Fluctuating asymmetry, abnormalities and parasitism as indicators of environmental stress in cultured stocks of goldfish and carp

Knowledge about the effects of captivity and environmental stress on fish populations is basic to culture them for ornamental, conservation or exploitation purposes. The aim of this study was to test how captivity affect morphological development of bilateral characters and whether levels of fluctuating asymmetry, morphological abnormalities and ectoparasites reflect developmental stress caused by adverse environmental conditions in two species of cyprinids, goldfish Carassius auratus and two varieties of carp Cyprinus carpio, scale and mirror carp. Samples from captivity were caught in an artificial pond (Madrid City, Spain), which presents poor environmental conditions; while samples from nature were captured in the Ebro River basin (NE Spain). Six meristic and four morphometric bilateral characters were measured and compared between the two samples. Additionally, the incidence of morphological abnormalities and ectoparasites was also recorded. Captive goldfish presented significant lower number of scales of the lateral line, scale rows above lateral line and length of pectoral and ventral fins. Captive carps showed significant shorter first barbels and longer ventral fins. Ornamental goldfish showed significant higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry than wild samples for number of branched rays of pectoral fin, lateral line, scale rows below lateral line and length of pectoral and ventral fins. Ornamental carps presented a similar trend for the same characters, except for branched rays and length of pectoral fins, together with the length of second barbels. In the artificial pond, the incidence of abnormalities was higher in carp, whereas goldfish showed a higher occurrence of ectoparasites. These facts support the hypothesis of a different species response to environmental stress. The overall results indicate that fish from the artificial pond are subjected to environmental stress caused by adverse conditions such as overcrowding and lower water quality. Moreover, estimated parameters in this study mean a useful tool to detect developmental instability in confined fish.