Physiological responses and welfare implications of rapid hypothermia and immobilization with high levels of CO2 at two temperatures in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus).

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used for immobilisation of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) prior to slaughter at Swedish aquaculture facilities, and fish are routinely exposed to hypothermia in ice water during transport. Yet, information on stress physiological responses to CO2, temperature extremes and their potential interacting effects is scarce for this cold-water species. Here, blood pressure, heart and ventilation rates and plasma variables including ions, haematocrit, glucose and cortisol were measured in cannulated char during exposure to hypothermia (i.e. a rapid temperature drop from 10 °C to 0.25 °C); as well as to water nearly saturated with CO2 at 10 °C and 0.25 °C to test the hypothesis that hypothermia alleviates stress responses during CO2 exposure. While all fish maintained equilibrium during the 30 min hypothermic challenge, blood pressure, heart and ventilation rates decreased and plasma cortisol increased moderately. CO2 exposure at 10 and 0.25 °C resulted in aversive behavioural reactions before equilibrium was irrecoverably lost after 184 ± 14 and 191 ± 9 s, respectively. The physiological responses to CO2 exposure were largely similar at both temperatures with elevated cortisol levels, reduced heart and ventilation rates and hypotension; although reductions in ventilation amplitude and arterial pulse pressure were significantly more pronounced at 0.25 °C. It is concluded that hypothermia alone is a relatively mild stressor in this species, while CO2 exposure elicits pronounced physiological and behavioural stress responses that are not alleviated by hypothermia.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Zoologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Zoology (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Fisk- och akvakulturforskning (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Fish and Aquacultural Science (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

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