Stress hormone responses in ayu Plecoglossus altivelis in reaction to different catching methods: comparisons between electrofishing and cast netting

It is important to select the most appropriate method for fish sampling in streams and rivers; the sampling efficiency as well as any negative effect of the method of fish sampling on fishes such as stress, injury, and mortality must be considered. This study aimed to investigate stress hormone responses in ayu Plecoglossus altivelis in reaction to direct current (DC) electrofishing, alternating current (AC) electrofishing, and cast netting in artificial streams. The mortality, injury rate, and catch efficiency of these catching methods were also compared. It was found that immediately after capture, fish caught using a cast net exhibited significantly higher cortisol levels than did control fish that were caught rapidly by a hand net. Cortisol levels did not differ between electroshocked fish and the controls. Time required to catch 12 fish was shorter when DC was used (20 s) than when AC was used (45 s). The time required to catch fish greatly increased when a cast net was used (840 s). Cortisol levels in DC electroshocked and control treatment groups were at resting levels 24 and 48 h after capture. However, higher cortisol levels were found in fish captured using a cast net at both these time points. Cortisol levels in AC electroshocked fish returned to lower levels at 24 h, but increased again at 48 h. Furthermore, 48 h following capture, the fish caught by AC electrofishing exhibited higher mortality (7.5 %) than those captured by other methods (0 %). Spinal injury was also detected in one of the fish in this group. Considering these findings, DC electrofishing is the most effective and least damaging method for collecting P. altivelis in streams with respect to stress, physical damage, and efficiency.     

Sampling fish assemblages in forested floodplain wetlands

Abstract– Four quantitative (area-standardized electrofishing, trap nets, small-mesh [1.3 and 2-cm bar mesh] gill nets, large-mesh [2.5 and 5-cm bar mesh] gill nets) and two qualitative (non-standardized electrofishing, dip netting) sampling techniques were concurrently used to capture larval to adult fish in forested wetland habitats on seasonally inundated floodplains of two Alabama (USA) streams. Standardized area electrofishing appeared to be the best sampling technique for collecting and quantifying species because of high catch rate, broad species and size coverage, and rapid sampling. Electrofishing accounted for most fish (47 and 57% of pooled catch), almost all taxa, and a broad range of fish sizes. Large-mesh gill nets captured few fish (2% and 8%), a distinct subset of the species present, and the largest fish. Light traps were the most efficient and taxa-comprehensive sampling technique for larval fish. Light traps captured the vast majority of the pooled larval fish catch, including 6 of 7 families recorded at the sites. Larval fish dip netting captured larval fish of most families known to be present but in low numbers. For surveys of species composition and rapid bioassessments, nonstandardized electrofishing and larval fish dip netting appear adequate. For intensive research studies, the combination of area electrofishing, large-mesh (and in some cases small-mesh) gill nets, and light traps provide thorough and comprehensive data on wetland fish assemblages.     

Capture and handling stress affects the endocrine and ovulatory response to exogenous hormone treatment in snapper, Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider)

Sexually mature female hatchery‐reared snapper, Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider) were captured from sea cages by handline and injected at first capture (control) or 24 h after capture, transport and subsequent confinement (delayed injection) with either saline, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue, human chorionic gonadotropin, or 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone. Blood was sampled before hormone treatment and again after 168 h, and fish were checked daily for ovulation. Plasma levels of 17β‐estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), 17α, 20β dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one (17, 20βP) and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay. The ovulatory response was assessed from the proportion of fish ovulating, ovulation volume, egg quality and fertility. A delay in injection resulted in significantly lower plasma E2 and T levels in response to hormone treatment, smaller ovulation volumes, and poorer egg quality than in control fish. The results are consistent with the generally inhibitory effects of stress on reproduction in fish, and confirm the requirement to treat fish with hormones designed to induce ovulation, as soon as possible after capture and disturbance.     

Changes in Plasma Cortisol, Glucose, and Selected Blood Properties in the Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus Associated with Sequential Movement to Three Experimental Conditions

To determine the changes in blood chemistry associated with sequential transfer of summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus (320–480 g), 300 hatchery-reared fish were moved to three different environmental conditions during a 20-d period. Fish were transferred in progression from a recirculating seawater system (22 ppt, 22.5 C) to a flow-thru seawater system (31 ppt, 20.0 C), to three small coastal net pens (33 ppt, 15.5 C), and finally to a large open ocean net pen (33 ppt, 16.0 C). For this study, eight random fish were captured at each progressive step (environmental condition), anesthetized (MS222), and bled from the caudal vein (2 mL). Transferred flounder were bled every 12 h for 48 h to collect plasma cortisol and glucose samples. Fish were bled 24 h after transport and every 3 d thereafter for osmolarity, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin content, glucose, cortisol, and the electrolytes Cl^- Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca⁺. The most significant perturbations to blood chemistry (P < 0.05) occurred within 24 h of initial transfer from the recirculating to flow-thru seawater systems, suggesting an osmoregulatory rather than handling or transfer related stress. Osmolarity, electrolyte, and hematological parameters fluctuated and then recovered to stable levels by day 8 in the flow-thru seawater system. However, unlike the initial transfer, successive movement to the coastal and then the open ocean net pens produced transient increases in both plasma cortisol and glucose levels, suggesting a high level of stress associated with extended flounder handling and transfer.     

Fish species richness in lakes of the northeastern lowlands in Germany

Fish species richness was assessed by electrofishing and gillnetting in 16 lakes of the northeastern lowland in Germany (the Schorfheide biosphere reserve). The lakes range from 0.03 to 10.55 km² and support between 5 and 14 fish species. Species richness is significantly correlated with lake area in an exponential and a power model. Richness is also correlated with shoreline development and total dissolved solids. This supports the hypothesis that larger areas contain more species within a taxonomic group due to increased habitat diversity. The slope of the species-area curve is low compared with most other studies of fish species richness in lakes, and the intercept value is high. This is interpreted as the result of high habitat and food diversity, lack of stress from abiotic factors, and the small regional species pool from which these lakes can be colonized. Two species inventories, one from the beginning of this century and one from the 1950s, are available for comparison. Average species richness did not change during the last decades. Species turnover rates were not related to the degree of anthropogenic eutrophication or to the intensity of fishery exploitation in these lakes. On the species level, however, one effect of accelerated eutrophication is apparent, the disappearance of 4 bottom-living species from one to 6 of the study lakes.     

Electrofishing in streams of low water conductivity but high biodiversity value: Challenges,limits and perspectives

Electrofishing in streams of low water conductivity has technical limitations leading to the widespread use of poison fishing. In theory, provided a high enough voltage gradient can be created in water, electrofishing should be possible in all but the lowest of conductivities (<10 µS/cm). Using custom‐made equipment delivering up to 1,500 V DC, tests were carried out in French Guiana on 27 streams with water conductivity as low as 16 µS/cm. Approximately 5,800 fish of 93 species were captured, with an electrofishing mortality rate of 1.83%. Poison treatments were used within enclosed sections to assess how efficient multiple pass electrofishing removal is when assessing species richness and population number. The Chao II estimator on 2 electrofishing passes gave the best results for species richness, but rare species can elude electrofishing. Estimates of total fish abundance (i.e. all species pooled) were possible with the use of depletion models. Capture efficiencies by species were highly biased, however, and abundance could be underestimated for the most difficult species to catch. These results show that with the right equipment and settings, electrofishing can be an efficient alternative to poison fishing surveys in small tropical streams of low water conductivity but high biodiversity value.     

Whole-body corticosteroid and plasma cortisol concentrations in larval and juvenile Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. following acute stress

Methods were developed to assess whole‐body immunoreactive corticosteroid concentrations (IRC) and plasma levels of cortisol in Atlantic cod subjected to several common, acute stressors. A measurable corticosteroid stress response was observed at the first sampling in whole bodies of 8‐day post‐hatch (dph) larvae. Two groups of juveniles (～5 and 30 g) were subjected to a 30 s net stressor and whole‐body IRC and plasma cortisol levels were determined. Post‐stressor IRC in smaller fish rose approximately 14‐fold, peaked at 1 h, were sustained for 3–6 h and returned to pre‐stressor levels within 24 h. Post‐stressor plasma cortisol levels in larger fish rose approximately 18‐fold, peaked at 0.5–1 h, were sustained for 1–3 h and then returned to near pre‐stressor levels after 24 h. Immunoreactive corticosteroid concentrations appeared to remain elevated longer than plasma cortisol levels suggesting that steroids other than cortisol were contributing to total immunoreactivity in homogenates. Juveniles exposed to either a grading procedure or high density transport had maximal IRC and plasma cortisol levels within 90 min which returned to pre‐stressor levels within 24–72 h. A reduction in water salinity (20 g L^?1) did not moderate the corticosteroid response in juveniles. The results show that Atlantic cod respond to common, acute stressors in a manner similar to other teleosts. Whole‐body homogenates can be used to identify changes in IRC in response to acute stress in cod with the caveat that recovery IRC may differ from plasma cortisol concentrations.     

A study of delayed capture mortality syndrome in skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis (1).

Abstract. This study was initiated to determine the cause(s) of delayed mortality in newly captured skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis (L.), being held at the National Marine Fisheries Service Kewalo Research Facility. Sixty-four per cent of 244 skipjack tuna delivered to the facility died, usually on the second or third day after capture. The capture history, morphological data, serum chemistry (21 standard parameters), haematology, and histological samples of major organs, were obtained from 30 fish sampled at sea immediately after capture, or after approximately 4, 9, 24, 48 or 500+ h in captivity. The cause(s) of death in these fish could not be attributed to anoxia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, lactic acidosis, capture myopathy or infection. Post-capture haemodilution is hypothesized as a major factor of delayed capture mortality syndrome in skipjack tuna.     

A comparison of electric fishing and gillnetting to examine the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on riverine fish communities

Abstract Quantitative electric fishing and multiple mesh-size gillnetting of fish communities in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system, near Sydney, were carried out upstream of, within and well below each of three major points of treated sewage effluent discharge. Approximately half of the fish sampled were caught by electric fishing, comprising 515 individuals in 3 h of electric fishing (172 fish per hour). The remaining 439 fish were caught in 72 h of gillnetting (six fish per hour). In total, 16 fish species were collected by electric fishing and only seven species by the gill nets. Differences were found in the total abundances and numbers of species collected by each method in relation to points of treated sewage effluent discharge, but neither community variable showed consistent differences between the areas above, within and well below points of treated sewage effluent discharge in all three river regions. However, classification and ordination of electric fishing catch data produced distinct fish community groups in relation to sewage discharge, while similar analyses of the gillnetting data failed to reveal such differences in community structure. It was suggested that the increased sampling efficiency of electric fishing, both in terms of the number of fish sampled per unit effort and number of species collected, allowed for significant increases in the power of univariate and multivariate analysis methods in detecting such environmental disturbances in large rivers.     

Physiological Responses of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss to Crowding and Anesthesia with AQUI-S™

Abstract.— Following exposure to the anesthetic AQUI-S™, plasma cortisol concentration in immature rainbow trout was measured as (mean) 293 ± 48 ng/ mL, which was significantly ( P > 0.05) higher than the mean concentration in resting fish. Cortisol concentrations remained significantly ( P > 0.05) elevated for at least 24 h after treatment. This was accompanied by a significant increase and decrease in hematocrit and plasma potassium, respectively. These perturbations continued for at least 48 h following recovery from anesthesia. Plasma concentrations of total protein and sodium remained unchanged following anesthesia with AQUI-S™. Crowding stress is commonly encountered by fish during manipulation in aquaculture situations. Anesthetising fish prior to, and during, manipulation may reduce the associated stress. Changes in cortisol values resulting from crowding (30 min; 0.1 kg/L) during anesthesia with AQUI-S™ were not appreciably different from those in fish crowded without anesthesia. Thus, anesthesia with AQUI-S™ at the recommended dose of 17 mg/L did not appear to be effective for alleviating the stress of crowding under the conditions of our experiments.     

Oxidative stress in juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

Juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), were held in 8–11°C freshwater, starved for 3 days and subjected to a low‐water stressor to determine the relationship between the general stress response and oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels (lipid hydroperoxides) were measured in kidney, liver and brain samples taken at the beginning of the experiment (0‐h unstressed controls) and at 6, 24 and 48 h after application of a continuous low‐water stressor. Tissue samples were also taken at 48 h from fish that had not been exposed to the stressor (48‐h unstressed controls). Exposure to the low‐water stressor affected LPO in kidney and brain tissues. In kidney, LPO decreased 6 h after imposition of the stressor; similar but less pronounced decreases also occurred in the liver and brain. At 48 h, LPO increased (in comparison with 6‐h stressed tissues) in the kidney and brain. In comparison with 48‐h unstressed controls, LPO levels were higher in the kidney and brain of stressed fish. Although preliminary, results suggest that stress can cause oxidative tissue damage in juvenile chinook salmon. Measures of oxidative stress have shown similar responses to stress in mammals; however, further research is needed to determine the extent of the stress–oxidative stress relationship and the underlying physiological mechanisms in fish.     

Trotline efficiencies and catch rates in a large river

Trotlines have proved to be an effective collection method for riverine fish species, but an understanding of the interaction between fish and gear post‐deployment is lacking. The objectives of this study were to use trotlines rigged with hook timers that record the time when fish are hooked to determine the activation rate of hook timers, to determine the retention rate of fish on trot lines, to document hourly catch rates and to document whether hooking duration causes stress or mortality. Four thousand hook timers were deployed in an 80.5 rkm reach of the Missouri River during April 2011, resulting in a mean catch rate of 14.6 fish per line, while 3.1 timers per line were activated but did not capture a fish. Over half of all fish were captured within 4 h post‐deployment. Stress and mortality associated with trotlines did not appear to be related to hooking duration. This study showed that hourly catch rates and retention rates can be ascertained from the use of trotlines rigged with hook timers. Information gathered from this study and further investigation with hook timers could aid in targeting specific time of day and set duration to collect river fish more efficiently, especially sturgeons, Scaphirhynchus species.     

Modelling the effects of capture and sea lice [Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer)] infestation on the cortisol stress response in trout

Measuring baseline cortisol in wild salmonids is problematic because of the stress induced by most capture methods. The cortisol response to different periods of confinement stress was modelled in a laboratory population of rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)]. A quadratic model was used to predict baseline (precapture) cortisol levels in these fish. A similar quadratic response pattern of cortisol was observed in wild sea trout (Salmo trutta L.). These were captured in timed sequences on four dates by seine netting in Clew Bay, west coast of Ireland. The estimated precapture cortisol for these fish indicated higher levels soon after migration to sea and a positive correlation with the level of infestation by Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer). Curvilinearity of the quadratic model was correlated with levels of lice infestation, indicating an enhanced cortisol response to confinement stress during capture when parasitic abundance was high. Estimated precapture cortisol for individual sea trout was positively correlated with numbers of lice although the linear regression had low predictive power. The method provides, for the first time, a means to estimate baseline cortisol levels in wild salmonids, and addresses one of the most difficult problems in working with wild fish. Keywords: Cortisol, trout, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer), capture, quadratic model     

Effects of dorsal aorta cannulation on the stress response of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The stress response to dorsal aorta cannulation and serial blood sampling was examined in the channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Channel catfish cannulated and repetitively sampled once a day for 7 days did not exhibit a change in response to surgery or to the 24h sample regime as measured by plasma cortisol, glucose, and chloride. In fish that were either serially bled (0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48h) immediately after surgery or allowed to recover 6 days before being serially bled, overall plasma cortisol levels were higher than those of fish bled every 24h. Catfish serially bled immediately after surgery had significantly higher plasma glucose levels compared with catfish allowed to recover from surgery 6 days before serial sampling. Although channel catfish recover from cannulation surgery in 24h, a longer recovery period may be needed prior to serial sampling if the samples are taken more frequently than every 24h.     

The role of temperature in the capture and release of fish

We searched major electronic databases to identify peer‐reviewed literature investigating the role of temperature on the stress response and mortality of captured and released fish. We identified 83 studies that fit these criteria, the majority of which were conducted in North America (81%) on freshwater fish (76%) in the orders Perciformes (52%) and Salmoniformes (28%). We found that hook‐and‐line fisheries (65% of all studies) were more commonly studied than all net fisheries combined (24%). Despite the wide recognition for many species that high water temperatures exacerbate the effects of capture on released fish, this review is the first to quantitatively investigate this problem, finding that warming contributed to both mortality and indices of stress in 70% of articles that measured each of those endpoints. However, more than half (58%) of the articles failed to place the experimental temperatures into a biological context, therefore limiting their broad applicability to management. Integration of survival and sublethal effects to investigate mechanisms of fish mortality was relatively rare (28%). Collectively, the results suggest that capture–release mortality increases at temperatures within, rather than above, species‐specific thermal preferenda. We illustrate how knowledge of ecologically relevant high temperatures in the capture and release of fish can be incorporated into management, which will become increasingly important as climate change exerts additional pressure on fish and fisheries.     

Capture versus tagging impacts on chum salmon freshwater spawning migration travel times

The spawning migration travel times of chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum), fitted with gastrically implanted radio tags vs external spaghetti tags were tested for a short [≈60 river km (rkm)] and long migration route (≈730 rkm) on the Koyukuk River, Alaska, USA. Using a novel application of statistical arrival curve models to infer travel times for uncaptured fish, migrations by chum salmon not directly handled during the study were also assessed. Results demonstrated negligible differences in travel times within migration routes between fish fitted only with spaghetti tags and fish fitted with radio tags, indicating low impacts on migration travel behaviour associated with gastric tags once deployed. Conversely, travel times for unhandled fish as inferred by statistical arrival models may have been 12%–24% shorter than those for fish captured with gillnets for tagging. These results suggest that, if present, chum salmon migration behaviour impacts may be more strongly associated with fish capture than tag deployment.     

Effects of Temperature on Performance Characteristics and the Cortisol Stress Response of Surubim Pseudoplatystoma sp.

Three experiments were conducted in flow‐through tanks at 24, 27 and 30 C to evaluate growth, food conversion, morbidity, survival, and the cortisol stress response of surubim Pseudoplatystoma sp. at different temperatures. In Experiment 1, fish (mean initial weight, 33.3 ± 7.2 g) reared at 27 and 30 C for 60 d grew significantly faster than fish reared at 24 C (P < 0.05). Fish at the lowest temperature showed the poorest feed conversion ratio (FCR, 5:1), while fish at 27 and 30 C had FCRs of 2.5:1 and 3.5:1, respectively. Mortality and morbidity rates were inversely proportional to the temperatures tested. In Experiment 2, serum cortisol levels following an acute handling stressor peaked at 30 min after stress, returned to near‐resting levels at 1 h after stress, and completely returned to resting levels at 3 h after stress in fish at all temperatures tested. Peak serum cortisol levels were higher in fish at 30 C (321.1 ± 38.8 ng/mL) than those in fish at 27 and 24 C (143.3 ± 37.4 ng/mL and 104.2 ± 37.2 ng/mL, respectively). In Experiment 3, fish (mean initial weight, 67 ± 8.58 g) reared at 27 C for 137 d grew significantly faster than fish at 30 and 24 C. Virtually, all fish reared in 30 C had some sign of morbidity (skin lesions and fin abrasion) compared to only a small percentage of fish in the other two temperatures. Again, the highest cortisol peak level was measured in fish reared at 30 C (117.6 ± 16.7 ng/mL), as compared to fish at 24 and 27 C (99.2 ± 15.5 ng/mL and 80.2 ± 12.8 ng/mL, respectively). Our findings indicate that the optimum temperature for rearing surubim in tanks is 27 C. At 30 C, these fish may suffer from stress, as suggested by the elevated peak of cortisol and morbidity and mortality rates. The relatively rapid cortisol stress response of surubim suggests that they may be more tolerant to handling stressors than other fish species.     

The response of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) to capture, handling and transport and shallow water stress

The stress response of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus ) to wild capture or controlled shallow water stressors was investigated. Stress associated with capture from the wild, handling and transport and shallow water evoked significant changes in circulating levels of cortisol, glucose, lactate, haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) in coral trout. Plasma glucose, Hb and Hct increased over 30 to 60 min in response to the controlled stressor and then returned toward unstressed levels, even if the stressor persisted. Cortisol increased to maximum levels over the 60 min following the onset of the stressor and remained elevated for 4 h in the case of a single 30 min shallow water event or 3 d in response to the capture, handling and transport. The difference between the responses of blood glucose and cortisol suggests that cortisol does not maintain blood glucose during stress in coral trout. The concentrations of circulating thrombocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes were also significantly affected by shallow water stress. As lymphocytes and granulocytes are important immune components, reduced concentrations of these cells may explain the increases in disease susceptibility, commonly observed in stressed fish during live transport.     

Influence of dietary fat level and whole-body adiposity on voluntary energy intake by juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) under self-feeding conditions

The influence of dietary fat level and whole‐body adiposity on voluntary energy intake of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) was examined using self‐feeders. Groups of lean fish [crude fat (CF) = 7%] and fat fish (CF = 11%), pretreated with a commercial diet with or without supplemental pollock oil, were self‐fed one of three fat level diets (CF = 8%, 13.5% and 19%) for 48 days at 17 °C. Final body weight (BW) and total digestible energy (DE) intake (kJ per fish) were positively affected by the initial BW. Relative to the initial BW, however, fat fish consumed less DE than lean fish. Although the effect of dietary fat level was not significant, percentage weight gain and daily DE intake per BW (kJ kg^?1 BW day^?1) of fat fish were significantly lower than those of lean fish (ancova with initial BW as a covariate, P < 0.05). Energy digestibility, feed efficiency and protein retention were improved with the dietary fat level; however, there was no difference resulting from body fat level. The whole‐body fat levels at the end of the experiment increased with the dietary fat level. Between groups self‐fed the same diet, fat levels of the initially fat fish were still higher than those of the lean fish. The results of the present medium‐term study suggest that rainbow trout adjust DE intake from diets with fat levels ranging from 8% to 19%. Although body fat level affects neither energy digestibility nor protein utilization, a high body fat level may reduce DE intake and consequently depress growth.     

Modulation of the response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) to confinement, by an ectoparasitic (Argulus foliaceus L.) infestation and cortisol feeding

The effects of a 21 day infestation with the ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus on the response of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss to an acute stressor (confinement) were investigated. Fish were divided into a control and two parasitized groups, with one parasitized group having received cortisol feeding 72 and 24 h before infection. Prior to confinement only control fish showed a significant increase in body mass and condition factor. Following 4 h confinement, plasma glucose levels in the normal- fed/infested group were significantly higher than in the controls, while the cortisol-fed/infested group had significantly lower plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucose. Both infested groups, but not controls, had higher plasma ACTH and cortisol levels 48 h after confinement when compared with their pre-confinement levels. Stressor-induced immunomodulation was more evident in the parasitized fish after confinement, as was concluded from decreased lysozyme activity, alternative complement activity and oxygen radical production either immediately after, or 48 h post 4 h confinement. Circulating lymphocyte numbers were significantly reduced in the control and normal-fed/infested fish. Results indicate that low ectoparasitic infestations can, for a prolonged period, lead to a stress experience with effects that impair the response to subsequent stressors. Such effects may be further confounded by a previous elevation of plasma cortisol levels.