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Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes

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A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Environment and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2026) | Viewed by 10783

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jie Li

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Guest Editor

Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Interests: fish ecology; aquaculture; environmental adaptation

Dr. Mingdian Liu

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Guest Editor

Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430023, China
Interests: fishery resources and ecological protection; fishery resources survey; fish biology

Dr. Yaqiu Liu

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Guest Editor Assistant

Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Interests: eco-physiology; ecology and evolution; fish ecology and behavior; microbiome; environmental DNA

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates on Earth, with more than 34,000 species living in freshwater, saltwater, and the deep ocean, and they are critical to global ecosystems and food supply. They encompass various physiological and ecological adaptations in response to various habitat environments. In order to adapt to the complex and changing living environment, fish have evolved a variety of functional traits, including external morphology, reproductive ability, trophic level, growth rate, reproductive characteristics, metabolic efficiency, etc., which has been considered as a key factor reflecting the ecological adaptation potential of species. Moreover, the gut microbiome has been recognized as a vital "microbial trait" of fish and is closely related to many characteristics of its host. Thus, it is necessary to deliver valuable insights into behavioral ecology, eco-physiology, population dynamics, and genetics, as well as the monitoring of ecosystems in exploring fish response to rapid environmental change, which provides effective information for fish conservation and ecosystem health. This Special Issue aims to showcase the adaptation and response of fish to environmental changes. We invite researchers, scientists, and practitioners to submit original research articles and reviews that address, but which are not limited to, the following topics:

Fish population and community;
Fish habitat;
Fish eco-physiology;
Fish behavior monitoring;
Fish conservation biology;
Gut microbiome and its insight into differences in fish physiology and behavior;
Ecological adaptation of fish to human disturbance (e.g., hydroelectric development);
Responses of fish communities to climate change.

We encourage contributions from interdisciplinary research teams, encompassing fisheries scientists, ecologists, biologists, and policymakers, to provide a comprehensive overview of the field.

Prof. Dr. Jie Li
Dr. Mingdian Liu
Guest Editors

Dr. Yaqiu Liu
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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Keywords

eco-physiology
behavior monitoring
ecological adaptation
climate change
human activities

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 167 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Editorial: Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes

by Yaqiu Liu, Mingdian Liu and Jie Li

Fishes 2026, 11(3), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030165 - 13 Mar 2026

Viewed by 315

Abstract

Aquatic environments are undergoing unprecedented transformations driven by global warming, habitat degradation, hydrological alteration, salinization, and human activities such as dam construction, invasive species control, and fisheries exploitation [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

19 pages, 1192 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Status of Fishery Resources in Poyang Lake, China, During Periods of Abnormal Drought

by Legen Peng, Sixin Wen, Wenzhi Ma, Haotian Jin, Xinyuan Shi, Guocai Zhu, Jinxiang Yu, Jialing Min, Mingzheng Li, Xinbin Duan, Kai Liu and Sheng Wang

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010002 - 19 Dec 2025

Viewed by 687

Abstract

The status of the fishery resources in Poyang Lake, China, during periods of abnormal drought was examined using a comparative analysis of data from four fishery resource surveys performed during 2022 and 2023, in the first half (April–June) and the second half (September–November) of each year. A total of 91 fish species (11 orders, 17 families, 54 genera) were collected, with Cyprinidae accounting for 54.95% of the total species and Megalobrama skolkovii, Aristichthys nobilis, and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix as the dominant species. The Shannon-Weiner diversity, Pielou evenness, Simpson diversity, and Margalef richness indices were 3.30, 0.73, 0.95, and 6.93, respectively. The corresponding catch per unit effort (CPUE) values of the fish were 5.49 kg·(1000 m²·h)⁻¹, 4.45 kg·(1000 m²·h)⁻¹, 3.03 kg·(1000 m²·h)⁻¹, and 2.75 kg·(1000 m²·h)⁻¹, showing a clear decreasing trend across the successive sampling periods. The abnormal drought did not cause significant differences in the number of fish species and diversity indices (p > 0.05), but altered the fish community structure, characterized by reduced dominance of small, sedentary, and herbivorous fish, and led to a significant decline in CPUE (p < 0.05). This demonstrates that abnormal hydrological regimes can undermine the effectiveness of the 10-year fishing ban and threaten the recovery of fishery resources in river-connected lakes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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11 pages, 1110 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pulse Frequency and Water Velocity Determine Crossing Probability in Pulsed Direct-Current Fish Barriers

by Wanshuang Yi, Lu Cai, Yun Tan, Bo Xu, Jun Li, Lianwei Liu, Lanlan Xu, David Johnson, Shihong Zhu and Guosheng Yang

Fishes 2025, 10(10), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10100510 - 10 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 726

Abstract

Fish barrier technology by pulsed direct current has broad application potential to guide fish to suitable waters. The primary objective of this investigation was to study the effects of electric pulse frequency and water velocity on fish deterrence by pulsed direct current. The test fish were adults of two common carp species, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp, standard length 0.460–0.545 m) and Cyprinus carpio (Eurasian carp, standard length 0.292–0.335 m). Experiments were conducted in the 20 m swimming chamber of a 50 m flume, with a pulsed electric barrier produced by vertical electrodes located in the middle of the swimming chamber. The effectiveness of the electric barrier in deterring fish from swimming upstream past the electrodes was tested. The electric pulse generator produces a square wave pulse, with a voltage of 150 V and width of 2 ms. There were four electric pulse frequency treatments (4 Hz, 6 Hz, 8 Hz, 10 Hz), and two water velocity treatments (0.2 m/s, 0.6 m/s), with 10 replicates of each treatment. There were four primary findings. (1) Of the 160 fish tested, no fish was stunned and only 4 trembled (lost the ability to swim) for more than 2 s after encountering the electric barrier. (2) At a given water velocity, the crossing probability decreased as pulse frequency increased, and the decrease was largest when the frequency increased from 8 to 10 Hz. (3) At a given electric pulse frequency, the crossing probability was higher at the high water velocity, and barrier efficiency was more sensitive to velocity at higher pulse frequencies. (4) H. nobilis, a stronger swimmer, crossed more often than C. carpio. This study can provide ideas for the management of invasive species. However, the study was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, and field experiments should be carried out before field applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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23 pages, 5049 KB

Open AccessArticle

Growth, Physiological Response, and Gill Health of Spotted Rose Snapper (Lutjanus guttatus) Reared at Different Salinities

by Jonathan Chacón-Guzmán, Ricardo Jiménez-Montealegre, Neil Duncan, Elman Calvo-Elizondo, Silvia Valverde-Chavarría, Junior Pastor Pérez-Molina, Adriana Rodríguez-Forero, Javier Segura-Badilla, Enoc Soto-Alvarado, Tifanny Corrales, Catalina Víquez, Marcela Suárez-Esquivel, Laura Castro-Ramírez, Yanis Cruz-Quintana and Enric Gisbert

Fishes 2025, 10(9), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10090472 - 22 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1198

Abstract

The physiological and gill health responses of juvenile spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus) were evaluated at four salinities—8, 16, 24, and 32‰—over a 70-day period. Fish reared at 8‰ exhibited the highest final body weight (126.8 ± 2.6 g), which was significantly higher than their congeners kept at 24‰ (116.0 ± 2.3 g) and 32‰ (116.0 ± 2.3 g). This superior growth at 8‰ coincides with the complete absence of parasitic monogenean infestations. In contrast, parasite prevalence increased with salinity, reaching 87.5% at 24‰, and was associated with gill pathologies like hyperplasia. Plasma osmolality and chloride levels decreased at lower salinities, while sodium and potassium levels showed a compensatory increase. Plasma cortisol and glucose levels remained stable across all treatments, indicating an absence of chronic stress. These findings suggest that the optimal rearing salinity for juvenile L. guttatus is near 8‰. The enhanced growth at this salinity appears to be the result of a net energy gain, stemming from a trade-off between the minor cost of osmoregulation in a hypo-osmotic environment and the major energetic benefit of avoiding parasitic disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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19 pages, 3457 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Immune and Metabolic Responses of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) Under Acute Salinity Stress

by Leshan Ruan, Baocan Wei, Yanlin Liu, Rongfei Mu, Huang Li and Shina Wei

Fishes 2025, 10(8), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10080380 - 5 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1520

Abstract

Freshwater salinization, an escalating global environmental stressor, poses a significant threat to freshwater biodiversity, including fish communities. This study investigates the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), a species with the highest aquaculture output in China, to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of its physiological adaptations to fluctuating salinity gradients. We used high-throughput mRNA sequencing and differential gene expression profiling to analyze transcriptional dynamics in intestinal and kidney tissues of grass carp exposed to heterogeneous salinity stressors. Concurrent serum biochemical analyses showed salinity stress significantly increased Na⁺, Cl⁻, and osmolarity, while decreasing lactate and glucose. Salinity stress exerted a profound impact on the global transcriptomic landscape of grass carp. A substantial number of co-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in kidney and intestinal tissues were enriched in immune and metabolic pathways. Specifically, genes associated with antigen processing and presentation (e.g., cd4-1, calr3b) and apoptosis (e.g., caspase17, pik3ca) exhibited upregulated expression, whereas genes involved in gluconeogenesis/glycolysis (e.g., hk2, pck2) were downregulated. KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that metabolic and cellular structural pathways were predominantly enriched in intestinal tissues, while kidney tissues showed preferential enrichment of immune and apoptotic pathways. Rigorous validation of RNA-seq data via qPCR confirmed the robustness and cross-platform consistency of the findings. This study investigated the core transcriptional and physiological mechanisms regulating grass carp’s response to salinity stress, providing a theoretical foundation for research into grass carp’s resistance to salinity stress and the development of salt-tolerant varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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17 pages, 4136 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Interactions Between Key Environmental Factors on Non-Specific Indicators in Carassius auratus

by Bin Wang, Hang Yang, Hanping Mao and Qiang Shi

Fishes 2025, 10(8), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10080372 - 2 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1287

Abstract

Carassius auratus exhibits significant physiological and behavioral alterations under the combined stress of temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) fluctuations, which are common challenges in aquaculture. In this investigation, we employed controlled thermal and DO gradients to characterize the multidimensional response profile of this species. The key findings revealed that thermal elevation profoundly influenced blood glucose and cortisol concentrations. Notably, exposure to hyperoxic conditions markedly attenuated stress responses relative to hypoxia at equivalent temperatures: cortisol levels were significantly suppressed (reductions of 60.11%, 118.06%, and 34.72%), while blood glucose levels exhibited concurrent increases (16.42%, 26.43%, and 26.34%). Distinctive behavioral patterns, including floating head behavior, surface swimming behavior, and rollover behavior, were identified as indicative behaviors of thermal–oxygen stress. Molecular analysis demonstrated the upregulated expression of stress-associated genes (HSP70, HSP90, HIF-1α, and Prdx3), which correlated temporally with elevated cortisol and glucose concentrations and the manifestation of stress behaviors. Furthermore, a muscle texture assessment indicated that increased DO availability mitigated the textural deterioration induced by heat stress. Collectively, this work establishes an authentic biomarker framework, providing crucial threshold parameters essential for the development of intelligent, real-time environmental monitoring and dynamic regulation systems to enhance climate-resilient aquaculture management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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15 pages, 1646 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Ecosystem Structure and Function of the Geheyan Reservoir Based on the Ecopath Model After a Fishing Ban

by Miao Xiang, Haoran Liu, Nian Wei, Zihao Meng, Feifei Hu and Xuemei Li

Fishes 2025, 10(4), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10040168 - 9 Apr 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1560

Abstract

The Geheyan Reservoir, located on the Qingjiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, is important for regional water supplies and ecological conservation. Understanding changes in ecosystem structure and function has become critical for assessing efficacy after the implementation of a fishing ban. This study employs the Ecopath model to examine the ecosystem characteristics of the Geheyan Reservoir before (2017) and after (2022) the fishing ban. The results show significant differences in trophic levels, energy transfer efficiency, and ecosystem maturity between the two periods. The trophic levels increased from 3.36 pre-fishing ban to 3.89 post-ban, indicating an enhanced complexity in the food web structure. The highest eco-trophic efficiency for major commercial fish species increased after the ban, indicating improved energy utilization efficiency. However, energy transfer bottlenecks were still observed between trophic levels II and IV, suggesting ongoing challenges in nutrient cycling. The total primary production-to-total respiration ratio (6.93) and the connectivity index (0.25) indicate that the ecosystem’s maturity and stability have improved after the fishing ban. These findings underscore the ban’s effectiveness and provide a scientific foundation for sustainable management of Geheyan Reservoir and similar ecosystems in the Yangtze River Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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19 pages, 3992 KB

Open AccessArticle

Length–Weight Relationship and Spatiotemporal Distribution Pattern of Three Schizothoracinae Fishes Along the Nujiang River in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China

by Mingdian Liu, Weitong Xu, Fengyue Zhu, Xinbin Duan, Shaoping Liu and Daqing Chen

Fishes 2024, 9(11), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9110465 - 15 Nov 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1340

Abstract

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is a unique ecological area that has faced issues like diminishing ecosystem stability and increasing pressures on resources and the environment. These issues have arisen as a result of the combined impact of global warming and human activities in recent times. The study of the growth and distribution patterns of schizothoracinae fishes can support guiding policy decisions about the conservation of aquatic species and ecological habitats in the QTP. The investigation on fish resources was carried out in the QTP section of the Nujiang River during the spring and autumn seasons of 2017, 2018, and 2019. A total of seven sampling sites were established based on variations in elevation. According to length–weight relationship (LWR) analysis, Schizothorax nukiangensis mainly displayed a negative allometric growth while Ptychobarbus kaznakovi and Schizopygopsis thermalis mainly showed near isometric growth or positive allometric growth in the QTP section of the Nujiang River. Due to temperature and food abundance, the three schizothoracinae fishes showed better growth performance in autumn than spring. Spatial heterogeneity exhibited a greater influence on the LWR of S. nukiangensis and P. kaznakovi than seasonal variation. In contrast, seasonal variation on S. thermalis showed greater influence than spatial heterogeneity. According to the linear mixed effect model (LMM), both spatial factors and seasons had influence on fish growth in the QTP. Schizothorax nukiangensis was identified as the predominant species from CWL to BS, spanning an altitude range of 1800 to 2700 m. Ptychobarbus kaznakovi was identified as the main species at LL, BB, and BR, occupying an altitude range of 2700 to 3800 m. Schizopygopsis thermalis is primarily distributed at altitudes beyond 4000 m and along the tributary river Yuqu. Principal coordinates analysis (PCOA) and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) divided schizothoracinae fish populations into three clusters by spatial differences. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Monte Carlo Permutation analysis revealed that habitat elevation and water temperature had a significant impact on schizothoracinae fish distribution. This article enhances our understanding of the distribution and environmental adaptation of indigenous fish in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

15 pages, 950 KB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Adaptive Mechanisms in Fish Retinal Structure and Opsins Under Light Environment Regulation

by Zheng Zhang, Fan Fei, Liang Wang, Yunsong Rao, Wenyang Li, Xiaoqiang Gao, Ao Li and Baoliang Liu

Fishes 2026, 11(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11020073 - 23 Jan 2026

Viewed by 723

Abstract

Light, as one of the most crucial environmental factors, plays an essential role in the growth, physiology, and evolutionary survival of fish. To cope with diverse light conditions in aquatic environments, fish adapt through photosensory systems composed of both visual and non-visual pathways. The retina is a key component of the visual system of fish, capable of converting external optical signals into neural electrical signals, making it crucial for visual formation. During the process of visual signal transduction, opsins serve as the molecular foundation for vision formation. They can be divided into two major categories: visual opsins and non-visual opsins. Among these, melanopsin, as a member of the non-visual opsin family, acts as a key upstream factor in the circadian phototransduction pathway of fish. In this review, we review the adaptability of fish retinal structures to light reception and introduce in detail the gene diversity and relative expression levels of fish opsins. At the same time, we comprehensively describe the molecular mechanism by which fish adapt to changes in the underwater light environment. We also concluded that melanopsin, as a non-imaging photoreceptor, possesses not only core light-sensing functions but also non-imaging visual functions such as circadian rhythm regulation, body coloration changes, and hormone secretion. This review suggests that future research should not only elucidate the physiological functions of melanopsin in fish but also comprehensively reveal the mechanisms underlying the multi-adaptive nature of fish vision across varying light environments. Through these studies, researchers can have a deeper understanding of the physiological regulation mechanism of fish in complex light environments, and then formulate fish light environment management strategies, optimize aquaculture practices, improve economic returns, and promote the development of related fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation and Response of Fish to Environmental Changes)

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