COOK, M.E.; MOORE, P.A.; Bowling Green State University; Bowling Green State University: The effects of the herbicide metolachlor on agonistic behavior in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus

Previous research suggests that agricultural herbicides interfere with behavior, especially in impacting an animal�s ability to receive and respond to chemical stimuli. Aggressive interactions between animals are important in establishing dominance, which can impact an individual�s ability to find mates, food, and habitat space. In this study, we investigated the effects of the herbicide metolachlor on agonistic behavior in crayfish. Crayfish were exposed to four different environmentally relevant concentrations of metolachlor for 96 hours. Each exposed animal was then placed in a fight arena and were allowed to interact with a na�ve individual for 20 minutes. Preliminary results indicate that metolachlor does impact an exposed animal�s ability to engage in an agonistic encounter with another individual.