bluegill know water quality

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Just read about how the Army has made a new water quality testing system available to the public. Sounds odd, but it's true (see link below). They have bluegill in a tank of water with a breathing rate monitoring device (detects bluegill breathing rate) and then pour in water to be tested. If the water contains contaminants (farm run-off pollutants) in sufficient amounts to require EPA attention, the bluegill's breathing rate increases and sets off an alarm! We always knew that fish and other spring/cave critters were the early detectors of polluntants, but now we have a way of using them to set off alarms!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0303-small_fish_detect_big_problems.htm

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[SuPrBuGmAn]

Wow, thats pretty nifty! I wouldn't want to be that fish though - LOL :D

[MichaelAngelo]

it seems odd to slowly poison a fish in the name of water conservation

[ShagMan]

fish are commonly used in labratory experiements, and are raised for such purposes, if it makes you feel better... I believe Zebra Danios are popular, because of their reproductive characteristics and ease of keeping... kinda like a underwater lab rat.

Neat article, if it's a good indicator, I don't see an issue with it.

[MichaelAngelo]

the poetic irony just struck me

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Better a highly common, reproductive little critter than me!

[MichaelAngelo]

oh no its 2009 everytime we turn on the tap it is us. Just part of the big 21 st century experiment

[Kelly Jessop]

Just read about how the Army has made a new water quality testing system available to the public. Sounds odd, but it's true (see link below). They have bluegill in a tank of water with a breathing rate monitoring device (detects bluegill breathing rate) and then pour in water to be tested. If the water contains contaminants (farm run-off pollutants) in sufficient amounts to require EPA attention, the bluegill's breathing rate increases and sets off an alarm! We always knew that fish and other spring/cave critters were the early detectors of polluntants, but now we have a way of using them to set off alarms!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0303-small_fish_detect_big_problems.htm

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I have used catfish as a measure of DO when doing fauna counts. When they are not moving,and their gills are moving at an alarming rate,it is a good indicator DO is very low.

[CaveDivingCop]

Sounds "FISHY" to me.....hmmmmm

Sorry I couldn't resist......LOL

[Mike Edmonston]

I think I'll mount a canari in my rebreather. If the little guy keels over, then it's time to bail out!

Safe Diving :)