BL4250

Biology
(Bi*olo*gy) n. [Gr. life + -logy: cf. F.
biologie.]
The science
science of
of life
life; that branch of knowledge which treats of
living matter as distinct from matter which is not living; the
study of living tissue. It has to do
with the origin, structure, development, function, and
distribution of animals and plants.

Stress physiology of fish

Dr Neil Hazon/Prof Chris Todd

Introduction

Adult sea lice infesting a wild salmon. The juvenile stages of sea lice are
attached to the host fish. The later preadult and adult stages become mobile and graze the skin of the fish causing lesions and bleeding. Lesions
initiate stress and also expose the host to other pathological secondary
infections.

This module will:

1. Define the concept of stress and show how stress can
be determined in fish
2. Describe the endocrine components of the primary,
secondary and tertiary stress responses
3. Discuss different environmental stressors for salmonid
fish, including host-parasite interactions. Different
stages of the life cycle for both fish and parasite
will be considered in terms of the level of parasitic
infestation to initiate a stress response
4. Assess various real life situations that cause stress to
fish in the aquaculture industry and ways to
minimise stress
5. Consider the implications of stress for fish welfare and
husbandry, and on profitability of the
aquaculture industry

Learning objectives

1. Understanding of the stress concept

2. Knowledge of the initiation, and endocrine control
of, the stress response
3. Understanding how stressors interact, and the
consequences they cause in real life situations such
as the aquaculture industry
4. Development of skills in literature searching, review
and assimilation from a diverse range of primary
sources

Stress hormone (cortisol) titres in sea trout infested with sea lice.
Predicted mean values ( 95%confidence intervals) for plasma cortisol at
4 fixed lice loadings. Cortisol increases in the 30 and 50 lice.fish-1 groups
compared to control (zero lice) fish, but only after lice moult to the mobile
stages after day 10.

General Reading
Wendelaar Bonga, S.E. 1997. The stress response in fish. Physiological
Reviews 77: 591-625
Wells, A., Grierson, C., Marshall, L., Mackenzie, M,L., Russon, I.,
Reinhardy, H., Sivertsgrd, R., Bjrn, P., Finstad, B., Bonga, S., Todd,
C,D. and Hazon, N. (2007). Physiological consequences of premature
freshwater return for wild sea trout (Salmo trutta) post smolts infested
with sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). Canadian Journal of Fisheries
and Aquatic Science 64: 1-10

Teaching Format

Staff - Hazon 70% Todd 30%

Semester - First semester (2008/9 onwards)
Teaching Structure - Weekly discussion seminars 2 hours
per week
Assessment - 100% Open-book Exam (students will
have access to their individual notebook during the
examination)