14 DAY TRIAL // A series of experiments has shown that, when exposed to Zoloft and Prozac, male fathead minnows undergo noteworthy behavioral changes.
More precisely, the fish seem to lose their interest in looking for a mate. What's more, they behave aggressively, meaning that they attack and sometimes even kill others of their kind.
According to Daily Mail, the fish also isolate themselves from the rest of the group. Needless to say, this makes them significantly more vulnerable to predators.
As far as female fathead minnows are concerns, researchers say that those exposed to Zoloft and Prozac produce less eggs than the ones kept in a clean environment.
Although they are intended for human use alone, the aforementioned drugs, which also happen to be quite commonly prescribed, make their way into natural ecosystems either via human waste, or because of improper disposal.
Specialists fear that the drugs could affect not just small fish, but also other animal species. Otherwise put, they could constitute a threat to biodiversity.