THE harmful effects of pollution can be more subtle than death or
infertility.
Andrew Gill from the University of Liverpool fed three-spined sticklebacks
(Gasterosteus aculeatus) a diet of PCB-contaminated crustaceans. At
last week鈥檚 meeting of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour in
Newcastle upon Tyne, Gill reported that the fish took 35 per cent more time
rolling the food around in their mouths. 鈥淢aybe they find it distasteful,鈥� he
says. Gill warns that the fish would have less time to mate or evade predators
as a result of their altered dining habits.