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Stocking density affects growth and metabolic parameters in the brill (Scophthalmus rhombus)

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Abstract

In this work, the effects of the stocking density on the physiological stress and biometric features of the brill were studied. No differences for survival rate, feeding efficiency, Conversion Index and feeding intake were not detected among the treatments. The growth rate showed an inverse lineal relationship with stocking density, and there were no significant differences between specimens cultured at medium and high density. Plasma cortisol and osmolality were directly related to stocking density, though the former was not significantly different among the treatments. Plasma glucose and lactate significantly increased, while stocking density rose. Triglycerides enhanced significantly in MSD and HSD with respect to LSD cultured specimens. Differences among treatments were not registered for hepatic glucose, triglycerides and amino acids. However, glycogen showed an inverse lineal relationship with respect to stocking density with significant differences between low and high stocking density. Several lipid classes were different among the treatments, with the high-density specimens presenting the highest values. Liver total lipid was not significantly different among the treatments, but total polar lipid was higher in high density. Muscle metabolites did not vary significantly among the treatments. Concluding, the brill showed a clear secondary response to crowding stress through the mobilization of energy substrates to tissues, evoking a reduction in the growth and other biometric parameters.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been financed by the project INTERREG 0251_ECOAQUA_5_E.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IFAPA Centro “Agua del Pino”, Ctra. Cartaya-Punta Umbría, 21459, Cartaya, Huelva, Spain

    M. Herrera, I. Hachero & A. Amo

  2. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Spain

    I. Ruíz-Jarabo & J. M. Mancera

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile

    L. Vargas-Chacoff

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  1. M. Herrera
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  2. I. Ruíz-Jarabo
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  3. I. Hachero
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  4. L. Vargas-Chacoff
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  5. A. Amo
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  6. J. M. Mancera
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Correspondence to M. Herrera.

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Herrera, M., Ruíz-Jarabo, I., Hachero, I. et al. Stocking density affects growth and metabolic parameters in the brill (Scophthalmus rhombus). Aquacult Int 20, 1041–1052 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-012-9513-9

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