Impacts of climate changes on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonads axis of juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

• Grant number: 25/01964-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: April 28, 2025
• End date: April 27, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton
• Grantee: Giovana Souza Branco
• Supervisor: Arianna Servili
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Centre Ifremer Bretagne, France
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/10856-9 - Histopathological, genetic and endocrine effects of pharmaceuticals of emerging concern under the reproduction of Astyanax lacustris (Characiformes: Characidae), BP.PD

Abstract

Climate change is a global challenge that requires immediate attention. The oceans suffer the impact of these changes and aquatic organisms are directly affected by them. In light of the climate change stressors of warming, acidification and hypoxia coined as the "deadly trio", the project proposes to examine endocrine and physiological responses as a driver of stressor vulnerability and aquaculture sustainability. Since studies focusing on the effects of realistic scenarios, combining exposure to these abiotic factors, are very scarce, the project will address this gap through a case study on the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a valuable fisheries and farming species. In this project, a lab experiment will simulate in captivity post larval exposure to two environmental scenarios: the current thermal and acidification condition of the Rade de Brest (France) and the scenario expected by 2100 (altered conditions with pH - 0.4 and ambient temperature + 3°C). The fish's fitness will be examined through an integrative biology approach including mortality rate, growth performance and physiological characterization. Special attention will be paid to the endocrine system, which is involved in the regulation of many functions such as growth, sexual maturation, metabolism and stress. Biological data obtained within the project offer a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and physiological acclimation of fish, for well-coordinated efforts and interventions for the mitigation and adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change on the coastal ecosystem.