Review

Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity

Volume: 21 Number: 4 December 1, 2025
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Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity

Abstract

Climate change is known to affect abiotic factors in coastal and marine ecosystems. The increase in salinity, caused by climate change-related factors that raise soluble salts above optimal levels, leads to acute stress. This condition can affect the tissues and organs of aquatic animals. In chronic stress conditions, organisms become entirely insensitive to stress factors or organisms may either develop tolerance, resulting in altered growth and reproduction rates. Fish can be examined as bioindicators to monitor salt fluctuations, which may cause osmotic stress at the cellular level, and molecular and biochemical changes that are induced via the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, enzymatic activities are particularly affected in mitochondrial functions. Although increasing salinity presents a positive picture in some freshwater fish species by supporting embryonic and larval development and preventing some diseases, species with lower adaptability may be adversely affected by excessive salinity. When examining the effects of salinity stress, analysis of energy metabolism during its acute phase is a common preferred approach due to its rapid and measurable indicators. With the increase in salinity, differences occur at the cellular and hormonal levels (e.g., cortisol, prolactin), reproduction, growth, and development processes. Tolerance and adaptation abilities vary depending on whether they are euryhaline or stenohaline fish species. Advanced analytical methods such as omics techniques, metabolic profiling, and imaging techniques are needed to obtain more detailed results in this field.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Hydrobiology, Ecology (Other)

Journal Section

Review

Early Pub Date

November 24, 2025

Publication Date

December 1, 2025

Submission Date

March 15, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 10, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 21 Number: 4

APA
Esmer Duruel, H. E., Kızılkaya, Ş., & Kayhan, F. E. (2025). Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity. Acta Aquatica Turcica, 21(4), 351-364. https://doi.org/10.22392/actaquatr.1658565
AMA
1.Esmer Duruel HE, Kızılkaya Ş, Kayhan FE. Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity. Acta Aquat. Turc. 2025;21(4):351-364. doi:10.22392/actaquatr.1658565
Chicago
Esmer Duruel, Harika Eylül, Şeyma Kızılkaya, and Figen Esin Kayhan. 2025. “Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity”. Acta Aquatica Turcica 21 (4): 351-64. https://doi.org/10.22392/actaquatr.1658565.
EndNote
Esmer Duruel HE, Kızılkaya Ş, Kayhan FE (December 1, 2025) Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity. Acta Aquatica Turcica 21 4 351–364.
IEEE
[1]H. E. Esmer Duruel, Ş. Kızılkaya, and F. E. Kayhan, “Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity”, Acta Aquat. Turc., vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 351–364, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.22392/actaquatr.1658565.
ISNAD
Esmer Duruel, Harika Eylül - Kızılkaya, Şeyma - Kayhan, Figen Esin. “Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity”. Acta Aquatica Turcica 21/4 (December 1, 2025): 351-364. https://doi.org/10.22392/actaquatr.1658565.
JAMA
1.Esmer Duruel HE, Kızılkaya Ş, Kayhan FE. Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity. Acta Aquat. Turc. 2025;21:351–364.
MLA
Esmer Duruel, Harika Eylül, et al. “Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity”. Acta Aquatica Turcica, vol. 21, no. 4, Dec. 2025, pp. 351-64, doi:10.22392/actaquatr.1658565.
Vancouver
1.Harika Eylül Esmer Duruel, Şeyma Kızılkaya, Figen Esin Kayhan. Osmotic and Adaptive Challenges: Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fish to Increased Salinity. Acta Aquat. Turc. 2025 Dec. 1;21(4):351-64. doi:10.22392/actaquatr.1658565