We investigated the interaction of water temperature (10, 18 and 22 degrees C) and salinity (33.5 and 15 per thousand ) on the stress response of juvenile turbot. At each temperature/salinity combination, fish were subjected to 10 min enforced exercise. This induced a moderate stress response, which differed at the various temperature and salinity combinations. High temperatures caused more rapid increases in plasma cortisol and glucose, larger and more rapid increases in plasma lactate levels, which were also influenced by body weight, and a faster recovery in plasma Na(+) and Cl(-). Low salinity ameliorated cortisol responses at low but not at high temperatures. The magnitude of ionic disturbance was reduced at 15 per thousand. Plasma K(+) did not change at any temperature or salinity. The stress response involved activation of the brain-pituitary-interrenal axis, as indicated by the cortisol elevations. The low magnitude of glucose responses, the mild Na(+) and Cl(-) disturbances, and the lacking K(+)-responses indicated mild activation of the brain-sympathetic-chromaffin cell axis, and hence a low release of catecholamines, which seemed though to occur to a higher extent at higher temperatures. The relatively low catecholaminergic response of turbot may be linked to their inactive sedentary lifestyle. The higher responsiveness at higher water temperatures may reflect a higher overall adaptive capacity.