Background

Since the twentieth century, the construction and operation of high dams have brought some negative effects to downstream river health, especially in China. During the flood season, total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation occurs when the gas pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure in the stilling basin downstream of the dam. When the TDG level reached a certain value, fish showed marked signs of gas bubble disease (GBD) that threatened their survival [1,2,3]. Previous researchers described that some endemic fish exhibited GBD symptoms in the Columbia River basin where the TDG levels were distributed within the range of 105–130% [4]. It has been reported that TDG can cause varied GBD symptoms in fish (e.g., haemorrhages, exophthalmia and excessive bubbles on the fins) and increase mortality [2, 5, 6]. However, compensatory water depth may decrease the damage of TDG to fish and contribute a positive influence on their tolerance [7,8,9].

In recent years, the problem of TDG supersaturation has attracted increasing attention due to the development of hydropower projects in the Yangtze River [10,11,12]. Many studies have been carried out to determine the effects of TDG on benthic species that inhabit the upper Yangtze River, such as David’s schizothoracin Schizothorax davidi, Prenant’s schizothoracin Schizothorax prenanti and rock carp Procypris rabaudi. The results of these studies showed that the species exhibited typical GBD signs [13,14,15]. Different fish exhibited varied tolerances to TDG supersaturation (Rock carp < Prenant’s schizothoracin < David’s schizothoracin). At present, only limited studies have focused on the effect of TDG on fish inhabiting the middle and lower layers of water [10]. In addition, few studies have assessed the impact of fish size on their tolerance to TDG supersaturation. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), dwelling in the middle and lower layers of water, is one of the four traditional commercial fishes in China. The habitat of grass carp has been destroyed due to the development of high dams. In this paper, grass carp of different sizes were selected to explore the effect of size on TDG supersaturation tolerance.

Furthermore, before flood discharge, the TDG level usually maintains a low value. When peak flooding occurs, a discharged flood may cause a high TDG level in the water downstream of the dam [16, 17]. Previous studies have suggested that chronic exposure could have negative impacts, such as bladder inflation, immunosuppression and decreased growth [18,19,20,21]. Fish dwelling downstream of the dam may be subjected to chronic TDG exposure at a low level prior to peak flooding. However, few studies have mentioned the tolerance of fish subjected to high levels of TDG-supersaturated water after chronic exposure. In this study, we also attempted to further evaluate the effect of TDG supersaturation on the tolerance of juvenile grass carp during acute exposure after chronic exposure. The results may provide important information for the protection of aquatic organism diversity and the operation of hydropower stations.

Materials and methods

Experimental fish and devices

Grass carp usually live in the middle and lower layers of water in the river. It is an important economic species in China and has high economic value. In this study, juvenile grass carp were obtained from Meishan Tianhe Fishery Co. Ltd. in Sichuan Province.

The experimental system for generating TDG-supersaturated water was described by Li et al. [22]. The system consisted of water flumes, water tanks, a water pump, a pressure vessel and an air compressor. In this system, compressed air was injected into an autoclave with water from the water flume to produce a high level of TDG-supersaturated water. The water was mixed with 100% TDG water to obtain varied levels of TDG-supersaturated water. The TDG level was detected by utilizing a Point Four tracker (Point Four Systems, Coquitlam, BC, Canada). A heater was employed to maintain the water temperature. A Multiparameter Water Quality Sonde (YSI 6600, NCL of Wisconsin Inc., USA) was employed to detect the pH, water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) level. The weight and fork length of the dead fish were measured by an electronic balance and a ruler, respectively.

Acute lethal experiments

In this experiment, juvenile grass carp of two sizes were chosen to assess the tolerance of fish subjected to TDG-supersaturated water. Before the experiment, a 720-L water tank (TDG: 100%, temperature: 22 ± 0.5 °C (mean ± SD), DO: 7.1 ± 0.7 mg/L and pH: 7.7 ± 0.2) was used to rear juvenile grass carp for 4 days so that the experimental fish could adapt to the new environment. After adaptation, 400 lively juvenile grass carp (200 large juveniles and 200 small juveniles) were selected for acute lethal experiments. Based on the existing survey, the levels of TDG supersaturation downstream of most dams were lower than 140% [23,24,25]. TDG supersaturation caused by the flood discharge can remain at a high level over a long distance (180 km) downstream of dams [26]. Therefore, TDG levels of 100%, 125%, 130%, 135% and 140% were set in this study. The control group was 100% TDG. Each TDG level had duplicate tanks (20 fish per tank (height: 0.6 m; length: 0.6 m; width: 0.6 m; water depth: 0.45 m)). The acute lethal experiment lasted for 96 h. In the acute lethal experiment, the water quality conditions were consistent with the adaptation conditions, and TDG was measured every hour. The GBD symptoms and abnormal behaviours (e.g., swimming rapidly, jumped up and breathing rapidly) of the fish were observed every 5 min. The time of death, GBD symptoms, weight and fork length of each dead fish were recorded. Experimental fish were deemed to have died when they stopped swimming, the gills stopped moving, and they were unresponsive to touch within 60 s.

Acute lethal experiments after chronic exposure

The size of the juvenile grass carp used in this experiment was similar to that of the large juvenile fish used in the above acute lethal experiment. Before the experiment began, the juvenile grass carp were moved into a 720-L tank (TDG: 100%, temperature: 22.1 ± 0.7 °C, DO: 7.2 ± 0.4 mg/L and pH: 7.5 ± 0.3) for 4 days to adapt to the new environment. After adaptation, the juvenile grass carp were placed in a 720-L tank with 115% TDG-supersaturated water for 96 h. The abnormal behaviours, GBD symptoms and time of death were recorded during chronic exposure. After chronic exposure (96 h), 200 lively juvenile grass carp were selected for acute lethal experiments, and the TDG levels were equal to those in the above acute lethal experiments (100%, 125%, 130%, 135% and 140%). The control group was 100% TDG. Each TDG level had duplicate tanks (20 fish per tank (height: 0.6 m; length: 0.6 m; width: 0.6 m; water depth: 0.45 m)). The acute lethal experiments after chronic exposure lasted for 96 h. In this experiment, the water quality conditions were consistent with the adaptation conditions, and TDG was measured every hour. The GBD symptoms and abnormal behaviours (e.g., swimming rapidly, jumping up and breathing rapidly) of the fish were observed every 5 min. The time of death, GBD symptoms, weight and fork length of each dead fish were recorded.

Statistical analysis

Mortality was an indicator utilized to assess the death process of experimental fish subjected to different levels of TDG-supersaturated water and can be described as follows:

$$p = \frac{n}{N} \times 100\%,$$

where p is the mortality of the experimental fish, n is the number of dead fish, and N is the total number of the experimental fish.

The median lethal time (LT50) was considered to determine the tolerance of experimental fish to TDG-supersaturated water. A regression line was fitted through the logarithmic values of the lethal times, and the probability unit value of mortality was calculated as follows:

$$P(C) = R({\text{c}}_{e} )\,\, \times \,\lg T + J({\text{c}}_{e} ),$$

where P(C) is the probability unit, R(ce) and J(ce) are the slope and intercept of the regression line, respectively, ce is the TDG level, and T is the lethal time of the experimental fish. The time was considered the LT50 when the probability unit value was 5 [27].

Differences in the length and weight of the juvenile grass carp of the two sizes and the impact of TDG supersaturation on their tolerances were analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Furthermore, the post hoc multiple comparison test (least significant difference test) was used to determine the differences between the LT50 values of the juvenile grass carp subjected to different levels of TDG-supersaturated water. Tamhane’s T2 test was used when there was inhomogeneous variance. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.

Results

The mean weight and fork length of the large juvenile grass carp were 1.64 ± 0.24 g and 5.17 ± 0.47 cm, respectively. The mean weight and fork length of the small juvenile grass carp were 0.17 ± 0.03 g and 2.53 ± 0.27 cm, respectively. There were significant differences in the weight and fork length between the large and small juveniles (Fig. 1) (ANOVA for weight: F = 580.182; df = 1, 30; p < 0.05. ANOVA for fork length: F = 375.303; df = 1, 30; p < 0.05).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Weight and fork length of the large and small juvenile grass carp. *p < 0.05

Full size image

Symptoms of GBD in grass carp

After 1 h of acute exposure, experimental fish showed abnormal behaviours at the 135% and 140% TDG levels. Experimental fish swam erratically with rapid breathing at the water surface. After 1.5 h, fish gradually lost their equilibration and were surrounded by numerous gas bubbles. As the exposure time increased, many fish began to lose their swimming ability (motionless on the water surface, disorientation and loss of equilibrium), and some fish raised their heads out of the water. After 3 h, the fish exposed to 140% TDG began to die and floated on the water surface. The obvious signs of GBD in dead grass carp were caudal fin bleeding, dorsal fin bubbles, loss of scales, and abdominal swelling (Fig. 2). The above phenomena were also observed in juvenile grass carp at the other TDG levels (125%, 130% and 135%). Juvenile grass carp of the two sizes exhibited similar symptoms of GBD and abnormal behaviours.

Fig. 2
figure 2

GBD symptoms of juvenile grass carp: a caudal fin bleeding, b dorsal fin bubbles, c loss of scales, and d abdominal swelling

Full size image

Acute lethality experiment

The relationship between mortality and exposure time in juvenile grass carp is shown in Fig. 3. For the large juvenile grass carp (Fig. 3a), the death of the first fish occurred within 3 h at the 140% TDG level, and mortality reached 100% within 20 h. At 135% TDG, 100% mortality was observed after 85 h. At the other TDG levels (125% and 130%), the death of the first fish occurred within 10 h. Fourteen and 4 fish survived at the abovementioned supersaturation levels at the end of the experiment. Figure 3a also shows that the mortality of juvenile fish exceeded 75% at higher TDG levels (≥ 130%), while the mortality was only 30% at the 125% TDG level.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Mortality of large and small juvenile grass carp subjected to different TDG levels: a large juvenile grass carp; b small juvenile grass carp

Full size image

For the small juvenile grass carp, the relationship between mortality and exposure time is shown in Fig. 3b. The death of the first fish occurred within 5 h at the 140% TDG level, and the mortality reached 100% within 96 h. Compared with the large juvenile grass carp, the number of dead small juvenile grass carp declined, and mortality was 62.5% at the 130% and 135% TDG levels at the end of the experiment. After 20 h, the small juvenile grass carp began to die at TDG levels of 125%, 130% and 135%, and the mortalities of small juvenile grass carp were lower (20–40%) than those of the large juvenile grass carp. The results indicated that the mortality of the large and small juvenile grass carp increased obviously with increased exposure time. Throughout the experiment, no fish died in the 100% TDG-saturated water.

The LT50 values of the juvenile grass carp of different sizes are presented in Table 1. The LT50 values of the large juvenile grass carp were 36.55, 21.75 and 6.37 h at 130%, 135% and 140% TDG, while the LT50 values of the small juvenile grass carp were 88.13, 61.49 and 35.88 h at the above TDG levels, respectively. The LT50 value of the experimental fish was not calculated at the 125% TDG level because more than half of the individuals were still alive at the end of the experiment. With decreasing TDG level, the LT50 of the experimental fish in each group increased significantly (for the large juvenile grass carp: F = 27.721; df = 2, 3; p < 0.05; and for the small juvenile grass carp: F = 23.026; df = 2, 3; p < 0.05). For the large and small juvenile grass carp, there were significant differences between the LT50 values of the 130%, 135% and 140% TDG levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Fig. 4 also shows that at a given TDG level, the LT50 of the small juvenile grass carp was much higher than that of the large juvenile grass carp, and a significant difference was found between the LT50 values of the large and small juvenile grass carp (p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the large juvenile grass carp were more sensitive to TDG than the small juvenile grass carp.

Table 1 The LT50 values of the large and small juvenile grass carp subjected to TDG-supersaturated water
Full size table
Fig. 4
figure 4

LT50 of large and small juvenile grass carp at various TDG levels. The data are described as the mean ± SD (n = 2). *p < 0.05

Full size image

Acute lethal experiments after chronic exposure

In the first chronic exposure phase, mild GBD symptoms were observed in juvenile grass carp. However, no fish died, and no abnormal behaviour was observed. In the second acute exposure phase after chronic exposure, the GBD symptoms of juvenile grass carp were consistent with those in the acute lethal experiment. Compared with acute exposure, GBD symptoms of juvenile grass carp appeared early with multiple TDG exposures (acute exposure after chronic exposure).

In Fig. 5, at high TDG levels (≥ 130%), the death of the first fish occurred within 5 h, which was earlier than that of large juvenile grass carp during acute exposure (8 h). At the end of the acute exposure experiment after chronic exposure, the mortalities (> 80%) were higher than those of the large juvenile grass carp during the single acute exposure experiment (75%) at the above three TDG levels. The mortality of the juvenile grass carp reached 100% within 15 and 30 h at the levels of 140% and 135%, respectively. At the 130% TDG level, mortality reached 85% at 75 h, and no fish died until the end of the experiment. Furthermore, experimental fish began to die at the 125% TDG level after 20 h, but only 35% of the fish died at the end of the experiment. Throughout the experiment, no fish died in the 100% TDG-saturated water.

Fig. 5
figure 5

Mortality of juvenile grass carp subjected to different levels of TDG-supersaturated water after chronic exposure

Full size image

In Table 2, it can be seen that the LT50 values of the juvenile grass carp increased significantly with decreasing TDG levels in the acute exposure experiment after chronic exposure (F = 20.316; df = 2, 3; P < 0.05). The LT50 values of juvenile grass carp were 26.22, 7.54 and 5.34 h at the 130%, 135% and 140% TDG levels, respectively. There was a significant difference between the LT50 values of the 130% and 135% levels (p < 0.05). However, compared to that of the 140% TDG level, the LT50 value of the juvenile grass carp did not significantly increase at the 135% TDG level (p > 0.05). The LT50 value of juvenile grass carp was not calculated at the 125% TDG level because more than half of the individuals survived the experiment.

Table 2 The LT50 values of juvenile grass carp subjected to different levels of TDG-supersaturated water after chronic exposure (multiple exposures)
Full size table

Furthermore, at the same TDG supersaturation level, the LT50 of juvenile grass carp subjected to a single acute exposure was higher than that of juvenile grass carp subjected to multiple exposures (Fig. 6). There was a significant difference in LT50 values of juvenile grass carp at the 135% TDG level between the single acute exposure and multiple exposures (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found for the LT50 values of the 130% and 140% TDG levels.

Fig. 6
figure 6

LT50 values of the juvenile grass carp subjected to acute exposure and multiple exposures at different TDG levels. The data are described as the mean ± SD (n = 2). *p < 0.05

Full size image

Discussion

Previous studies have demonstrated that GBD symptoms are often found in fish exposed to TDG-supersaturated water [28,29,30,31]. Some typical GBD symptoms were described, such as excessive bubbles on the fins, exophthalmia, haemorrhages and swelling of the swimming bladder [6, 22, 32, 33]. In this study, juvenile grass carp subjected to TDG-supersaturated water exhibited caudal fin bleeding, dorsal fin bubbles, loss of scales and abdominal swelling. Furthermore, TDG supersaturation can cause abnormal behaviours in fish, such as faster breathing, loss of the ability to swim and loss of balance [34,35,36]. The present study showed that similar abnormal behaviours were observed in juvenile grass carp.

It has been illustrated that fish subjected to TDG-supersaturated water would easily die from GBD [15, 37]. Although GBD produces varied signs and lesions, the cause of death is usually attributed to a lack of oxygen due to blood stasis. The gas in the gill filaments has been described as the most constant and pronounced lesion of GBD. Reduced gas in the vascular system might cause emboli in the gill arterioles [38, 39], leading to death of the fish due to anoxia.

Many studies have indicated that high levels of TDG supersaturation result in the increasing mortality of fish [40, 41]. Ji et al. [42] reported that Prenant’s schizothoracin had higher mortality at high TDG levels (130% and 135%) than at low TDG levels (110% and 115%). Some researchers found that the tolerance of Chinese sucker decreased with increasing TDG levels [22, 43]. In this study, the LT50 values of large and small juvenile grass carp at the 130% TDG level (36.55 and 88.13 h, respectively) were much higher than those at the 140% TDG level (6.37 and 35.88 h, respectively) (Table 1). The results showed that the LT50 values of juvenile grass carp decreased significantly with increasing TDG level. Furthermore, related studies have been performed to evaluate the influence of TDG supersaturation on the different species inhabiting the Yangtze River (e.g., Prenant’s schizothoracin, Rock carp, Chinese sucker and Silver carp) [14, 15, 44, 45]. Table 3 describes the LT50 values of four species and juvenile grass carp at four TDG levels (125%, 130%, 135% and 140%). This clearly shows that the juvenile grass carp exhibited higher tolerance than other species in TDG-supersaturated water.

Table 3 The LT50 values of different species subjected to TDG-supersaturated water
Full size table

It has been illustrated that size is an important factor in the tolerance of fish subjected to TDG [37, 46]. Smiley et al. [37] indicated that there were obvious differences in the sensitivity and response of white sea bass to TDG-supersaturated water with respect to fish size. The large white sea bass was more sensitive to TDG supersaturation than the small white sea bass. Dawley et al. [46] tested the tolerance of chinook salmon of various sizes to a 112% total gas pressure. They found that 40-mm-long fish were more tolerant to TDG supersaturation than fish that were 53 mm or 67 mm long. In this study, the LT50 values of the large juvenile grass carp were 36.55, 21.75 and 6.37 h at the 130%, 135% and 140% TDG levels, while the LT50 values of small juvenile grass carp were 88.13, 61.49 and 35.88 h at the same TDG levels, respectively. This result indicated that juvenile grass carp of different sizes showed varied tolerances, and the large juvenile grass carp had a lower tolerance to TDG-supersaturated water than the small juvenile grass carp. The results of this study were consistent with those of previous studies, and the large juvenile grass carp were more sensitive to TDG than the small juvenile grass carp. We speculated that differences caused by different sizes might be due to differential metabolism, loss of emboli from the blood vessels, and even differences in the target organs due to the different developmental stages of the fish.

Existing studies have demonstrated that chronic exposure to TDG causes oxidative stress and cell damage in rock carp [20]. Yuan et al. [21] pointed out that Leptobotia elongata was exposed to lower TDG levels (110% and 120%) for 96 h and then exposed to higher TDG levels (130% and 140%). The time of death of fish exposed to 140% TDG after exposure to low TDG levels (110% and 120%) was reduced by 41.4% and 52.05% compared with that of the single acute exposure (140%), respectively. The time of death of fish exposed to 130% TDG after exposure to low TDG levels (110% and 120%) was reduced by 25.56% and 75.81% compared with that of the single acute exposure (130%), respectively. In this study, the juvenile grass carp did not die in the first chronic exposure phase (96 h), but they died faster in the subsequent acute exposure experiment than when exposed only acutely. The LT50 values of juvenile grass carp during multiple exposures were 34.67% and 71.74% of that of juvenile grass carp during single acute exposure at TDG levels of 135% and 130%, respectively. This result indicated that chronic exposure accelerated the death of fish during acute exposure after chronic exposure. A low TDG level of the supersaturated water had a chronic injury effect on juvenile grass carp. Furthermore, in the single acute exposure and multiple exposures, there was a significant difference in LT50 values at the 135% TDG level. However, the LT50 value was not significantly different between the 130% and 140% TDG levels (Fig. 6). It is possible that chronic exposure did not cause greater damage of organism to the grass carp at TDG levels less than 130% (multiple exposures). When the TDG level reached a high value (140%), excessive TDG in the water caused mass mortality of fish due to the rapid emergence of embolisms. Thus, a high TDG level is a fatal factor for juvenile grass carp, and some measures should be taken to minimize the exposure time of grass carp exposed to high TDG levels. Even so, compared with the single acute exposure, acute TDG exposure after chronic exposure (multiple exposures) led to lower LT50 values in juvenile grass carp. Long-term exposure to low TDG levels might pose a great threat to the survival of fish before peak flooding occurs. Limiting the TDG levels to less than 115% is effective in reducing the effect of long-term exposure of juvenile grass carp to TDG. In addition, long recovery time should be considered for formulating schemes during flood discharge [44]. This possibility should attract attention when formulating reservoir operation schemes and planning protective measures for fish inhabiting downstream of dams.

Conclusions

This study indicated that increasing TDG levels can decrease the tolerance of juvenile grass carp. Effective measures should be taken to avoid the occurrence of high TDG levels downstream of the dam. Compared with the small juvenile grass carp, the large juvenile grass carp showed lower tolerance to TDG. All juvenile grass carp survived at the 115% TDG level, and a small number of juvenile grass carp (20–35%) died at the 125% TDG level after 96 h. Therefore, the tolerance threshold of juvenile grass carp to TDG-supersaturated water is suggested to be 120% TDG. In addition, in comparison to grass carp subjected to single acute exposure, grass carp subjected to acute exposure after long-term chronic exposure showed weaker tolerance to TDG and is more vulnerable to the adverse effects of TDG exposure. The results in this study can provide a reference for operational schemes of hydropower plants and the ecological management of rivers in China.

In this study, we only conducted the laboratory experiment to explore the tolerance of juvenile grass carp, the results cannot be directly used to estimate the impact of TDG on juvenile grass carp living in natural rivers. In the future, further field experiments will be performed to investigate the effects of TDG on juvenile grass carp.