Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Aug 3;11(8):2292.
doi: 10.3390/ani11082292.

Effects of Stocking Density on Growth Performance and Stress Responses of Bester and Bester ♀ × Beluga ♂ Juveniles in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Lorena Dediu  1   2 , Angelica Docan  1   2 , Mirela Crețu  1   2 , Iulia Grecu  1   2 , Alina Mogodan  1   2 , Marilena Maereanu  3 , Lucian Oprea  2   4
Affiliations

Effects of Stocking Density on Growth Performance and Stress Responses of Bester and Bester ♀ × Beluga ♂ Juveniles in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Lorena Dediu et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the growth performance and physiological responses of bester (B) and backcrossed bester ♀ × beluga ♂ (BB) in response to crowding stress under different stocking densities, as well as to establish a threshold stocking density for rearing BB in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) without welfare impairment. For this purpose, in the first trial (T1), B (181.15 ± 21.21 g) and BB fingerlings (181.98 ± 28.65 g) were reared in two stocking densities of 2 kg/m2 and 4 kg/m2 in fiberglass tanks (1 m3) for 6 weeks. In a parallel trial (T2), the BB hybrids (335.24 ± 39.30 g) were kept in four initial stocking densities, ranging from 5 kg/m2 to 12 kg/m2. The results of T1 revealed better growth indices (i.e., final mean weight, weight gain, specific growth rate) at lower stocking densities for both hybrids; however, in terms of growth performance, the BB hybrid showed better results when compared with the B hybrid. BB hybrids registered significantly (p < 0.05) lower serum cortisol and MDA and higher lysozyme than B hybrids, showing higher tolerance to crowding stress. Nevertheless, at higher densities, selected serum parameters (i.e., hematological indices, cortisol, glucose, protein, malondialdehyde, lysozyme) and growth performance indices used to evaluate the hybrids indicate that high stocking density could affect the growth and welfare of BB hybrids, and that the selected serum parameters could be used as good indicators for chronic stress caused by overcrowding conditions.

Keywords: RAS; hybrid sturgeons; overcrowding stress; physiological response; serum parameters; stocking density.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Growth dynamics for B and BB sturgeon hybrid juveniles reared at different densities during the 6-week study period. Values are presented as mean ± S.E.M (n = 10). Different letters indicate significant differences between hybrids from the same density group (p < 0.05; two-way ANOVA). */** Different symbols indicate significant differences between stocking density groups of the same hybrid.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum cortisol hormone and glucose concentrations of bester (B) and bester × beluga (BB) sturgeon hybrids cultured in different initial stocking densities LD (low density—2 kg/m2) and HD (high density—4 kg/m2). Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 3 tanks per treatment). Different letters indicate significant differences between hybrids from the same density group (p < 0.05, two-way ANOVA). Different symbols */** indicate significant differences between density groups of the same hybrid.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Serum protein, MDA, and lysozyme concentrations of bester (B) and bester × beluga (BB) sturgeon hybrids, cultured in different initial stocking densities LD (low density—2 kg/m2) and HD (high density—4 kg/m2). Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 3 tanks per treatment). Different letters indicate significant differences between hybrids from the same density group (p < 0.05, two-way ANOVA). Different symbols */** indicate significant differences between density groups of the same hybrid.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Yang D., Ma G., Sun D. Sturgeon Culture: Status and Practices. In: Gui J.F., Tang Q., Li Z., Liu J., De Silva S.S., editors. Aquaculture in China: Success Stories and Modern Trends. John Wiley & Sons Publishing; Chichester, UK: 2018. pp. 234–245.
    1. Vasilyeva L.M., Elhetawy A.I.G., Sudakova N.V., Astafyeva S.S. History, Current Status and Prospects of Sturgeon Aquaculture in Russia. Aquac. Res. 2019;50:979–993. doi: 10.1111/are.13997. - DOI
    1. Vasilyeva L.M., Sudakova N.V. Biological and Technological Bases of Commodity Sturgeon Production. ASU Publishing House; Astrakhan, Russia: 2014. 247p
    1. Ponomareva E.N., Belaya M.M. Modern Sterlet Acipenser ruthenus Broodstock Management in Southern Russia. World Aquac. 2013;44:55–59.
    1. Murray F., Bostock J., Fletcher D. Review of Recirculation Aquaculture System Technologies and Their Commercial Application. University of Stirling Aquaculture; Stirling, UK: 2014.

LinkOut - more resources