The impacts of agricultural chemicals and temperature on the physiological stress response in fish

Fish are exposed to multiple stressors in their environment. The interactive effects of pesticide exposure and increased temperature on the physiological stress response were investigated in a comparative field study with cold-water (whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni) and cool-water (sucker, Catostomus) fish from the Oldman River, Alberta, Canada, and in a laboratory study with rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Physiogical stress indicators were measured, and exposure to pesticides was estimated using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Species-specific differences in AChE activities and responses of the physiological stress axis were detected in whitefish and suckers, suggesting that whitefish are a more sensitive species to temperature and pesticide stress. In vivo Dimethoate exposure inhibited AChE activity in various tissues and disrupted the physiogical stress response. Commercial Dimethoate, in vitro, caused a decrease in viability and cortisol secretion while pure grade Dimethoate did not. The results from this study can be used in predictions of fish vulnerability to stress.

Authors

• Quinn, Amie L.
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Dissertations, Academic
• Fishes -- Effect of stress on
• Fishes -- Effect of chemicals on
• Fishes -- Effect of temperature on
• Fishes -- Effect of pesticides on

Identifier

hdl:10133/676

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/676