Abstract
This research was aimed at characterizing the daily rhythms of locomotor activity of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), a promising aquaculture species, in a captive environment. Cuttlefish were distributed within two tanks equipped with infrared photocells, allowing the monitoring of locomotor activity continuously from August to February. Results showed a preference of cuttlefish for being active during the night in summer (24.2 ± 1.3 °C) and in autumn (18.4 ± 3.4 °C), with maximum activity peaks observed, respectively, at 01:09 h and 21:47 h, in close relation with sunset time. In winter (12.7 ± 1.4 °C), this preference changed, with higher levels of activity observed during the afternoon in December (15:20 h) and in January (18:13 h), thus suggesting this species as possessing a dualistic behaviour. Levels of activity progressively decreased during autumn and winter, likely related to low temperatures. The present study offers new insights on the behaviour of Sepia officinalis, presenting a variability of patterns across seasons, regulated by environmental synchronizers; photoperiod determining the activity periods, and temperature modulating the levels of activity. Such information may be a valuable tool for the improvement of cuttlefish culture protocols in aquaculture, and consequently its welfare.
Highlights
Cephalopods are considered as an alternate group for aquaculture species diversification [1,2], because they are a good food source and have the potential to quickly reach a market size, and because they are considered animal models in several fields of research [3,4,5], and it is expected that such models are progressively obtained from bioteriums instead of being captured from nature.Despite the recent advances in culture protocols of several cephalopod species [2], there is still little information available about the biological rhythms of cephalopods in captivity
If it is considered that the European cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) may have, at the least, two different sleep‐like states theand importance study becomes even more for the[11], Care
The aim of this research was in to captivity, by characterisation monitoring locomotor activity under behavioural natural conditions temperature and perform a first of the daily and seasonal rhythms ofofcuttlefish in captivity, photoperiod
Summary
Cephalopods are considered as an alternate group for aquaculture species diversification [1,2], because they are a good food source (highly appreciated in some worldwide markets, e.g., Portugal, Spain, Italy and Asia) and have the potential to quickly reach a market size, and because they are considered animal models in several fields of research [3,4,5], and it is expected that such models are progressively obtained from bioteriums instead of being captured from nature.Despite the recent advances in culture protocols of several cephalopod species [2], there is still little information available about the biological rhythms of cephalopods in captivity. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 4 published papers concerning this theme, and these are focused on octopus species [6,7,8,9]. This issue assumes increasing importance with the enforcement of EU welfare legislation (Directive 2010/63/EU), and this information is critical for the future update of Annex. Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research [10]. If it is considered that the European cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) may have, at the least, two different sleep‐like states theand importance study becomes even more for the[11], Care Welfare of this.
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