Dr. Daniela Baganz

IGB, Dept.4,
Biology and Ecology of Fishes 
PF 850 119, 12561 Berlin
12587 Berlin, Müggelseedamm 301

Fields of Interests:

Fish physiology, Ethology,
Behavioural Ecology, Chronobiologiy

Tel: (030) 64 181 628
Fax: (030) 64 181 682

baganz@igb-berlin.de

A telemetric sensor system for the investigation of physiology and behaviour of fish

Project FischFIT-Monitoring funded by the ProFIT- program of the Berlin Investment Bank

The interdisciplinary project is realised in close cooperation with our project partners Fraunhofer IZM, IASP at the Humboldt University, Berlin and ELBAU GmbH Berlin and it is coordinated by me. At the IGB it is conducted together with my colleagues Georg Staaks and Oliver Jauernig under participation of Thomas Mehner, Henrik Zwadlo and Karena Kuntze.

The aim of the project is the scientific research of an innovative telemetric sensor system for non-invasive monitoring of multiple physiological and behavioural parameters of fish. The planned miniaturization of the systems will allow the integrated measurent of the heart rate, the breathing rate, the potential of the skin and the swimming velocity.

The subsequent analysis of physiology and behaviour will assess the state of health and fitness of fish. Furthermore it will be possible to reveal correlations, dependencies and complex pattern under the influence of external and internal factors.

That opens a wide range for further basic research concerning behavioural ecology and eco physiology. Additional prospects emerge for applied research and aquaculture.

Behavioral and chronobiological investigations for analysis of fish species specific differences under the influence of chemical stressors

The behaviour of different fish species (Danio rerio und Leucaspius delineatus) were investigated under the influence of chemical stressors considering species specific aspects. Sublethal effects to the naturally occurring cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and a characteristic man-made chemical 2.4.4`-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 28) were analysed under laboratory conditions. Swimming activity of fish was monitored continuously by using an automated video-monitoring and object-tracing system.

For both species it was shown that the stressors led to a reduction of the swimming activity, to a compensation between daylight and nighttime activity and to changes of circadian rhythmicity.

The combination of the basic behavioural analyses with chronobiological procedures of time series analysis such as cosinor analysis and power spectral analysis enhanced the outcome of the measurement.

Measurements of fish behaviour for drinking water protection

Part of the EU-Project "TECHNEAU" (Technology enabled universal access to safe water)

The project was realized in close cooperation with the manufacturer of the system (bbe-Moldaenke in Kiel). At the IGB it is conducted together with Georg Staaks under participation of Henrik Zwadlo and Karena Kuntze

ToxProtect is an automatic monitoring system for drinking water protection. It indicates acute toxic events by triggering an alarm signal, e.g. after an incident.

The research for the fish biomonitor was based on the investigations concerning behavioural changes of fish under the influence of chemical stressors.

The device was tested by long term measurements under laboratory conditions. The alarm triggering is based on defined thresholds for the activity and spatial distribution of fish. The thresholds depend on the species and the temperature of the water. The reliability of the alarm generation was proved by laboratory experiments utilizing an insecticide as test substance.

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Reviewed publications:

Baganz, D. & Staaks, G. 2007. Assessment of the Hazard Potential of Environmental Chemicals by Quantifying Fish Behaviour. In: Advanced Environmental Monitoring (Ed. by Y.J.Kim & U.Platt), pp. 376-389. Heidelberg, Springer.

Baganz D, Siegmund R, Staaks G, Pflugmacher S, Steinberg C. 2005. Temporal pattern in swimming activity of two fish species (Danio rerio and Leucaspius delineatus) under chemical stress conditions, Biological Rhythm research 36: 263-276

Baganz D., Staaks G, Pflugmacher S, Steinberg CEW. 2004. Comparative study of microcystin-LR-induced behavioral changes of two fish species, Danio rerio and Leucaspius delineatus. Environmental Toxicology 19: 564-570

Baganz,D., Staaks,G., Pflugmacher,S. & Steinberg,C.E.W. 2004. Analysis of temporal pattern in swimming activity of two fish species (Danio rerio and Leucaspius delineatus) under chemical stress conditions. Advances in Ethology 38, 32.

Baganz D, Staaks G, Steinberg C. 1998. Impact of the cyanobacteria toxin, microcystin-LR on behaviour of zebrafish, Danio rerio. Water Res 32: 948-952.

Book chapters:

Baganz D, Staaks G, Spieser OH, Steinberg CEW. 2001. How to use fish behaviour analysis to sensitively assess the hazard potentials of environmental chemicals. In: Butterworth, F.M., Gunatilaka, A., Gonseblatt, M.E. (Eds.): Biomonitors and Biomarkers as Indicators of Environmental Change, Kluwer Publ., New York, 2, 113-122.

Baganz D, Staaks G, Steinberg C. 2001. Changes of fish behaviour affected by microcystin LR. Cyanotoxins Occurrence, Causes, Consequences Chorus, I. (Hrsg.) Berlin FRG Umweltbundesamt Federal Environmental Agency S. 261-280.

Non reviewed publications:

Baganz, D. & Staaks, G. Application of power spectral analysis to indicate chemical stress in fish. East, Marion and Hofer, Heribert. Contributions to the 6th International Zoo and Wildlife Research Conference on Behaviour, Physiology & Genetics, Berlin 2007. 28. 2008. Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research. 7-10-2008.

Baganz, D., Staaks, G. & Moldaenke, C. Interim Report on real-time fish biomonitoring system. D 3.4.8, 1-21. 2007. Monitoring and Control of Drinking Water Quality, Techneau Report.

Moldaenke, C., Baganz, D. & Staaks, G. A finalised photoelectric barrier system for the fish biomonitor. D 3.4.5., 1-7. 2007. Monitoring and Control of Drinking Water Quality, Techneau Report.

Baganz D, Staaks G, Moldaenke C: Robust, Low Cost Fish Biomonitor under Development. 2006 http://www.techneau.org/fileadmin/files/Newsletters/newsletter_august_2006web.pdf.

Baganz D, Steinberg CEW, Pflugmacher S. 2004. Humic substances modify behavior pattern of Daphnia magna. In: Martin-Neto L, Milori DMB, Lopes Da Silva WT, editors. Humic substances and Soil and Water Environment. Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária, ISBN 85-86463-12-4.

Staaks G, Baganz D, Schmidt K. 2000. Integrated measurement of motility and energy consumption in fish larvae and daphnia. Measuring Behavior 2000, International Workshop on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 15.-18. 08. 2000, Nijmegen, Proceedings: http://www.noldus.webaxxs.net/events/mb2000/program/abstracts/staaks.html.

Staaks G, Baganz D. 1998. Assessment and ecological evaluation of behavioral responses of fish on natural and artificial stressors. Berichte des IGB 1998, Heft 5, 61-70. Hrsg.: Inst. für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei.

Oberemm A, Welker M, Baganz D, Staaks G, Pflugmacher S. 1997. Microcystine: Vorkommen und Persistenz in Gewässern und Wirkungen auf aquatische Makrophyten und auf Fische. Berichte des IGB 1997, Heft 4, Hrsg.: Inst. für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei.

Spieser, O.H., Scholz, W., Staaks, G., Baganz, D. 1996. The influence of Cyanotoxins on the behaviour of Zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio): Methods and results. Measuring Behavior ‘96, International Workshop on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 16.-18. 10. 1996, Utrecht, Proceedings: http://www.noldus.com/events/mb96/abstract/spieser.htm.

Congress presentations:

Baganz D, Staaks G. 2008. ToxProtect for drinking water protection - New test results. AquaLife, Kiel, Germany, 01.07-03.07.08.

Staaks, G., Baganz, D. 2008. FischFIT - Monitoring: a project for application of electronic microsystems in the water sector, AquaLife, Kiel, Germany, 01.07-03.07.08.

Baganz, D., Staaks, G. 2006. ToxProtect. Results of the application from drinking water protection. AquaLife, Kiel, Germany, 12.09.-14.09.06.

Staaks, G., Baganz, D. 2006. Aquatic animal behaviour test - Video system tracks fish movements. AquaLife, Kiel, Germany, 12.09.-14.09.06.

Baganz D, Staaks G. 2006. Assessment of the hazard potential of environmental chemicals by quantifying fish behaviour. 6th International Symposium on Advanced. Environmental Monitoring, Heidelberg. 27.-30.06.06

Baganz D, Staaks G, Pflugmacher S, Steinberg C. 2004. Analysis of temporal pattern in swimming activity of two fish species under chemical stress conditions. 5th International Symposium on Physiology, Behaviour and Conservation of Wildlife, Workshop III. Chronoethology - Chronoecology Berlin, 26.-29.09.04

Baganz D, Steinberg C, Pflugmacher S. 2004. Direkte Effekte von Huminstoffen auf das Verhalten von Daphnia magna. DGL-Tagung, Potsdam 20.-24.09.04

Baganz D, Steinberg CEW, Pflugmacher S. 2004. Humic substances modify behavior pattern of Daphnia magna. XII International Meeting of International Humic Substances Society (IHSS), São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, 25.-30.07.04

Baganz D, Steinberg CEW, Pflugmacher S. 2004. Quantifying behavioural changes of two freshwater fish species (Danio rerio and Leucaspius delineatus) to evaluate the toxicological risk of the cyanobacteria toxin microcystin-LR. 6th International Conference on Toxic Cyanobacteria, Bergen, Norwegen, 21.-27.06.04.

Baganz D, Staaks G, Pflugmacher S, Steinberg C. 2004. Quantifying behavioural changes of two fish species induced by microcystin-LR. bbe biomonitoring-workshop. Kiel. 13.-15.06.04.

Staaks G, Baganz D, Schmidt K. 2000. Integrated measurement of motility and energy consumption in fish larvae and daphnia. Measuring Behavior 2000, International Workshop on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, Nijmegen. 15.-18.08.00.

Baganz D, Pflugmacher S, Staaks G, Steinberg CEW. 1999. Assessment of the hazard potential of environmental chemicals on fish by the analysis of long-term behavioral changes. SETAC Europe 9th Annual Meeting, Leipzig, 25.-29.05.99.

Baganz D, Staaks G, Spieser OH, Scholz W. 1998. Assessment of the endangering potential of environmental chemicals on fish by analysis of long-term behavioural changes. IAGLR-Konferenz, Biomonitors and Biomarkers as Indicators of Environmental Change II McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Kanada. 18.-22.05.98.

Baganz D, Staaks G, Oberemm A, Steinberg CEW. 1997. Die Wirkung von Microcystin-LR auf das Verhalten und die Embryonal-Entwicklung von Fischen. Jahrestagung der Fachgruppe Wasserchemie in der Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, Lindau, 05.-07.05.97.

Spieser OH, Scholz W, Staaks G, Baganz D. 1996. The influence of Cyanotoxins on the behaviour of Zebrafish: Methods and results. Measuring Behavior ‘96, International Workshop on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research Utrecht, 16.-18.10.96.

Baganz D, Staaks G.1996. Wirkungen von Microcystin auf verschiedene Verhaltens-Parameter von Fischen. III. Symposium Ökologie, Ethologie und Systematik der Fische, Salzburg. 14.-16.02.96.

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