Temperature: a prolonged confounding factor on cholinesterase activity in the tropical reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus.

Cholinesterase activity usually decreases in fish exposed to anticholinesterase compounds such as organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. Here we show that tropical reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus (or spiny damsel) also exhibits a decrease in ChE activity when exposed to elevated temperature from 28°C to 32°C or 34°C after 4 days. We further demonstrate that the decline persists even after 7 days of recovery at control temperature. This is the first report of a drop in ChE activity in fish as temperature increases. Our results strongly suggest the need for long-term monitoring of water temperature in the field prior to sampling A. polyacanthus for toxicology studies, as temperature is a prolonged and confounding factor for ChE activity in this species.