Global Scale Effects of Pollution and Parasitism on Freshwater Fish Health: A Review
Date
2-15-2024
Faculty Mentor
Lori Tolley-Jordan, Biology
Loading...
Files
Submission Type
Conference Proceeding
Location
10:30-10:40am | Houston Cole Library, 11th Floor
Description
The negative effects of pollution on declines in diversity and impaired health are well described in freshwater systems worldwide. However, the interaction between anthropogenic stressors and parasites on fish health is less well studied. We conducted a survey of published literature to determine the number of studies, approaches, and the interaction between parasite infection and pollution on freshwater fish health. By using search terms including metals, pollution, freshwater, parasites, fishes, and physiology in literature search engines, we compiled a collection of scientific studies. Studies were classified into years published, location by global region, study design (field surveys, laboratory studies), pollutant type (metals, microplastics, or chemicals), and fish health response (physiology or immune). For this review, all parasite types were combined. The most widely used study approach was survey based and most focused on the combined effect of parasites and pollution on fish physiology and immune responses. More research is needed in other regions of the world and laboratory studies to test the results found in the field studies. Also, other measures of fish health are needed to understand the relationships of pollution and parasitism. Finally, as fishes are parasitized by a wide variety of organisms from bacteria to different types of worms, the negative effects of parasitism on health may not be equal across all parasites. Literature surveys such as this uncover data gaps in the science of this topic and promote continued research to fully understand the combined effects of pollution and parasitism on the health of freshwater fishes.
Keywords
student research, biology
Rights
This content is the property of Jacksonville State University and is intended for non-commercial use. Video and images may be copied for personal use, research, teaching or any "fair use" as defined by copyright law. Users are asked to acknowledge Jacksonville State University. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@jsu.edu.
Disciplines
Biology
Recommended Citation
Madden, Kathleen, "Global Scale Effects of Pollution and Parasitism on Freshwater Fish Health: A Review" (2024). JSU Student Symposium 2024. 4.
https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2024/4