Chapter 2 :Toxicological Stress In Fishes Due To Climate Changes

Abstract

The global aquatic environment is undergoing unusual alterations primarily driven by modern climate change. While physical changes in oceans and freshwater ecosystems—such as rising temperature, altered precipitation patterns, and increased acidification—are widely recognized, a more subtle but equally significant threat emerges from the interaction between these physical shifts and chemical pollutants present in aquatic habitats. Fish, as ectothermic organisms, depend heavily on the thermal and chemical characteristics of their surrounding environment. Their physiological functions, metabolic activities, growth, and behaviour are strongly influenced by external environmental conditions, making them particularly susceptible to toxicological stress (Ficke, Myrick, & Hansen, 2007).