Premium
Low stress response exhibited by juvenile yellowtail kingfish ( Seriola lalandi Valenciennes) exposed to hypercapnic conditions associated with transportation
Author(s) -
Moran Damian,
Wells Rufus M G,
Pether Stephen J
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2008.02009.x
Subject(s) - biology , juvenile , zoology , hatchery , fishery , physiological stress , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , physiology
Transportation of yellowtail kingfish ( Seriola lalandi Valenciennes) juveniles from hatchery to on‐growing operations in New Zealand exposes the fish to significantly elevated carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations. Experiments were undertaken to assess metabolic and haematological stress responses after a 5‐h period of hypercapnia, followed by recovery in normocapnia. Mortality was low (0.5%) and secondary stress indices (blood glucose, blood lactate, muscle pH and muscle lactate) remained largely unchanged during a simulated transportation and recovery, despite juveniles being exposed to CO 2 concentrations as high as 75 mg CO 2 L −1 (38 mm Hg partial pressure). There was some haematological disturbance midway through simulated transports, where water was maintained at fixed CO 2 concentrations of 8 and 50 mg CO 2 L −1 (4 and 26 mm Hg respectively). Persistent erythrocyte swelling continued during transport at 50 mg CO 2 L −1 , whereas at 8 mg CO 2 L −1 , haematological variables had returned to control levels. There was no mortality recorded for any of the treatments, and haematological variables were restored to pre‐manipulation levels after 31 h. The results indicated that juvenile yellowtail kingfish have a robust physiology and can cope with the stressors imposed by acute exposure to moderate to high levels of CO 2 associated with live transport.