DOI: 10.5061/dryad.w6m905r00
title: Data from: Evaluation of cross-generational exposure to microplastics and co-occurring contaminants on embryonic and larval behavior in fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas

description: 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.
description: Adult fathead minnows, <em>Pimephales promelas,</em>
 were exposed to microplastics alone (MP<sub>Virgin</sub>) or
 in association with one of two environmentally relevant concentrations of
 17 α-ethinyl estradiol (low; MP<sub>EE2 10</sub> and high;
 MP<sub>EE2 50</sub>) 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. 
description: # Data from: Evaluation of cross-generational exposure to microplastics
 and co-occurring contaminants on embryonic and larval behavior in fathead
 minnows, Pimephales promelas
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.w6m905r00](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.'