BP-3, a major component of sunscreen, alters water column use and feeding, but not aggression in Nile tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus)

Tourism has increased the contact of tourists with the aquatic environment and is transporting harmful substances such as benzophenone (BP-3) into the water. This is an emerging contaminant present in sunscreens and other cosmetics, which can alter the behavior of fish by acting on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. We hypothesized that the use of the water column, feeding, and aggressiveness would be affected by this contaminant. Thirty-six juvenile male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to BP-3 for 1 to 97 hours were analyzed. We compared the time spent at the bottom of the tank, the latency to feed, and the latency to attack a mirror between control and three BP-3 concentrations using an Anova, both parametric and non-parametric followed by post-hoc tests. We observed that the fish spent less time at the bottom of the tank, a normal condition for tilapia, and ate faster, but showed no change in aggressiveness. Effects varied with concentration and duration of exposure. Previous studies have shown similar results with other fish species, suggesting the metabolic cost of BP-3 as a contaminant, but with no significant effect on aggressiveness. Ours is the first study to address the effect of BP-3 on aggressiveness and habitat use of a bottom-dweller and territorial fish also widely used in aquaculture. Protection against ultraviolet radiation is necessary, but the use of BP-3 for this purpose should be considered with caution.