SHORT AND LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ACID STRESS ON SURVIVAL, BEHAVIOUR, AND SOME CELLULAR BLOOD CONSTITUENT~~IN THE C4 T FISH CLARIAS LAZERA

SHORT AND LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ACID STRESS ON

SURVIVAL, BEHAVIOUR, AND SOME CELLULAR BLOOD

CONSTITUENT~~IN THE C4 T FISH CLARIAS LAZERA.

Dy
F. I. MOUSSA”‘; M. B. ADOU SHABANA AND M. Y. EL

TOWEISSY.

‘” Dept. of Zool., Faculty of Science, Alexandria Univ., Alexandria, Egypt.
Key Words: Hematology, Cat Fish, Clarias lazera.
ABSTRACT
The fresh waterfish (Iarias lazera. was exposed to 10 lethal and sublethal
concentrations of acid as H,s04’ The median tolerance limit (TLm) at
different exposure periods 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr appears to be asfollows 2.88,
2.94, 3.0 and 3.1 pH respectively. From the chronic tests the maximum
acceptable toxicant concentration (lvIATC) for the fish was between pH 5.4
andpH 4. 7for 12 weeks.
Behavioural changes, as well as a Significant increases in haematocrit,
haemoglobin levels and total serum protein contents during both duration of
experiments were obsen!ed Hyperplasia ofepithelium ofthe primary lamellae
and a reduction ofthe sUljace area ofthe secondary lamellae were detected
in the gills ofClariqs lazerqfrom acidified water at pH 5.4 and 4. 7.