Publication Date
Spring 2026
Presentation Length
Poster/Gallery presentation
College
College of Sciences & Mathematics
Department
Biology, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Darlene Panvini
Presentation Type
Poster
Summary
Gill disease in fish is a strong biological indicator of water quality and environmental stress. These diseases are commonly caused by bacterial or parasitic infections that target gill tissues and can lead to severe physiological impairment and ultimately mortality. Several environmental factors, including water level and temperature, play a critical role in determining fish susceptibility to these infections. Changes in these conditions can act as stressors that weaken immune defenses and promote pathogen proliferation. This study aimed to evaluate the relative impact of environmental stressors on the development of gill-associated disease in Carassius auratus (goldfish) under controlled conditions. Following exposure to declining water levels or rising temperatures, microbial communities on the gills of Carassius auratus were collected using a swabbing technique (8 control and 8 experimental fish). Biolog EcoPlates were used to assess the functional microbial community in each fish gill by comparing the utilization of specific carbohydrate substrates. This study examines whether environmental stressors significantly influence microbial activity on fish gills, suggesting that these findings could meaningfully contribute to ongoing research on the development and progression of gill disease.
Recommended Citation
Cadawas, Moses Elijah; Turner, Emmalie; and Panvini, Darlene, "Assessing the Influence of Temperature and Water Level on Gill Disease in Goldfish" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 834.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/834
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons
