Primary and Secondary Responses of Juveniles of a Teleostean, Pikeperch Sander lucioperca, and a Chondrostean, Persian Sturgeon Acipenser persicus, to Handling during Transport

The dynamics of stress responses in small, juvenile pikeperch Sander lucioperca (as a representative teleostean) and small, juvenile Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus (as a chondrostean) were determined during capture and transportation for release into rivers. Blood samples were obtained from juveniles from a pond, channel, and loading basin and at 1.5 and 24 h after loading. Samples were analyzed for cortisol, glucose, and lactate concentrations, and mortality was recorded. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased, reaching a maximum in Persian sturgeon from the channel and pikeperch from the loading basin. Significant increases in plasma glucose concentrations were observed in samples from the channel and at 1.5 h after loading for Persian sturgeon and pikeperch, respectively. Similarly, significant decreases in lactate concentrations were observed 1.5 h after loading in both species. The results of this study show the sensitivity of these species to stress during transportation. They suggest a higher resistance to transportation stress by the sturgeon than the pikeperch, but it is highly recommended that transportation procedures and capture techniques be modified so that they are appropriate for the species.