Date of Award:

5-1-1987

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Raymond T. Sanders

Committee

Raymond T. Sanders

Abstract

The effects of capture, handling, and the high fish density of transport were compared with the added stressor of a temperature change or a brief hypoxic period. Temperatures from 5°C to 19°C were tested on fish acclimated to 14°C. The effects of a 30 minute and 60 minute temper were compared with a sudden temperature change. Plasma osmolality, plasma chloride, plasma glucose and hematocrit, all responded to the handling and simulated transport. Numbers of circulating lymphocytes were greatly reduced and numbers of erythocytes increased. The mean corpuscular volume of the erythocytes also declined over a 24 hour period. Leucocrit, thrombocyte and neutrophyl numbers all remained constant over the period sampled (24 hours). Serum protein levels did not significantly change, indicating plasma dilution was not a major factor. All of the treatments were sub-lethal; the different tempering treatments did not significantly reduce the stress response. All temperature treatments responded with a physiological shift from the pre-stressed levels and a partial recovery by 24 hours. The hypoxic treatment had similar physiologic shifts but had less of a recovery for most parameters measured. This might indicate it was more stressful! than any of the temperature treatments. It was concluded that temperature changes within the 5°C to 19°C range are not a significant additive stressor, and that tempering for less than one hour had no effect on reducing the stress response. Some management considerations are discussed.

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