Thursday August 29, 2024
PhysOrg —
Research at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, reveals that size-based selection, as happens in fishing, may impact the stress tolerance of fish, which in turn has a significant impact on the condition and coping of fish in changing environments.
The study proved that long-term exposure to manganese sulfate (MnSO4), which is a common aquatic pollutant from mining, hampers the growth and alters the behavior of zebra fish. The study is published in Ecology and Evolution.
As we know, fishing is focused on middle-sized and large individuals through lower limits and fishing equipment restrictions, which often favors a fast life-cycle in target species. JYU researchers found that zebra fish with different life-history traits react differently to chronic exposure to manganese sulfate (MnSO4).
“In our research, we concentrated on two life-history types: fast-growing fish characterized by rapid juvenile growth, early maturation, and smaller size, versus slowly growing fish characterized by slower juvenile growth, later maturation and greater size,” explains Academy Research Fellow Silva Uusi-Heikkilä from the University of Jyväskylä.