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A survey of potential stressor‐induced physiological changes in carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) and barbel ( Barbus bocagei ) along the Tajo River
Author(s) -
Carballo Matilde,
Jiménez J. Antonio,
Torre Ana de la,
Roset Jaime,
Muñoz Maria Jesús
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/tox.20085
Subject(s) - barbel , cyprinus , carp , fish migration , common carp , biology , aquatic animal , biomonitoring , salmo , toxicology , ecology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii>
The objective of this study was to evaluate fish response to acute stress induced by confinement after capture. Because of the previously reported presence of chemical compounds in the Tajo River basin where the study samplinig took place, an exposure biomarker to organic chemicals (retinol) was used. Cortisol and glucose were used as stress biomarkers. Plasma levels of cholesterol were used as lipidic metabolism indicators, and retinol level was used as a specific exposure biomarker. A reference site was established along 300 km of the Tajo River, and nine sampling sites were selected on the basis of whether various human activities and hydrographic characteristics were present. A total of 55 carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) and 52 barbel ( Barbus bocagei ) were examined. Cortisol and glucose levels were considered acceptable indicators of the response of the fish to induced stress. In the barbel, plasma retinol levels decreased at two of the sampling sites indicating possible exposure to organic compounds. The overall evaluation of these parameters enabled us to identify three sampling sites at which more studies should be carried out. The possible relationship between the health state of wild fish and the presence of organic compounds or sources of pollution was considered. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 119–125, 2005.