Stress Response of a Common Fish to Changing Urban Stream Temperatures
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Date
2018-12
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Urban streams often have higher average and more variable temperatures than forested streams. However, the effects of anthropogenically influenced water temperatures on fish condition are not well understood. This study aimed to quantify the impacts of urbanized stream temperatures on the physiological stress response of Creek Chubs. Trial 1 was conducted for six weeks and the treatment group was subjected to a temperature regime of (17-26°C), while Trial 2 was conducted for 9 weeks and the treatment group was subjected to a temperature regime of (24-26°C). In both trials, the control groups were subjected to a constant 21°C, the optimal growth temperature of Creek Chubs, while the treatment groups' thermal regimes were based on diurnal temperature profiles that simulated urban stream temperatures in Columbus, Ohio. Body condition (length and weight) along with blood-plasma glucose concentrations were measured as indices of stress. Over the duration of the trial, the treatment group Creek Chubs in Trial 1 on average gained 0.68 g more weight and exhibited blood-plasma glucose concentrations 16.4% lower than that of the control group. Meanwhile, over the course of Trial 2, Creek Chubs in the treatment group on average gained 1.66 g less weight and exhibited blood-plasma glucose concentrations 25.1% higher than those in the control group. The results of this study offer insight into some the potential underlying mechanisms regarding thermal stress while demonstrating the need for further research.
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Keywords
Creek Chub, Temperature, Stress, Urban