The highly synchronized and regulated processes involved in neurobehavioral processes of larval fish are known to be particularly sensitive to contaminants.  To date, assessment of the impact of contaminants on neurobehavior has been restricted to limited model species and to measurements of adverse effects that are difficult to extrapolate to higher levels of biological organization, such as changes in behavior.  These limitations make ecological risk assessment and extrapolation to other species challenging.  We suggest that an adverse outcome pathway framework approach, that links molecular data to population outcomes, may overcome these shortcomings. We propose to demonstrate this by linking molecular perturbations in  larval fish brains after exposure to contaminants to changes in behavior and population relevant endpoints such as overall cohort survival and growth using RNA-sequencing, behavioral assays and individual-based modeling techniques. We also allow interpretation of sublethal dose response data within varied community structures to accommodate multiple stressor scenarios.

Development of an adverse outcome pathway for neurobehavior in larval fish to predict effects of contaminants within a multiple stressor context

248th National Meeting (2014)

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