No abstract

Triplicate groups of fed and starved olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (body weight: 119.8±17.46 g), were examined over 42 days for physiological changes using hematological, biochemical, and non-specific immune parameters. No significant differences in concentrations of blood hemoglobin and hematocrit and plasma levels of total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, and cortisol were detected between fed and starved groups at any sampling time throughout the experiment. In contrast, plasma total protein concentrations were significantly lower in starved fish than in fed fish from day 7 onwards. Moreover, plasma lysozyme concentrations were significantly higher in starved flounder from day 21 onwards. This result confirms that the response of olive flounder to short-term (less than about 1.5 months) starvation consists of a readjustment of metabolism rather than the activation of an alarm-stress response. The present results indicate that starvation does not significantly compromise the health status of fish despite food limitation.

The effects of low temperature and starvation on the physiochemical characteristics of the muscle of the olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, were examined. Fish were deprived of feed for 28 days at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 20°C in order to establish suitable conditions for live fish transportation. Throughout most of the 4 weeks of feed restriction, the physiochemical characteristics of the muscle of olive flounder were found to be dependent on the acclimation temperature. The breaking strength of muscle did not show a significant reduction during feed restriction at 2 and 4°C. With increasing temperatures, however, the breaking strength of muscle differed significantly according to the individual and feed restriction period (P<0.05). The moisture content in muscle acclimated at 10, 12, and 20°C increased steadily over the feed-restriction period, while the crude lipid content decreased during the same period (P<0.05). At water temperatures above 2-8°C, no significant differences were shown during the same period. After it reached 6, 8, 10, 12, and 20°C, the muscle had an accumulation of lactate, and a loss of ATP. There was no change in the lactate or ATP content during the feed restriction period at 2 and 4°C, although there were differences among the water temperature groups. These results clearly show that temperature can have an important influence on the of muscle of physiochemical characteristics of muscle during live fish transportation.

The effects of salinity tolerance on survival and oxygen consumption were examined in the abalone Haliotis discus hannai with changes in water temperature and salinity in an indoor rearing system. The survival rate of the control group at 15°C was 100% (Expt. I, 35 psu). In Expt. II, changing the salinity from 35→30→25→20→15 psu, the survival rates were 100 ± 0.0, 100 ± 0.0, 100 ± 0.0, 98.3 ± 2.9, and 95.0 ± 0.0%, respectively. In Expt. III, for salinities of 35→25→15 psu, the rates were 100 ± 0.0, 100 ± 0.0, and 32.5 ± 2.0%, respectively. In Expt. IV, with a sharp salinity change from 35→15 psu, the rates were 100 ± 0.0 and 20.0 ± 2.9%, respectively. The average oxygen consumption at 15°C was 137.6 ± 0.5 mg O 2 /kg/h in Expt. I. In Expt. II, the oxygen consumption decreased gradually from 136.7 ± 2.0 to 103.2 ± 3.5 to 96.9 ± 3.2 to 88.7 ± 4.5 to 82.9 ± 3.6 mg O 2 /kg/h, respectively. Abalone in Expt. III showed the same tendency (i.e., 134.4 ± 1.5, 111.2 ± 3.4, and 93.2 ± 6.1 mg O 2 /kg/h, respectively). In Expt. IV, the oxygen consumption decreased from 141.4 ± 4.0 mg O 2 /kg/h at 35 psu to 99.0 ± 7.7 mg O 2 /kg/h at 15 psu. The tendency was the same in the experiments conducted at 20 and 25°C. Survival was reduced at salinities below 20 psu, and the mortality rate of abalone increased with a sudden salinity change and at high water temperatures.

The landmark-based morphometric and meristic analysis of the kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), red spotted grouper (E. akaara) and seven-banded grouper (E. septemfasciatus) were performed to compare the differentiation of overall body shape and structure. The measurements of the morphometric dimensions were observed in 25 parts (truss dimension: 16 parts; head part dimension: 9 parts) of 38 morphometric dimensions and also meristic differences observed in 3 parts (dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin) of 6 meristic counts (P < 0.05). Observed morphometric characteristics primarily involved in truss and head part dimension, kelp grouper have larger values in caudal part of truss dimension, kelp grouper, red spotted grouper and seven-banded grouper have similar values in pectoral part of truss dimension, in addition to, results of head part dimension showed that red spotted grouper have smaller values in overall dimensions (P < 0.05). As meristic characteristics, kelp grouper have more number of anal fin rays than other fish, red spotted grouper have more number of dorsal soft rays than other fish, and seven spotted grouper have more number of anal soft rays, and caudal fin rays than other fish (P < 0.05). Photographed under the x-ray, kelp grouper have the most curved vertebral column and largest swim bladder than other fishes (P < 0.05). Our results of this study confirmed that 3 subfamily fishes adequately can distinguish with external body shape, and we hope that the results of our study could be used to identify in Serranidae family as taxonomical parameters.