The rationale for this project is based on chemical analytical findings which pointed to a chronic risk of pesticides for fish in Swiss streams and the observed decline of Swiss brown trout stocks. In their habitats fish are regularly exposed to stressors in addition to pesticides such as parasites (e.g. proliferative kidney disease, PKD) and increasing water temperature. Therefore, the project assesses pesticide effects both, alone and in combination with the mentioned stressors. Emphasis is given on sublethal effects at the physiological level (immune capacity, energy metabolism), on molecular biomarkers and the gill microbiome of juvenile brown trout. The study is carried out in cooperation with the Ecotox Centre and with financial support from the Federal Office for the Environment.
Project lead: Kristina Rehberger, Helmut Segner
Last updated: 2020/04/02
