Cited by 7Environmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

Phenanthrene pollution disrupts behavioural individuality and plasticity in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana

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Favero, Marta, Palomba, Marialetizia, Bizzarri, Bruno Mattia, Canestrelli, Daniele, Polverino, Giovanni·2025·Animal Behaviour

Abstract

Chemical contaminants are polluting ecosystems around the world and are a growing threat to wildlife. Among the chemical contaminants of concern, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are some of the most common compounds found in coastal waters. Studies have determined the negative effects of PAHs on wildlife, including the alteration of important behaviours of animals. However, whether the effects of such global pollutants impact the individual-level variation in ecologically relevant behaviours of wildlife remains unknown. This is surprising, since individual variation in behaviour has profound ecological and evolutionary consequences, and is essential for populations to survive in a fast-changing world. To fill this gap, we tested the effects of phenanthrene, one of the most abundant PAHs in aquatic environments worldwide, on ecologically relevant behaviours of wild-caught brine shrimps, Artemia franciscana . We exposed individuals to environmentally realistic concentrations of phenanthrene (16 μg/litre and 400 ng/litre) soon after birth until adulthood and repeatedly assayed their activity (distance moved) and risk taking (time spent at the water surface). To better understand the effects of phenanthrene at the individual level, if any, we partitioned the behavioural variance between and within individuals. Our results show that exposure to phenanthrene eroded differences between individuals (behavioural individuality) in activity and within individuals (behavioural plasticity) in risk taking but did not alter mean behaviours. Our evidence indicates that the consequences of living in polluted environments might be more severe than was previously known, since the effects of phenanthrene span beyond mean behavioural changes and compromise both behavioural individuality and plasticity of exposed animals. • Pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) threatens wildlife globally. • It is unknown if PAHs alter behavioural individuality and plasticity in animals. • We tested whether phenanthrene impairs behavioural variation in Artemia. • Lifetime exposure shrank individuality in activity and plasticity in risk taking. • Phenanthrene can have ecological and evolutionary consequences for wildlife.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123187

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Authors
Favero, M., Palomba, M., Bizzarri, B. M., Canestrelli, D., & Polverino, G.
Affiliations
Università degli Studi della Tuscia (IT)
Corresponding author
Polverino, Giovanni
Venue
Animal Behaviour
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-06
Volume
224
Pages
123187
ISSN
0003-3472 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4409811869
Cited by
7
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 1
FWCI
2.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Animal Behaviour (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UnitusOpen (Tuscia University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • University of Tuscia
  • European Commission (IR0000035, CUP C63C22000570001, 00000033, 1034)
  • Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (CUP J83C22000860007)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
phenanthrene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Artemia franciscana, behavioral plasticity, risk-taking, locomotor activity, chemical pollution, lifetime exposure, Artemia

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