Avoidance from petroleum hydrocarbons by the cod (Gadus morhua)

Abstract

In laboratory experiments cod was presented a choice situation between different concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, appearing as "water soluble fraction" and emulsified droplets derived from Fuel Oil No. 2. In most experiments, the fishes seemed to avoid water containing hydrocarbons, though some fishes for periods was indifferent also to considerable contaminated water. The over all results indicates that a majority of the fishes avoided water containing total hydrocarbons down to 50-100 ug/l sea water. At still lower concentrations, the behavioural response most often seemed indifferent.