Reproduction, Health and Pathology of Fish in a Changing Climate
A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Anatomy, Histology and Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2026 | Viewed by 136
Special Issue Editors
Interests: fish gametogenesis; reproductive cycles and puberty; fish reproductive dysfunctions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: reproduction; gametogenesis; animal behavior
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fish life cycles have always been synchronized with relatively predictable environmental rhythms, but today, those rhythms are under threat: warming waters, acidification, declining oxygen levels, and increasing seasonal variability are reshaping aquatic ecosystems, challenging the ability of fish to reproduce, develop, and maintain their health. These changes affect both wild populations and farmed stocks, influencing the fundamental processes that sustain life cycles and species continuity.
Reproduction, embryonic development, and larval stages are particularly vulnerable. Gametogenesis, reproductive patterns, egg quality, fertilization success, and larval survival all depend on environmental cues such as temperature and photoperiod. When these cues become irregular or extreme, developmental trajectories can be disrupted, with effects that range from individual fitness to population resilience.
Disease dynamics are also influenced by environmental change. Warmer and more variable conditions can compromise immune defense, promote pathogen spread, and intensify outbreaks, affecting both cultured and wild fish. The close physiological link between reproduction and immunity highlights the importance of considering health and pathology as integrated components of the response to environmental stress.
This collection aims to bring together studies examining the interactions between reproduction, development, health, and pathology in fish under changing climatic conditions. Contributions that integrate physiological, molecular, pathological, and ecological perspectives, in both farmed and wild species, can provide a fuller understanding of how the climate is reshaping the most sensitive stages of fish life and altering the resilience of aquatic populations.
Prof. Dr. Aldo Corriero
Dr. Gianluca Ventriglia
Dr. Rosa Zupa
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- fish reproduction
- climate change
- embryonic and larval development
- fish health and pathology
- wild and cultured populations
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