutic profile, superior acceptability, and safety, which justifies its popularity in the treatment of major depressive disorders [ 3 , 15 , 16 ]. In parallel, there is limited information on its environmental fate and toxicity, raising concerns regarding the potential effects on exposed wildlife [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Therefore, the monitoring of its presence in environmental compartments is imperative.…”