Constraints on Energy Intake in Fish: The Link between Diet Composition, Energy Metabolism, and Energy Intake in Rainbow Trout

The hypothesis was tested that fish fed to satiation with iso-energetic diets differing in macronutrient composition will have different digestible energy intakes (DEI) but similar total heat production. Four iso-energetic diets (2×2 factorial design) were formulated having a contrast in i) the ratio of protein to energy (P/E): high (HP/E) vs. low (LP/E) and ii) the type of non-protein energy (NPE) source: fat vs. carbohydrate which were iso-energetically exchanged. Triplicate groups (35 fish/tank) of rainbow trout were hand-fed each diet twice daily to satiation for 6 weeks under non-limiting water oxygen conditions. Feed intake (FI), DEI (kJ kg−0.8 d−1) and growth (g kg−0.8 d−1) of trout were affected by the interaction between P/E ratio and NPE source of the diet (P<0.05). Regardless of dietary P/E ratio, the inclusion of carbohydrate compared to fat as main NPE source reduced DEI and growth of trout by ∼20%. The diet-induced differences in FI and DEI show that trout did not compensate for the dietary differences in digestible energy or digestible protein contents. Further, changes in body fat store and plasma glucose did not seem to exert a homeostatic feedback control on DEI. Independent of the diet composition, heat production of trout did not differ (P>0.05). Our data suggest that the control of DEI in trout might be a function of heat production, which in turn might reflect a physiological limit related with oxidative metabolism

Biomassa sustentável de juvenis de pirarucu em tanques-rede de pequeno volume

The objective of this work was to estimate the sustainable biomass of pirarucu Arapaima gigas (Cuvier, 1829) juveniles kept in small volume net cages. During 200 days four 1-m3 net cages were stocked with 21 fish/cage and had an initial total biomass of 0.84±0.14 kg (21 fish/cage). The net cages were placed in a 50-m2 pond with constant water flow. Conditioning factor, feed conversion, specific growth rate and gain showed that the sustainable biomass of pirarucu juveniles for intensive rearing in 1-m 3 net cages was approximately 29 kg. Fish length at the end of the trial, in relation to the reduced net cage space, was a limiting factor to obtain good biological indices

Behavioural indicators of welfare in farmed fish

Behaviour represents a reaction to the environment as fish perceive it and is therefore a key element of fish welfare. This review summarises the main findings on how behavioural changes have been used to assess welfare in farmed fish, using both functional and feeling-based approaches. Changes in foraging behaviour, ventilatory activity, aggression, individual and group swimming behaviour, stereotypic and abnormal behaviour have been linked with acute and chronic stressors in aquaculture and can therefore be regarded as likely indicators of poor welfare. On the contrary, measurements of exploratory behaviour, feed anticipatory activity and reward-related operant behaviour are beginning to be considered as indicators of positive emotions and welfare in fish. Despite the lack of scientific agreement about the existence of sentience in fish, the possibility that they are capable of both positive and negative emotions may contribute to the development of new strategies (e. g. environmental enrichment) to promote good welfare. Numerous studies that use behavioural indicators of welfare show that behavioural changes can be interpreted as either good or poor welfare depending on the fish species. It is therefore essential to understand the species-specific biology before drawing any conclusions in relation to welfare. In addition, different individuals within the same species may exhibit divergent coping strategies towards stressors, and what is tolerated by some individuals may be detrimental to others. Therefore, the assessment of welfare in a few individuals may not represent the average welfare of a group and vice versa. This underlines the need to develop on-farm, operational behavioural welfare indicators that can be easily used to assess not only the individual welfare but also the welfare of the whole group (e. g. spatial distribution). With the ongoing development of video technology and image processing, the on-farm surveillance of behaviour may in the near future represent a low-cost, noninvasive tool to assess the welfare of farmed fish.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal [SFRH/BPD/42015/2007]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efeito da densidade de estocagem na homogeneidade do crescimento de juvenis de pirarucu em ambiente confinado Stocking density effect on growth homogeneity of juvenile pirarucu in confined environments

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da densidade de estocagem sobre a homogeneidade do crescimento de juvenis de pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) em tanques-rede de pequeno volume. Foram usados 12 tanques-rede de 1 m³ em um viveiro de 120 m² perfazendo três tratamentos (15, 20 e 25 peixes/m³) com quatro repetições. Os peixes foram estocados com peso médio inicial de 10,1<FONT FACE=Symbol>&plusmn;</FONT>0,3 g e distribuídos homogeneamente (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Os coeficientes de variação do crescimento e do fator de condição não apresentaram diferenças significativas (p>0,05) ao contrário do consumo e da conversão alimentar aparente (p<0,05). O consumo foi inversamente proporcional ao incremento da densidade, indicando que o aumento da densidade de estocagem favoreceu o melhor aproveitamento do alimento. Não foram observadas diferenças comportamentais entre os tratamentos. O crescimento dos juvenis de pirarucu não é influenciado pela densidade de estocagem ou por interações intra-específicas.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the stocking density over fish growth homogeneity of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) juveniles in small volumes cages. Twelve 1 m³ netcages were used in a 120 m² earth pond consisting of three treatments (15, 20 and 25 fish/m³) with four repetitions each. Fish were stocked with an initial mean weight of 10.1<FONT FACE=Symbol>&plusmn;</FONT>0.3 g and homogeneous distributed (p>0.05) between treatments. Coefficient of variation for growth and condition factor did not present significant (p>0.05) differences, contrary to consumption and apparent feed conversion (p<0.05). Consumption was inversely proportional to the increment of density, indicating that stockings densities increases are favorable to a better feed use. There were not any observed behavior differences between treatments. Juveniles pirarucu growth was not influenced by the stocking density or intraspecifics interactions

Stress responses of juvenile matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus) after transport in a closed system under different loading densities Respostas de estresse de matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus) juvenil após transporte em sistema fechado sob diferentes densidades de carga

Optimum loading density for the transport of matrinxã juveniles was investigated in a closed system with plastic bags. Transport was conducted for 4 h with fish (23.5&plusmn; 0.4g and 11.6 (0.08cm) starved for 24h at loading densities of 83g L-1 (D1), 125g L-1 (D2), 168g L-1 (D3) and 206g L-1 (D4). Fish were sampled before transport (BT), after transport (AT) and 24h AT. The water quality was monitored before capturing fish in depuration tanks, after transport in plastic bags and in recovery tanks. Water oxygen decreased to values below 4mg L-1 in D2, D3 and D4, temperature was around 32&deg;C, pH 6.5-6.78, total ammonia 1.09-1.7mg L-1, un-ionized ammonia 3.58-9.33x10³mg L-1 and alkalinity 134-165mg CaCO3 L-1. Blood cortisol and glucose concentrations increased in fish of all densities AT and recovered the BT levels 24h after arrival. Osmolality did not change AT but increased 24h AT in fish of all densities whereas plasma chloride decreased inversely to the loading densities after the procedure. Hematocrit decreased 24h AT in fish of all densities but no differences were verified in the number of erythrocytes. No mortality was registered in any treatment during the next week after transport. Matrinxã demonstrated to be a crowding tolerant-species in transport operations besides tolerating low levels of oxygen in the water.<br>Neste estudo, foram investigadas as densidades de carga adequadas para transporte de matrinxãs juvenis em sistema fechado com sacos plásticos. O transporte de 4h foi feito com peixes (23,5&plusmn;0,4g; 11,6 (0,08cm) em jejum por 24h, em densidades de 83g L-1 (D1), 125g L-1 (D2), 168g L-1 (D3) e 206g L-1 (D4). Os peixes foram amostrados antes do transporte (AT), logo após o transporte (chegada) (DT) e 24h depois. A qualidade da água foi monitorada antes da captura dos peixes nos tanques de depuração, após o transporte nos sacos plásticos e nos tanques de recuperação. O oxigênio da água diminuiu para valores inferiores a 4mg L-1 em D2, D3 e D4, a temperatura esteve em torno de 32&deg;C, pH 6,5-6,78, a amônia total foi de 1,09-1,7mg L-1, a amônia não-ionizada foi de 3,58-9,33 x 10³mg L-1 e alcalinidade 134-165mg CaCO3 L-1. O cortisol plasmático e a glicose sanguínea aumentaram após o transporte nos peixes em todas as densidades ensaiadas, voltando aos valores controle 24h depois. Os valores de osmolaridade não mudaram logo após o transporte, mas aumentaram 24h depois de modo igual em todas as densidades. O cloreto plasmático diminuiu na chegada, de modo inversamente proporcional à densidade de carga. O hematócrito diminuiu 24h depois da chegada dos peixes, em todas as densidades testadas, mas não houve diferença no número de eritrócitos. Não houve mortalidade até uma semana após o transporte. O matrinxã mostrou ser uma espécie tolerante a altas densidades de carga em embalagens para transporte além de suportar baixos níveis de oxigênio na água