Data from: Evaluation of cross-generational exposure to microplastics and co-occurring contaminants on embryonic and larval behavior in fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas
Data files
Aug 12, 2025 version files 103.97 KB
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PersingerWard_EmbryoData_PeerJ_Final.xlsx
27.96 KB
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PersingerWard_Hatching_.xlsx
10.20 KB
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PersingerWard_PeerJ_LarvalBehavior_Final.xlsx
62.85 KB
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README.md
2.96 KB
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in freshwater systems, and understanding their effects on aquatic organisms is increasingly important. Microplastics possess several unique surface properties that allow them to act as vectors for common environmental pollutants, such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which may serve as an additional route of exposure to those contaminants. However, few studies have considered the cross-generational effects of microplastics on early life-stage behaviors in aquatic vertebrates. In this study, adult fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were exposed to microplastics alone (MPVirgin) or in association with one of two environmentally relevant concentrations of 17 α-ethinyl estradiol (low; MPEE2 10 and high; MPEE2 50) for 30 days and then were allowed to spawn. Embryonic activity was assessed for F1 embryos of the MP-exposed F0 adults at 4 days post fertilization. After hatching, half of these larvae received continued exposure for 21 days, and larvae were tested in open-field swimming trials for swimming performance and space use. MPVirgin and MPEE2 50 embryos showed evidence of increased spontaneous activity within the egg, and similar trends in swimming activity persisted after hatching at day 21. These results suggest that parental exposure to MPs can induce subtle, sublethal effects on embryonic and larval performance that have the potential to affect individual fitness.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.w6m905r00
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
File: PersingerWard_EmbryoData_PeerJ_Final.xlsx
Description: This file includes data recorded from embryo activity trials
Variables
- Video: identifier of the recorded trial
- ClutchIDUnique: Clutch ID
- Subject: Embryo identifier within clutch
- Parental treatment: Exposure treatment of parents
- Activity %: Percent of trial time spent engaged in activity
- Burst count: Number of unique burst movements made by embryos during the trial
- PCA_Score: PCA scores of embryonic activity
File: PersingerWard_Hatching_.xlsx
Description: This file includes data related to the spawning of exposed parents and the hatching of resulting clutches
Variables
- Parental treatment: Exposure treatment of parents
- Clutch: Clutch ID
- Days to first hatch (days): Number of days from spawning to first hatched egg
- Latency to breeding (days): Number of days from pairing of male and female to spawning
- Clutch Size (number of eggs): Number of eggs in clutch
- Female length (cm): Standard length of the female that produced the clutch
File: PersingerWard_PeerJ_LarvalBehavior_Final.xlsx
Description: This file includes data related to the spawning of exposed parents and the hatching of resulting clutches
Variables
- Trial number: identifier of the recorded trial
- Assay Day: Whether the trial was performed at 14 or 21 days postfertilization
- Lifestage Exposed: Whether only the parental generation was exposed (one) or if the resulting eggs received continued exposure after hatching (two)
- ClutchIDUnique: Clutch ID
- Subject: Subject ID within clutch
- Parental Treatment: Exposure treatment of parents
- Larval Treatment: Exposure treatment of larvae
- Distance Moved (mm): Total path distance moved by fish during trial
- Velocity (mm/s): Average swimming speed of fish during trial
- Movement (s): Time spent moving
- InZoneF (number): Number of times fish entered the central zone
- InZoneCD (s): Percent of trial time spent in central zone
- PCA14_Swim_D14: PCA scores swimming performance on day 14
- PCA21_Swim_D21: PCA scores swimming performance on day 21
- D14_PCA_SpaceUse: PCA scores space use on day 14
- D21_PCA_SpaceUse: PCA scores space use on day 21
Note: PCA was conducted separately on day 14 (D14) and day 21 (D21) of the experiment. Cells showing 'NA' (Not Applicable) correspond to individuals not tested on the relevant day of analysis. For example, individuals in rows who were tested on day 14 have numerical PCA values in the columns 'PCA14_Swim_D14' and 'D14_PCA_SpaceUse' and NA in the columns 'PCA21_Swim_D21' and 'D21_PCA_SpaceUse.'
Adult fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were exposed to microplastics alone (MPVirgin) or in association with one of two environmentally relevant concentrations of 17 α-ethinyl estradiol (low; MPEE2 10 and high; MPEE2 50) for 30 days and then were allowed to spawn. Embryonic activity was assessed for F1 embryos of the MP-exposed F0 adults at 4 days post fertilization. After hatching, half of these larvae received continued exposure for 21 days, and larvae were tested in open-field swimming trials for swimming performance and space use. Data for embryos and larvae were collected using automated behavioral tracking software and exported as Excel worksheets.