Principle
Quadropole impedance conversion technique based on the animal functioning as resistant in an alternating current between electrodes at opposite walls of the test chamber. Movements of the animal change the conductivity and the electrical field between a second, non-current carrying pair of electrodes and generate specific electrical signals for different kinds of behaviour.
Advantages of the MFB
- High ecological relevance, as e.g. 3 different indicator species are used simultaneously, e.g. species from different trophic levels, habitats and tolerances.
- Different behaviours (e.g. ventilation, locomotion) with different times and thresholds of response to chemical stress are measured simultaneously and quantitatively.
- Separate alarms for each type of behaviour and test species allow for an environmentally relevant alarm gradient.
- Behavioural patterns of all kinds of aquatic species can be measured, which allows for local adaptation of the system with locally relevant test species. This offers a wide field of applications in waste water purification plants, drinking water works, water authorities and industries.
- The MFB might replace effectively, sensitively and cheaply the use of several existing single-species biomonitors.
Behavioural signals of swimming and ventilation in the MFB