Physiological Thresholds and Adaptation Mechanisms of the Ili Perch (Perca schrenkii) to Chloride-Type Saline Water

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya

Global freshwater scarcity drives the search for alternative water resources for aquaculture, particularly chloride-type saline-alkaline water with high salinity and moderate pH. This study evaluated the endemic Ili perch (Perca schrenkii) using acute high-salinity exposure and chronic low-salinity acclimation. Acute testing yielded a 96 h median lethal salinity (LC50) of 12.396 ppt and identified a 13 ppt physiological threshold, beyond which ionoregulation failure, oxidative damage, and immune suppression emerged. Chronic exposure up to 7 ppt enabled durable acclimation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Water scarcity and the need for alternative aquaculture resources

Aquaculture expansion and freshwater pressure

Challenges and saline-alkaline water potential in China

Methods and stress experiments

Acute high-salinity test

Chronic low-salinity acclimation

Article Physiological Thresholds and Adaptation Mechanisms of the Ili Perch (Perca schrenkii) to Chloride-Type Saline Water Kaipeng Zhang 1,2,†, Shixin Gao 1,2,†, Guanping Xing 1,2, Yichao Hao 1,2, Zhulan Nie 1,2, *, Jie Wei 1,2, *, Tao Ai 3, Shijing Zhang 4, Jiasong Zhang 4 and Zhaohua Huang 5 Academic Editor: Claire E. Couch Received: 3 November 2025 Revised: 16 December 2025 Accepted: 18 December 2025 Published: 25 December 2025 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1 College of Life Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China; [zkp19980604@163.com](zkp19980604@163.com) (K.Z.); [follow_spot@163.com](follow_spot@163.com) (S.G.); [xingguanping1111@163.com](xingguanping1111@163.com) (G.X.); [10757242166@stumail.taru.edu.cn](10757242166@stumail.taru.edu.cn) (Y.H.) 2 Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Alar 843300, China 3 Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Aquaculture Technology Promotion General Station, Urumqi 830002, China; [taoai202506@163.com](taoai202506@163.com) 4 Yutian Fengze Technology Aquatic Products Co., Ltd., Hetian 848400, China; [17797917561@163.com](17797917561@163.com) (S.Z.); [jiasongzhang@hotmail.com](jiasongzhang@hotmail.com) (J.Z.) 5 Aral Changxin Fishery Co., Ltd., Aral 843300, China; [huangzhaohua1968@163.com](huangzhaohua1968@163.com) * [Correspondence: niezhl2004@163.com](Correspondence: niezhl2004@163.com) (Z.N.); [weijiedky@126.com](weijiedky@126.com) (J.W.); Tel.: +86-997-4680332 (Z.N.);+86-150-0997-2622 (J.W.) † These authors contributed equally to this work. Simple Summary Global freshwater scarcity has pushed the exploration of saline-alkaline aquaculture, especially in Northwest China where chloride-type saline-alkaline water is abundant but underused. Perca schrenkii (Ili perch), an endemic fish in the Ili River basin, shows promise for such aquaculture, yet its salinity tolerance and adaptation ability remain unclear. This study involved two experiments: an acute high-salinity test (11–15 ppt, 96 h) and a chronic low-salinity acclimation test (3–7 ppt, 60 days). We found the 96 h median lethal salinity (LC 50) of P. schrenkii was 12.396 ppt, and it could fully adapt to long-term culture in ≤7 ppt salinity—with 3 ppt causing almost no stress. These results provide clear salinity guidelines for the safe and sustainable cultivation of P. schrenkii in saline waters. Abstract Global freshwater scarcity necessitates the exploitation of alternative water resources for aquaculture. Chloride-type saline-alkaline water, characterized by high salinity but moderate pH, is widely distributed in arid regions worldwide and represents a vast, underutilized resource. This study comprehensively evaluated the potential of the endemic Ili perch (Perca schrenkii) for aquaculture in such environments. Through acute stress experiments, we determined its 96 h median lethal salinity (LC 50) to be 12.396 ppt, with a safe concentration of 3.72 ppt. Physiological analysis revealed a critical salinity threshold of 13 ppt, beyond which osmoregulatory collapse (indicated by plasma Na+ /K+ dysregulation and Na+-K+-ATPase suppression), oxidative damage (elevated malondialdehyde), and immune suppression occurred. In contrast, chronic 60-day exposure to salinities up to 7 ppt demonstrated successful long-term acclimation. Acclimated fish re-established ion homeostasis, as plasma ion levels normalized, and exhibited sustained antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT) and immune parameter (AKP, ACP, IgM) activities without signs of damage. Our findings establish P. schrenkii as a highly promising species for chloride-type salinealkaline aquaculture. The study provides a physiological framework for its adaptation and offers evide

FAQs

What water conditions were tested for the Ili perch adaptation study?

The study used two experiments: an acute high-salinity test (11–15 ppt for 96 h) and a chronic low-salinity acclimation test (3–7 ppt for 60 days).

What salinity level was identified as lethal within 96 hours?

The 96 h median lethal salinity (LC50) was 12.396 ppt, and the paper reports a safe concentration of 3.72 ppt.

What physiological changes occur beyond the critical salinity threshold?

Beyond 13 ppt, osmoregulatory collapse occurs, shown by plasma Na+ /K+ dysregulation and suppression of Na+-K+-ATPase, alongside oxidative damage and immune suppression.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya