Detailed project information for Study Plan Number 09058

Branch :	Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory
Study Plan Number :	09058
Study Title :	Effects of stress and fatigue on migration and spawning success of Anadromous cluepids
Starting Date :	10/01/2001
Completion Date :	09/30/2006
Principal Investigator(s) :	McCormick, Steve
Primary PI :	McCormick, Steve
Telephone Number :	(413) 863-3804
Email Address :	steve_mccormick@usgs.gov
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Status :	Active
Abstract :	BACKGROUND The physiological and behavioral stress response of any animal is an adaptive response. The reactions and mechanisms that occur enable the animal to maintain a homeostatic balance in the face of external insults. Simply stated, the physiological response allows the animal to mobilize energy reserves and physiological capacities otherwise unavailable. While the response to short term or acute stressors may be adaptive, responses to repeated acute stressors or long term (chronic) stressors may be maladaptive. Functions such as feeding, growth, maturation, and reproduction may be compromised by stressors, and these may ultimately be deleterious to an animal’s well being. OBJECTIVES 1. To determine whether stress and fatigue are correlated with failure of anadromous clupeids to negotiate fish ladders where overall passage success is poor. a. To quantify stress and fatigue by measuring changes in levels of plasma cortisol, glucose, and lactate at successive stages during passage at fish ladders with varying levels of passage success. b. To quantify osmoregulatory homeostasis by measuring gill Na+, K+, ATPase, chloride cell size and density, and plasma ions at successive stages during passage at fish ladders with varying levels of passage success. 2. To determine the effects of stress and fatigue on reproduction. a. To quantify recovery from passage at fish ladders by measuring changes in levels of plasma cortisol, glucose, and lactate post-passage. b. To investigate normal and induced spawning in fish exposed to different levels of stress and fatigue. c. To quantify the effects of stress on reproduction by measuring changes in levels of reproductive hormones. This will include constructing sex hormone profiles of fish sampled throughout the system (from the estuary to spawning grounds). 3. To develop protocols for handling, transport, rearing, and induction of spawning that minimizes stress and maximizes spawning success. HYPHOTHESIS TO BE TESTED Relating to the objectives defined above, the following null hypotheses will be tested: 1. Stress and fatigue are not factors contributing to failure of clupeids to negotiate fish ladders at ladders where overall passage success is poor. a. Plasma cortisol, glucose, and lactate, do not increase at successive stages during fish passage at fish ladders with varying levels of passage success. b. Gill Na+, K+, ATPase, chloride cell number and density, and plasma ions remain unchanged at successive stages during fish passage at fish ladders with varying levels of passage success. 2. Stress and fatigue do not have negative impacts on clupeid reproduction. a. Fish recovering from passage at fish ladders exhibit basal levels of plasma cortisol, glucose, and lactate. b. Varying levels of stress and fatigue do not negatively impact normal or induced spawning success. c. Stress and fatigue do not reduce levels of reproductive hormones, which would have negative effects on reproductive success.
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