Stress proteins concentration in caged Cyprinus carpio as a tool to monitor ecological stability in a model dam reservoir

Variability of stress proteins concentration in caged carp exposed to transplantation experiment model dam reservoir was caused only by natural (climatic and biological) conditions. Thus, the reference data of stress proteins concentration range in young carp individuals were obtained. Metallothionein, HSP70 and HSP90 protein concentrations as biomarkers were assayed in the livers, gills and muscles of six-month-old (summer) or nine-month-old ( autumn) carp individuals in relation to the site of encaging, season (summer or autumn), the term of sampling (1, 2 or 3 weeks after the transplantation) and tissue. Physicochemical analyses of the condition of water as well as pollution detection were conducted during each stage of the experiment. As the result of this study, the range of the variability of the stress protein concentration in young carp individuals was obtained. According to the analyses of the aquatic conditions of a reservoir with no detectable pollutants, we conclude that the variability in the stress protein concentration levels in the groups that were compared is solely the result of the natural conditions. Future regular monitoring of the reservoir using the transplantation method and young carp individuals will be both possible and reliable. Moreover, the range of variability in the stress protein concentrations that were measured in the young C. carpio individuals acquired from the model dam reservoir in relation to all of the studied factors may be applied in the monitoring of any other similar reservoir.

Automated summary

The study of stress protein concentration in caged carp exposed to a transplantation experiment model dam reservoir revealed the variability in young carp individuals. Analysis of water conditions and pollution detection showed that the differences in stress protein concentration levels between the groups were mainly influenced by natural conditions. This suggests that regular monitoring using the transplantation method and young carp individuals can be reliable for assessing reservoir conditions.