REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Aquatic Physiology
This article is part of the Research TopicUncovering Physiological Mechanisms Of Aquatic Organisms Under Environmental Stress In A Changing ClimateView all 4 articles
The Threat of Pollutants Mixtures on Freshwater Fishes in Sri Lankan Lotic Ecosystems Under Changing Climate: A Review of Current Status and Future Research Perspective
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
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Multiple point and nonpoint sources add complex mixtures of pollutants that may pose detrimental impacts on freshwater fish. These pollutants include metallic and nonmetallic inorganic ions and an array of organic compounds. Climate-related scenarios and a mixture of contaminants entering riverine ecosystems have impacted many endemic freshwater fish species in Sri Lanka. The present research aims to identify morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes upon exposure to xenobiotics and to predict the influence of climate on these fishes. We discussed the biomarker responses of feral fish, combined with their physicochemical characterization. Moreover, the discussion emphasized empirical evidence from controlled laboratory experiments. Together, these elements were used to interpret the possible future impacts of climate change on the fish in lotic ecosystems. The effects of nanoparticles, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine disruptors, and their interplay with climate-related physicochemical variation, have been identified as a research gap. The primary research directions for the future include establishing multi-stressor experimental frameworks that integrate a mixture of xenobiotic exposures of indigenous fishes. The development of standardized biological monitoring protocols that simulate real-world conditions in lotic ecosystems is crucial. Introduction of scientific, evidence-based, robust, and urgent legislative reforms to regulate cumulative pollution may provide a strong legal framework to prevent devastating impacts on freshwater fishes in lotic ecosystems in Sri Lanka.
Keywords: biodiversity conservation, biomarker, Cocktail effect, Riverine ecosystem, Xenobiotics
Received: 15 Nov 2025; Accepted: 10 Feb 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Wickramasinghe and Ruvinda. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: K. M. S. Ruvinda
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