A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Basal and Post-Stress Circulating Cortisol Concentration in an Important Marine Aquaculture Fish Species, European Sea Bass, Dicentrarchus labrax .

Cortisol levels in E. sea bass are higher than most studied fish species and display large heterogeneity. Application of stress led to elevated cortisol levels in all studies examined. In all cases, sources of between-studies heterogeneity were identified.