Effect of Water Exposed to Electric Current on Gamete Quality of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Water Parameters

Abstract

Electrofishing is a widely preferred method in freshwater. Freshwater conducts electric current at low levels. Therefore, a relatively high voltage electric current is applied in these waters. In this study, the effects of changes in the structure of the water after the electric current applied to the water on gamete quality and embryo-larvae survival rates were investigated. Water samples were collected from the central region of the tank (N), as well as from the positive (+) and negative (-) poles following the application of an electric current to the well water at 165 volts and 3 mA for durations of 15 and 30 minutes. Sperm kinematic velocity parameters, fertilization and hatching rates were determined to be at the highest level in the group where electric current was applied for 30 minutes and water samples were taken from the middle of the tank, 30 (N), were used (P<0.05). Furthermore, it was observed that the Chemical Oxygen Demand value was one of the values lowest in the groups where sperm motility results were found to be the highest (P<0.05). Regardless of the duration of electric current application, it was found that the dissolved oxygen value of the water samples collected from the positive poles was similar to the control group, but higher than the negative poles. In conclusion, the application of electric current resulted in variations in both the sperm kinematic parameter values and the water parameters among the samples collected from different poles. However, there was no statistically significant difference in fertilization and hatching rates between the groups (P>0.05).