Physiological colour changes in the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, following adaptation to blue lighting spectrum

Abstract

The effect of lighting spectrum (full vs. blue) on skin colour and stress response in red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, held under a 12L:12D photoperiod was investigated. Fish exposed to blue lighting spectrum became gradually paler with a maximum lightness value (L = 45.33) on day 27, significantly higher than control fish (L = 31.49). However, there was no difference in skin melanin content, hue and chroma among the experimental groups. There was also no statistically significant effect of lighting spectrum on average glucose, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), cortisol (F) and Melanophore Stimulating Hormone (MSH) plasma concentrations nor in the pattern of changes during the time course of the experiment. Results showed that lighting spectrum affects skin lightness but not the chromaticity attributes hue and chroma. This effect is due to changes in the motility of the melanophores (the area occupied by melanosomes) and is not mediated by MSH or the general stress response.