Toxicologie environnementale et analytique

The Mechanism of Chemoreception in Fish under Low pH Condition

Abstract

Rostern Tembo

Studies in fresh water and marine ecosystem both have shown significant impacts that anthropogenic ocean acidification has on olfactory abilities of fish and other invertebrates’ organisms, leading to impaired behavioral responses. This has led to far reaching consequences on population dynamics and community structure. In acidified waters, molecular change to chemical cues along with reduced olfactory sensitivity appears to be the primary cause of olfactory-mediated behavioral impairments. Many aquatic organisms, olfactorymediated behavior is critical to maintenance of numerus fitness-enhancing activities such as homing, mate choice, predator avoidance, foraging, kin recognition and food odor source. Changes in olfactory-mediated behavior caused by elevated CO₂ in ocean, lakes or rivers could affect not only fish population but much more recruitment of fish as well. Recent research work has shown how fish behaviors have been potentially affected by acidification as carbon dioxide levels continued dissolving in ocean waters. In this paper I have tried to unpack potential consequences that befall on fish as chemosensory cells are impacted by acidified waters.