Domestication process modifies digestion ability in larvae of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), a freshwater Teleostei

Katarzyna Palińska-Żarska,Maciej Kamaszewski,Daniel Żarski,Hubert Szudrowicz,Paweł Brzuzan,Maciej Woźny

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-59145-6

Abstract

To date, a comparative analysis of larval performance and digestion abilities between wild and domesticated Eurasian perch has not yet been performed. Eurasian perch larvae from wild and domesticated spawners were reared in the same conditions and at different development stages, growth performance variables, the expression of genes encoding digestive enzymes and specific enzymatic activity were analysed. No significant differences in hatching rate, deformity rate or swim bladder inflation effectiveness between wild and domesticated larvae were found. Specific growth rate, final total length and wet body weight were significantly lower in wild larvae, whereas higher mortality in wild larvae was observed compared to domesticated larvae. The data obtained in this study clearly indicate that during domestication, significant modification of digestion ability occurs at the very beginning of ontogeny, where domesticated fish are characterised by lower enzymatic activity and lower expression of genes encoding digestive enzymes. This probably results from the low diversity of the food offered in culture conditions, which significantly modified digestion capability. The obtained data provide an understanding of how domestication affects fish in aquaculture and may improve the planning of selective breeding programs of Eurasian perch and other freshwater Teleosts.

Highlights

Perca fluviatilis L., whose domestication began in the 1990s6
The results of this study indicate that Eurasian perch larvae obtained from domesticated spawners exhibit better larviculture performance when compared to those obtained from the wild spawners
Despite being investigated for decades, still raises many questions, but the present study clearly shows that the effect of the domestication process in Eurasian perch can be observed from the very first days of larvae life

Summary

Introduction

Perca fluviatilis L., whose domestication began in the 1990s6. It is accepted that some cultured stocks of this species are at the 4th level of domestication – the entire life cycle is closed in intensive culture conditions, without inputs of wild specimens, but there are still no selecting breeding programs successfully implemented[2,6]. European species where several generations with a clearly indicated history of origin are farmed in RAS7,8 and, at the same time, there is still easy and wide access to the wild fish from many different populations[9]. Effective production of this species relies solely on domesticated, RAS-grown stocks characterized by variable spawning and growth performance in the culture conditions. This can stem from: (i) different populations being. The functional and morphological aspects of larvae development show that larvae are very different organisms during this period when compared to adult fish 13. The most significant changes in fish morphology, physiology and behaviour occur during this period[14,15], e.g

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion