Uptake by fishes of crude oil and its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) components occurs via gills, dietary intake, or diffusion through the skin. Dietary exposure to crude oil and its components is environmentally relevant, and induces physiological and morphological disruptions in fish. However, the impacts of crude oil on fish social and reproductive behaviors and thus the possible influences on reproductive success are poorly understood. As a part of their intraspecific interactions, male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) exhibit highly stereotypic behavioral and territorial displays. This makes this species a tractable model for testing crude oil effects on behavior. After 2 weeks of acclimation at 29 °C, male adult betta fish were divided into three groups and fed for 4 weeks with food spiked with water (control), low oil concentrations or high oil concentrations (∑Total PAH concentrations 340, 3960 or 8820 ng/g dw, respectively) to determine subsequent alterations in behavioral displays. Compared with control fish, the aggressive display of “opercular flaring” was significantly increased (P < 0.03, n = 14–16) in oil-exposed fish. Bubble nest building, as well as testis and brain mass, were significantly reduced in treated fish (P < 0.05). Hematocrit of treated groups was increased significantly (P < 0.02) from 21% in control fish to ∼27% in both oil exposure groups. Dietary exposure over a 4-week period to low, relevant levels of crude oil thus leads to an increase in aggressive behavioral displays, a decrease in reproductive activity and additional morphological changes.

鱼通过fish，饮食摄入或通过皮肤的扩散来摄取原油及其多环芳烃（PAHs）成分。饮食中暴露于原油及其成分与环境有关，并且会导致鱼类的生理和形态破坏。但是，人们对原油对鱼类社会和生殖行为的影响以及对生殖成功的可能影响了解得很少。作为种内相互作用的一部分，雄性暹罗斗鱼（Betta splendens）展示高度定型的行为和地域展示。这使该物种成为测试原油对行为影响的易于处理的模型。在29°C下适应2周后，将成年雄性斗鱼分为三组，并加水（对照），低油浓度或高油浓度（∑PAH总浓度340、3960或8820）加标食物喂养4周分别为ng / g dw）以确定行为显示的后续更改。与对照鱼相比，暴露于油中的鱼的“眼角扩张”的积极表现显着增加（P <0.03，n = 14–16）。在处理过的鱼中，气泡巢的建立以及睾丸和脑的质量均显着降低（P <0.05）。治疗组的血细胞比容显着增加（P <0。02）从对照鱼中的21％到两个油暴露组中的〜27％。因此，在4周的时间内饮食中摄入低水平的相关原油会导致攻击行为表现的增加，生殖活动的减少和其他形态变化。