Avoidance Response of Rainbow Trout to Phenol

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Abstract
An 8 concentration intermittent-flow proportional diluter was modified to provide continuous flow to 4 separate avoidance chambers and was used to test the avoidance response to phenol of rainbow trout (S. gairdneri) in 3 separate 5 day tests. When single fish were acclimated for 24 h, a flow of phenol was initiated on 1 side of each avoidance chamber and well water was started on the other. After 48 h the phenol and well water sides were switched and the experiment was continued for another 48 h; the positions of the fish in the chambers were monitored photographically throughout the test. Results of tests with 12 rainbow trout indicated that the threshold avoidance level was between 6.5-3.2 mg/l phenol, which was between 58-73% of the phenol 96 h LC50 for rainbow trout. Since long-term effects for rainbow trout exposed to phenol have been documented at concentrations as low as 0.2 mg/l, the avoidance tests were not nearly as sensitive as toxicity tests with embryos and Jarvae.