Developmental, behavioral, and reproductive effects experienced by Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) in response to short-term exposure to endosulfan

Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) were exposed to concentrations of 0.01, 0.10, and 1.0 μg/L of the pesticide endosulfan for 24 h beginning either 4–6 h postfertilization or 4–6 h posthatch to determine effects on hatching time, growth, mobility, foraging ability, and reproduction. Eggs exposed to endosulfan took longer to hatch, and the resulting fry were smaller at 1 week of age and had decreased mobility at 2 weeks of age. Upon reaching sexual maturity, these individuals also produced fewer eggs, and these eggs took significantly longer to hatch. Medaka exposed to endosulfan shortly after hatching did not differ in early mobility or foraging ability. Interestingly, upon reaching sexual maturity, these individuals produced more eggs than did unexposed females. The observed effects were not dose-dependent, with medaka exposed to intermediate concentrations of endosulfan (0.10 μg/L) exhibiting the greatest response. These results suggest that short-term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of a common pesticide may have long-term effects on growth, behavior, and reproduction in fish.