Stress responses of carp pond fish stock upon hunting activities of the great cormorant(Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis L.)

In addition to direct predation, cormorants can affect carp pond fish stock through disturbance and wounding of the fish. Fish stress response was evaluated by catch per unit effort (CPUE) using lift-net sampling. A significantly higher (P < 0.001) CPUE was recorded in the littoral region of ponds affected by cormorant visits (43.6 +/- 39.6) in comparison with a control pond (CP) without their occurrence (0.9 +/- 1.1). Stress indices, spleen somatic index (SSI) and Fulton's condition coefficient (FCC) were evaluated for fish subject to two stress factors, hunting cormorants (HC) and pond harvesting (PH), and compared with levels in fish from the CP. Both SSI and FCC decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in PH and HC fish in comparison with the control group, while non-significant differences were observed in both SSI and FCC indices among the HC and PH groups. Plasma biochemical indices (cortisol, glucose and lactate concentrations) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the PH group as compared with the HC and CP groups. Concentrations in the HC and CP groups did not differ significantly. Total plasma protein levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in HC fish compared with CP fish, but did not differ significantly from PH fish.