Catfish are a highly diverse group of fish that are found in various regions across the globe. The significance of catfish culture extends to various aspects, including food security, economic advancement, preservation of cultural legacy, and ecological stewardship. The catfish industry is presently encountering unprecedented challenges as a consequence of the variability in water temperature caused by climate change. Temperature is a significant abiotic component that regulates and restricts fish physiology throughout their life cycle. The impact of severe temperatures on various species of catfish is dependent upon the magnitude of the stressor and additional influencing factors. This paper presents an analysis of the effects of temperature fluctuations on various aspects of catfish species, including growth and survival, blood parameters, enzymatic and hormone response, oxygen consumption rates, sound generation and hearing skills, nutritional requirements, and other phenotypic attributes. While this review is certainly not exhaustive, it offers a broad synopsis of the ideal temperature ranges that are most favorable for several catfish species. In-depth research to investigate the interacting impacts of severe temperature occurrences in conjunction with other associated environmental stresses on a wider variety of catfish species is crucial in order to further our understanding of how catfish species will respond to the anticipated climate change in the future.
Keywords: Catfish; Climate change; Fish physiology; Temperature fluctuation.
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