Bernier, N.J., and Alderman S.L. (2022) Chapter 6, in: Conservation Physiology of the Anthropocene-A Systems Approach. Fish Physiology 39A:253-320.
Abstract: Endocrine systems are regulators of physiological responses to environmental conditions, acting as key transmitters of external and internal cues, and can therefore provide valuable insights to help address pressing issues in fish conservation biology. In this review, after a brief overview of the endocrine systems involved in regulating stress, growth, and reproduction, we examine how fish endocrinologists are developing and applying new tools to monitor, conserve, and assist threatened and endangered wild fish populations. Specifically, we provide examples of how endocrine signals are used to guide the development of conservation hatcheries, to reveal how exposure to environmental stressors can affect development and growth, to enable assisted reproduction, to mitigate the impacts of climate change and endocrine-disrupting chemicals on fish reproduction, and to facilitate the management of invasive species. We also examine how non-invasive sampling techniques, profiling of steroid hormones, and the integration of endocrinology with emerging fields such as ecotoxicogenomics and host-microbiome interactions will have impacts on future conservation efforts. Finally, we identify limitations for the broader application of endocrinology in fish conservation and opportunities for fish endocrinologists to make meaningful contributions to the most urgent conservation challenges of our time.
