Effects of multiple electrical field exposures on cyprinid embryo survival

The effects of electricity on fish embryo survival during sampling events have been previously researched, demonstrating that survival is affected by voltage gradient, current type, exposure duration, developmental stage, and egg diameter. However, the effects of multiple electrical field exposures on fish embryos, such as during sampling depletions, have not been investigated. We conducted multiple electrical field exposures over a range of voltage gradients and resting intervals to determine potential effects on zebrafish Danio rerio embryos during epiboly. However, multiple electrical field exposures had no effect on zebrafish embryo survival, and the only factor to significantly decrease survival regardless of the number of exposures was a voltage gradient of 16 V/cm. Since zebrafish are widely used as model cyprinids, our results suggest that multiple electrical field exposures during electrofishing depletions are not likely to significantly increase cyprinid fish embryo mortality.