Cortisol and Behavioral Response to Handling (Acute) and Confinement (Chronic) Stressors in Juvenile Spotted Wolffish,Anarhichas minor
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the cortisol response of spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) after exposure to air immersion and netting (acute stress) under a range of increasing densities (chronic stressor). In addition, the presence of a cumulative negative impact from chronic stress was assessed by the application of an additional acute stressor following rearing at various densities, and proxies of behavior were evaluated (feeding and aggression data). The stress response to air immersion and netting led to increasing plasma cortisol values at 0.5, 13, and 37 h post-stress, with the highest value achieved after 13 h. At 168 h, cortisol concentrations returned to similar pre-stress value. Changes in cortisol concentrations were relatively low after acute stress (five to six fold increases) and recovery time long lasting (>37 h). Prolonged rearing at 20, 30, and 40 kg m−2 showed a non-significant trend of increasing cortisol values with increasing density, and the cortisol response after the application of an additional acute stressor was significantly altered, i.e., higher cortisol levels were measured in unstressed (chronic stress only) compared to stressed fish (chronic stress + acute stress). Our results suggest that (1) spotted wolffish is a low responder that additionally displays a long-lasting cortisol elevation following an acute stressor; (2) fixed densities did not lead to significant differences of plasma cortisol concentration or aggression levels,…
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Cortisol has been widely used as an indicator for both acute and chronic stress in fish.
“Cortisol has been widely used as an indicator for both acute (Barton, 2006; Fast et al., 2008; Olsen et al., 2008; Roques et al., 2010) and chronic (Le François et al., 2013; Pankhurst et al., 2008; Sundh et al., 2011) stress in fish.”
From Insights into thermal sensitivity: Effects of elevated temperature on growth, metabolic rate, and stress responses in Atlantic wolffish (<i>Anarhichas lupus</i>) (2025) · cites this paper as Le François et al., 2013
Plasma cortisol levels were within the range of reported basal values of below 30 nmol L−1 in spotted wolffish.
“Plasma cortisol levels were within the range of reported basal values of below 30 nmol L−1 in spotted wolffish (Knutsen et al., 2019; Lays et al., 2009; Le François et al., 2013).”
From Insights into thermal sensitivity: Effects of elevated temperature on growth, metabolic rate, and stress responses in Atlantic wolffish (<i>Anarhichas lupus</i>) (2025) · cites this paper as Le François et al., 2013
Spotted wolffish is a slow responder to stress, with elevated plasma cortisol returning to basal levels after 37-168 h following stressors.
“Spotted wolffish has been suggested to be a slow responder to stress (Lays et al., 2009), with elevated plasma cortisol levels returning to basal levels after 37–168 h following exposure to stressors such as rearing density and air exposure (Le François et al., 2013; Tremblay‐Bourgeois et al., 2010).”
From Insights into thermal sensitivity: Effects of elevated temperature on growth, metabolic rate, and stress responses in Atlantic wolffish (<i>Anarhichas lupus</i>) (2025) · cites this paper as Le François et al., 2013
The fish density was 12.5 kg m−2, within optimum density ranges of other wolffish species.
“The fish density was calculated to be 12.5 kg m−2, which is within optimum density ranges of other wolffish species (Le François et al., 2013; Tremblay‐Bourgeois et al., 2010).”
From Insights into thermal sensitivity: Effects of elevated temperature on growth, metabolic rate, and stress responses in Atlantic wolffish (<i>Anarhichas lupus</i>) (2025) · cites this paper as Le François et al., 2013
Cites
A review of the culture potential of spotted wolffish Anarhichas minor Olafsen
Foss, A., K. Imsland, A., Falk-Petersen, I.-B., & Øiestad, V. (2004) · Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries · doi:10.1007/s11160-004-8360-9 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
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Hinchcliffe, J., Roques, J. A. C., Ekström, A., Hedén, I., Sundell, K., Sundh, H., Sandblom, E., Björnsson, B. T., & Jönsson, E. (2025) · Journal of Fish Biology · doi:10.1111/jfb.16017 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Le François, N. R., Tremblay-Bourgeois, S., Dupont Cyr, B.-A., Savoie, A., Roy, R. L., Imsland, A. K., & Benfey, T. J.
- Affiliations
- Université du Québec à Rimouski (CA)
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (CA)
- Akvaplan-niva (NO)
- University of New Brunswick (CA)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Aquaculture
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-07-03
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 248-264
- ISSN
- 1045-4438 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-0805
- OpenAlex
- W2078690569
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Aquaculture (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Keywords
- spotted wolffish, Anarhichas minor, cortisol, acute stress, chronic stress, handling stress, netting, stocking density, plasma cortisol, stress recovery, aggression, feeding behavior, food conversion efficiency, fish welfare, juvenile fish
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