CERC Science Topic: Fish Health and Nutrition

contaminant effect on fish morphology    The overall health of individual fish and their nutritional status can be important indicators of the health and viability of populations. Whereas, whole animal responses such as increased mortality, reduced growth or production, and reproductive failure, are still widely used to assess the effects of contaminants on fish. 
    CERC is increasingly utilizing more subtle responses of individual fish to contaminant as indicators of potential effects at the population level. Often these responses are measured at the cellular and sub-cellular levels. Parameters such as DNA variation and damage, histological analyses of target organs, contaminant residues in the whole body or specific organs, and hormone or enzyme levels are measured. These subtle responses are often associated with deleterious effects on natural populations. 
Looking for more information?