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Observations of growth changes during the embryonic‐larval‐transition of pikeperch ( Sander lucioperca ) under near‐natural conditions
Author(s) -
Franz George P.,
Lewerentz Lars,
Grunow Bianka
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.14734
Subject(s) - hatching , biology , sander , larva , cannibalism , fishery , zoology , aquaculture , natural population growth , population , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , mechanical engineering , sociology , engineering
Sander lucioperca is an organism of growing importance for the aquaculture industry. Nonetheless, the rearing of S. lucioperca larvae is proving to be a difficult task as it is facing a high mortality rate during hatching and the change to exogenous feeding. To gain insight into growth patterns during this period, the authors analysed pikeperch embryos and larvae from 9 days before hatching to 17 days after hatch. Hereby they were able to describe a natural development by using close to natural conditions based on using a direct flow‐through supply of lake fresh water on specimens from a local wild population. The results show that between the early embryonic stages a steady growth was visible. Nonetheless, in between hatching and the start of exogenous feeding, a phase of growth stagnation took place. In the following larval stages, an increased growth with large size variations between individual specimens appeared. Both factors are conspicuous as they can indicate a starting point for cannibalism. With this analysis, the authors can provide a fundament to support the upcoming research on S. lucioperca and aid to optimize size‐sorting procedures for a higher survival of pikeperch stock in aquaculture.