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

Grant, Rachel A. and Conlan, Hilary (2015) Behavioral Response of Invertebrates to Experimental Simulation of Pre-Seismic Chemical Changes. Animals, 5 (2). pp. 206-213. ISSN 2076-2615

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	earthquakes, animal behavior, Daphnia pulex, earthworms, hydrogen peroxide, positive holes
Faculty:	ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)
Depositing User:	Lisa Blanshard
Date Deposited:	01 Aug 2019 13:17
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2021 19:01
URI:	https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/704609

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