Reproductive Biology Of The Shi Drum (Umbrina Cirrosa) In Captivity And Induction Of Spawning Using Gnrha

The reproductive biology of the shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa) in culture was histologically exam- ined and sperm quality was monitored during an entire reproductive period. Already in April, the ovary contained oocytes in all stages of maturation, from primary oocytes to full vitellogenesis, as expected from a group-synchronous multiple-batch spawning fish. Vitellogenesis of the first batch of oocytes occurred very rapidly and their mean diameter (500 μm) did not increase sig- nificantly (p>0.05) as the reproductive period proceeded. The spermiation index peaked in May- June, but fish never produced copious amounts of milt upon abdominal pressure. The sperma- tozoa motility percentage remained unchanged throughout the spawning season (80%) and a significant percentage (40%) maintained viability after overnight storage at 4°C. Sperm density and motility duration increased during the reproductive period and varied 13-26 x109 spermato- zoa/ml and 26-40 s, respectively. Spontaneous spawning was not observed during the two-year study. Injection of post-vitellogenic females with an agonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRHa) was successful in inducing a single spawning after two days, with fertilization, hatch- ing and 4-day larval survival rates of 65%, 42-76% and 46-80%, respectively. The results under- line the failure of female shi drum in culture to undergo final oocyte maturation and, although GnRHa injection was effective in inducing spawning of viable eggs, multiple treatments did not induce multiple spawns, as was expected from fish with multiple-batch group-synchronous ovar- ian biology

Description of the annual reproductive cycle of wreckfish; Polyprion americanus, in captivity

Successful spontaneous reproduction and the production of viable offspring of wild fish in captivity can take some years of adaptation, and may also involve different environmental conditions, sex ratios and densities compared to natural populations. We followed the reproductive cycle of wreckfish Polyprion americanus—a late maturing, deep-sea benthic species—in captivity in three different broodstocks in Spain under natural photoperiod and temperature, and one broodstock in Greece under a constant temperature of 16 °C for two consecutive years, to describe the reproductive cycle of the species and the associated sex steroid hormone profiles. Oogenesis begun in the fall and post-vitellogenic oocytes of 1250 μm were present between March and June. Males were in spermiation condition and produced good-quality sperm throughout the year, regardless of the temperature profile to which they were exposed. Some females completed oogenesis, underwent oocyte maturation, and spawned spontaneously under both constant and fluctuating temperatures. The sex steroid hormones of both males and females followed the already-known profiles during fish gametogenesis, except for 17,20β-dihydroxy-progesterone, which did not seem to be related to either female or male maturation. The female reproductive dysfunctions that were identified included (a) the arrest of oogenesis at the cortical alveoli stage in certain females; (b) the failure to undergo oocyte maturation in others; and (c) the production of large percentages of unfertilized eggs from the females that spawned spontaneously. Our study suggests that reproduction in captivity is possible in wreckfish maintained under typical marine aquaculture conditions, but that reliable spawning and production of high-quality eggs may require some years of adaptation to captivity, before the reproductive dysfunctions will be overcome.Versión del edito

Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus). New Knowledge about reproduction, larval husbandry and nutrition. Promise a new species for aquaculture

Four different wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) broodstock batches were maintained in research facilities under different photo and thermo-period conditions, one in Greece, the Helenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR, n = 3) and three in Spain: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, n = 13) in Vigo, Aquarium Finisterrae (MC2, n = 21) in A Coruña and Consellería do Mar (CMRM, n = 11). The CMRM includes two centers that work together: Instituto Galego de Formación en Acuicultura (IGAFA) and Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), both in Pontevedra. During the five years of the project DIVERSIFY (Exploring the biological and socio-economic potential of new-emerging candidate fish species for the expansion of the European aquaculture industry, 2013–2018) works focused on the reproductive biology of the species, broodstock, and larvae nutrition and development of incubation and larval rearing protocols have been carried out. In terms of reproduction, catch methods of new wild animals, the reproductive cycle, sperm characteristics evaluation, and spontaneous and induced spawning methods have been described for wreckfish. Regarding nutrition, the positive effect of two types of enrichment on the fatty acid profiles of Artemia and rotifer has been verified. The relationship between the fatty acid profile of the diets supplied to the broodstock and the fatty acid profile obtained in the oocytes and eggs of the females fed with different diets, has also been demonstrated. Finally, early larval ontogeny has been described and incubation and larval rearing protocols have been proposed based on the results obtained in the different experiments of temperature, growth, survival, and larval feeding that were carried out.Versión del edito