Blood biomarkers as diagnostic tools: An overview of climate-driven stress responses in fish

Global climate change due to anthropogenic activities affects the dynamics of aquatic communities by altering the adaptive capacities of their inhabitants. Analysis of blood provides valuable insights in the form of a comprehensive representation of the physiological and functional status of fish under various environmental and treatment conditions. This review synthesizes currently available information about blood biomarkers used in climate change induced stress responses in fish. Alterations in informative blood-based indicators are used to monitor the physiological fitness of individual fishes or entire populations. Specific characteristics of fish blood, such as serum and plasma metabolites, cell composition, cellular abnormalities, cellular and antioxidant enzymes necessitate adapted protocols, as well as careful attention to experimental designs and meticulous interpretation of patterns of…