SYDNEY, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Pesticides in waterways are disrupting fish social behavior, limiting their ability to group, defend territory, and reproduce, an Australian-led study has found.
The study reveals a global pattern of increasing isolation among aquatic species, threatening ecosystems long before mass die-offs occur, said a statement published by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) on Tuesday.
An analysis of 37 studies across 11 fish species found that even low levels of pesticides disrupt key social behaviors like schooling, territorial defense, and especially courtship, threatening fish populations and ecosystem stability, the statement said.
Pesticides enter waterways via agricultural runoff, exposing fish to sub-lethal doses that impair hormones and brain function, said Kyle Morrison, the study's lead author from UNSW.
The study identifies chemicals like glyphosate as particularly damaging to fish social behavior. Researchers warn that lab-based studies using model species may not reflect real-world impacts and call for broader, more realistic research across diverse species.
Australia still permits chemicals banned in other regions, putting ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef at risk, Morrison said, calling for immediate cuts to pesticide use and a global shift to safer alternatives. ■