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The effects of capture, handling, confinement and ectoparasite load on plasma levels of cortisol, glucose and lactate in the coral reef fish Hemigymnus melapterus

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 12:03 authored by Grutter, AS, Pankhurst, NW
Tropical labrids Hemigymnus melapterus sampled underwater had low plasma levels of cortisol, glucose, and lactate. Plasma cortisol levels were elevated by capture stress within 5-6 min, while glucose and lactate levels were not. Plasma levels of cortisol and glucose increased after 2-4 h of handling and transport to the laboratory. Levels of cortisol and glucose fell with laboratory acclimation back to values similar to those found in wild fish. Parasitism by gnathiid isopods across an order of magnitude of isopod numbers had no effect on plasma levels of cortisol or glucose. Thus, H. melapterus has a stress response similar to that shown by temperate species, and relatively high parasite loads are not apparently stressful to fish in the wild. This may be related to the counterproductive effects of physiological stress responses on the immune system or behaviour-modulated processes that counter parasitic invasion. (C) 2000 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

History

Publication title

Journal of Fish Biology

Volume

57

Pagination

391-401

ISSN

0022-1112

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Academic Press

Place of publication

London

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Fisheries - aquaculture not elsewhere classified

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