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Behavioral Response of Invertebrates to Experimental Simulation of Pre-Seismic Chemical Changes

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posted on 2023-07-26, 14:42 authored by Rachel A. Grant, Hilary Conlan
Unusual behavior before earthquakes has been reported for millennia but no plausible mechanism has been identified. One possible way in which animals could be affected by pre-earthquake processes is via stress activated positive holes leading to the formation of hydrogen peroxide at the rock water interface. Aquatic and fossorial animals could be irritated by H2O2 and move down the concentration gradient. Here, we carry out avoidance tests with hydrogen peroxide in two model organisms; Daphnia pulex and earthworms. Daphnia were found to move away from increasing concentrations of H2O2 but earthworms appeared unaffected. It is possible that earthworm swarming behavior, reported frequently before earthquakes, is caused by electric field shifts or another unknown mechanism, whereas zooplankton may be affected by increasing levels of H2O2.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

5

Issue number

2

Page range

206-213

Publication title

Animals

ISSN

2076-2615

Publisher

MDPI

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2019-08-01

Legacy creation date

2019-08-01

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)

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