Pharmaceutical pollution messes with salmon behavior

Recent research published in Science reveals that aquatic ecosystems are increasingly contaminated with pharmaceuticals, affecting animal behavior. Specifically, salmon exposed to anxiety medications—like clonazepam—displayed bolder behavior in their migratory patterns. These findings build on laboratory studies showing how drugs targeting brain function can alter the behavior of various species. The study involved implanting controlled-release pharmaceuticals into hatchery-raised salmon to assess behavioral changes in natural environments, highlighting the significance of pollution on wildlife and the need for further research into these effects at a population level.

Drugs that act on our minds often target parts of the brain shared by many species, meaning they can influence the behavior of other animals.

Lab fish exposed to benzodiazepines became more antisocial and less fearful, raising concerns about their natural behavior and survival.

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