Juvenile Fat Snook Research Articles

Niche Partitioning Among Snook (Pisces: Centropomidae) in Rivers of Southeastern Florida and Implications for Species Range Limits

The presence of relatively rare species in estuarine fish communities can influence niche differentiation among species, functional redundancy, and ecosystem stability when faced with environmental disturbance. In southeastern Florida, at least four species of snook (Centropomidae) occur in coastal river systems, but only one species occurs elsewhere in the state. To better understand how these species can co-occur, we analyzed data from electrofishing and diet studies conducted during 2007–2010 to investigate niche partitioning between two species: Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis and Smallscale Fat Snook Centropomus parallelus (common and fat snook hereafter). Although the diets of the two species collected from coastal rivers were barely distinguishable, there was separation of habitat use. Adult fat snook had affinities for low salinity portions of rivers, while common snook were distributed more widely. Use of nursery habitat by fat snook occurred during early spring, confirming winter spawning, which contrasts with the protracted spawning of common snook that occurs spring through fall. While in riverine nurseries, juvenile fat snook occupied shallow to moderate depths with cover (e.g., woody debris, docks); common snook had greater affinity for shallow natural shorelines (e.g., mangroves, aquatic macrophytes). Overall, fat snook appeared to occupy niches left open by the generalist common snook. Considering that centropomids are likely to expand their range northward in Florida with climate change, understanding habitat use and niche partitioning among the species may help predict which species is likely to expand first and what habitat types will be occupied.

Lactobacillus plantarum COMO PROBIÓTICO NO DESENVOLVIMENTO INICIAL DE JUVENIS DO ROBALO-PEVA

Com grande potencial para a aquicultura, o robalo-peva necessita de tecnologias para a produção massiva de juvenis com alta qualidade para pré-engorda. Uma forma de se obter melhores resultados com peixes saudáveis e resistentes seria a utilização de probióticos. Foi verificada a influência da suplementação de Lactobacillus plantarum à dieta de juvenis (56 dias após a eclosão) sobre o crescimento, sobrevivência, atividade de proteases digestivas e resistência ao estresse hipersalino. O ensaio de 30 dias foi constituído por três tratamentos, sendo o primeiro alimentado exclusivamente com Artemia e os dois de transição alimentar receberam por 15 dias Artemia e ração sendo um destes com suplementação de L. plantarum e, após, exclusivamente as respetivas rações. Os resultados obtidos apontam que a suplementação bacteriana durante a transição alimentar resultou no aumento da atividade de protease alcalina no trato digestório de juvenis de robalo-peva, além da maior resistência ao estresse salino, indicando peixes de melhor qualidade e mais saudáveis, auxiliando na produção massiva de juvenis de robalo peva com alta qualidade e prontos para estocagem em sistema de pré-engorda.

Digestibility, protein retention rate and ammonia excretion in juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus) fed with different protein levels

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the level of dietary crude protein (CP) (480, 400, 440, 520 and 560g kg-1) in rations for juvenile II fat snook (Centropomus parallelus) that best promotes protein absorption and lower excretion of nitrogenous products. Three experiments were conducted: the first assessed the protein retention rate; the second evaluated ammonia excretion; and the third determined the best digestibility coefficient. The estimated protein retention rate showed a positive quadratic response to dietary CP with maximum retention at the 510.20g kg-1 protein level, and increasing levels of protein resulted in a greater total ammonia excretion rate in water. The mean apparent protein digestibility coefficient values increased with increasing levels of dietary protein up to 520g kg-1, where they stabilized. As determined by regression, the level of dietary CP that promotes the best digestibility was 495.62g kg-1.

Salinity does not alter the effectiveness of menthol as an anesthetic and sedative during the handling and transport of juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus).

The effectiveness of menthol as anesthetic and sedative for fat snook (Centropomus parallelus) was tested at different salinities. In the first experiment, the fish were exposed to different concentrations of menthol (25, 37 and 50 mg L-1) in water at different salinities (0, 17 and 36 ppt). In the second experiment, the fish were transported for 10 hours in water with menthol at concentrations of 0, 3.7 and 7.4 mg L-1 under different salinities. Na+ and K+ ions from fish body and water were analyzed after transport. The optimal concentrations of menthol for a short handling period and surgical induction was 37 and 50 mg L-1, respectively, and these values were independent of salinity. After transport, neither mortality nor significant changes in ammonia or dissolved oxygen were observed between treatments at the different salinities. The nitrite levels were lower in freshwater than in brackish and saltwater, but did not change with mentol. The total body levels of Na+ increased with the salinity increase. Menthol is an effective anesthetic for handling of juvenile fat snook at different salinities. Menthol did not influence the measured water parameters and body ions, and it is not necessary for the transport of fat snook.

Acute copper toxicity in juvenile fat snook Centropomus parallelus (Teleostei: Centropomidae) in sea water

Three experiments were designed to assess the accumulation and acute toxicity of copper (Cu) in juvenile fat snook Centropomusparallelus. The first experiment was performed to determine the 96-h lethal concentration (LC50) of Cu. The second experiment was designed to assess the effects of sublethal concentrations of Cu (0.47 and 0.94 mg/L), while the third one allowed us to test the recovery capacity of fish exposed to the sublethal concentrations Cu and kept in sea water without Cu addition. The LC50value for Cu was found to be 1.88 mg/L Cu. Fish exposed to the sublethal concentrations of Cu showed a significant accumulation of Cu in gills at 96 h respect to the control ones (0.43 µg/g Cu). No significant difference was observed in the accumulation of Cu in gills between fish exposed to 0.47 mg/L (1.09 µg/g Cu) and 0.94 mg/L (1.26 µg/g Cu). Exposure (24 and 96 h) to the sublethal concentrations of Cu tested induced DNA damage in the erythrocytes. The results show that acute exposure to sublethal concentrations induces Cu accumulation and DNA damage in fish, these effects being recovered after 240 h in sea water without Cu addition.

Feminization and growth of juvenile fat snook Centropomus parallelus fed diets with different concentrations of estradiol-17β

In this study, we evaluated the effect of diets with various concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2) on the feminization, growth and survival of juvenile fat snook. Over a 45-day period, the juveniles were fed with five diets containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg E2/kg feed. Three replicates were run for each diet. After this hormonal treatment, the fishes were transferred to 1-m3 net cages, where they remained for 12 months. During this period, they were fed a commercial diet without added hormones. During the feminization, the control fish grew more than those in the other treatments, and the survival rates did not differ significantly among the treatments. At the end of the experiment growth did not differ among the treatments. In the control treatment, 80.85 % of the fish were male, and the females were significantly larger than the males. All of the treatments with E2 produced 100 % females. No intersex fish were found in this study. This research showed that it is possible to obtain 100 % fat snook females using feeds with 25 mg E2/kg for 45 days without impairing the growth or survival of the fish.

Desempenho do robalo-peva em diferentes temperaturas de cultivo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar o crescimento de juvenis de robalo-peva (Centropomus parallelus) cultivados em diferentes temperaturas. Os peixes foram cultivados durante 49 dias, a 20, 23, 26 e 29ºC. A temperatura da água influenciou o ganho de peso. Os peixes criados a 26 e 29ºC apresentaram os maiores ganhos em peso e foram os mais eficientes na conversão alimentar. Os peixes cultivados a 29ºC também apresentaram melhores taxas de crescimento específico. O desempenho do robalo-peva é afetado a 20ºC, e a espécie deve ser cultivada em temperaturas superiores a 23ºC.

The effect of salinity on osmoregulation and development of the juvenile fat snook, Centropomus parallelus (POEY)

Eurihaline fish support waters with different salt concentration. However, numerous studies have shown that salinity can affect fish development. Thus, the effect of salinity change from 20 to 5 and 35 on survival, weight, length, gill chloride cell ultrastructure and gill Na+, K+ ATPase activity was evaluated in Centropomus parallelus following short-term (6, 24 and 96 hours) and long-term exposure (30 and 60 days). Salinity did not affect C. parallelus survival, final weight and length. The quantity of chloride cells increased visibly at salinities of 5 and 35, with the cells exhibiting the typical features of uptake and secretory cells, respectively. Na+, K+ ATPase activity in the gill of the C. parallelus was significantly greater at a salinity of 5 than at a salinity of 20 or 35 after 96 hours, but not after 30 or 60 days. These results indicate that salinity change from high to low salt water induces gill chloride cell and Na+, K+ ATPase activity adaptations after short-term exposure. However, after long-term exposure at salinity 5, gill Na+, K+ ATPase activity is no more necessary at high levels. The increase in salinity to 35 does not induce significant change in gills. Juveniles of C. parallelus may thus be capable of acclimating to salinities of 5 to 35 for 60 days without significant effects on development.

Recovery of fat snook, Centropomus parallelus (Teleostei: Perciformes) after subchronic exposure to copper

We studied the recovery of juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus) after subchronic exposure to different concentrations of copper. Healthy juveniles (1.98g) were exposed to 25 or 50μg Cu/L for 30days (12 replicates with 5 fish in each one), and recovery was observed at 0, 4, 10, and 30days after exposure (3 replicates with 5 fish in each one). Copper genotoxicity in exposed individuals was observed using a micronucleus assay, and recovery was not observed even 30days post-exposure. Copper accumulation was observed in fish exposed to 25 or 50μg/L of copper in the gills (14.4 and 34.4μg/g, respectively) and muscle (5.7 and 5.5μg/g, respectively), and a return to normal copper levels (6.0μg/g for gills and 2.5μg/g for muscle) was observed 4 and 30days post-exposure in the gills and muscle tissues, respectively. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was 80% inhibited in individuals exposed to copper and returned to normal levels for fish exposed to basal concentrations within 10days. Although copper accumulation in tissues dispersed 30days post-exposure, no recovery from genotoxicity was observed during this time. Thirty days was not enough to recover juvenile fat snook following subchronic exposure to copper.

Taxa alimentar no desempenho de juvenis de robalo-peva em tanque-rede

Knowing the optimal feeding rate for a given species is important not only to promote higher growth and greater feeding efficiency, but also to prevent the deterioration of water quality resulting from excess food. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the fat-snook Centropomus parallelus cultivated in net cages under the effect of different feeding rates (1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5% live biomass daily and control rate up to apparent satiation) in natural environment conditions. For 40 days, each treatment was evaluated in triplicate, in which the biological parameters (survival, specific growth rate, final average weight and length) and nutritional parameters (feed conversion ratio) were assessed. A polynomial regression analysis of specific growth rate suggests that in average temperatures of 25°C, the feeding rate which results in best growth for juvenile fat-snook is 1.7% of live biomass per day.

Cultivation of juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus Poey, 1860) fed probiotic in laboratory conditions

The objective of this study was to investigate the growth of juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus) in laboratory conditions when fed a diet supplemented with the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum. Changes in the intestinal flora, haematological parameters and growth performance were assessed using 180 fishes (54.2 ± 13.4 g each). The fishes were subjected to two treatments divided into six cages: 1) feed supplemented with probiotic, and 2) feed without probiotic (control). The temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity were maintained at 25 ± 1 ° C, 4.0 mg.L-1 and 33 ‰, respectively. After 10 weeks of culture, the fishes fed probiotic had reduced viable culturable heterotrophic bacteria and Vibrio spp. and increased lactic acid bacteria in the intestinal tract, as well as a higher number of thrombocytes, leukocytes and lymphocytes in the blood. No significant difference was observed in the growth, survival or body composition, but the hepatosomatic index was significantly higher in the fishes fed with probiotic and control.

Compensatory growth responses in juvenile fat snook, Centropomus parallelus Poey, following food deprivation

The compensatory growth in juvenile fat snook (13.7 g) was evaluated in fish subjected to four treatments: continuously fed (control); subjected to 1 (D1), 2 (D2) and 3 (D3) weeks of food deprivation, followed by a 5-week re-feeding period. At the end of food deprivation, the body weights at the different treatments were significantly different and inversely related to the length of the food deprivation period (C=16.425 g; D1=14.024 g; D2=13.542 g; D3=12.228 g). During re-feeding, no differences were observed in the slopes of body weight growth curves among treatments, indicating failure in full growth compensation. In the first re-feeding week (week 4), although hyperphagia was observed for all re-fed groups, better food conversion ratios were detected only for D1 and D2, reflected in an enhancement in the specific growth rates. From week 5 onwards, no differences between treatments and control were detected for any variable. The total food intake was lower for D2 and D3 compared with the control. In the present study, fish showed partial compensatory growth when subjected to a maximum of 2 weeks of food deprivation. Therefore, the food deprivation can promote production losses, even considering a reduction in the total food intake.

Effects of stocking density and size distribution on growth, survival and cannibalism in juvenile fat snook (Centropomus parallelus Poey)

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of stocking density and size distribution on growth, survival and cannibalism of fat snook (Centropomus parallelus Poey) juveniles. Three stocking densities (1.5, 3 and 6 fish L−1) were tested in two groups of fish: homogeneous [total length (TL)=22.1 mm; coefficient of variation of length (CV)=8%] and heterogeneous (TL=22.7 mm; CV=15%). The experimental design was factorial (3 × 2) using triplicates. Fish were reared for 30 days in 80-L circular tanks with an open flow-through system. There was no significant interaction between the two factors (density and size distribution). The highest cannibalism rate (14.2%) was observed in the heterogeneous group, which also had a significantly higher growth rate (TL=45.6 mm) than the homogeneous group (3.2% and TL=40.9 mm). Significant differences were found between the two lowest densities and the highest density (6.2%, 6.3% and 13.4% respectively). Growth was not affected by fish density. Cannibalism was the main cause of mortality. In 90% of the occurrences, whole prey ingestion was observed. According to the results obtained, cannibalism was positively correlated to density, although size grading of fat snook juveniles is recommended to control cannibalism in all the densities tested.