Assessment of paternal effect and physiological cost of metamorphosis on growth of young winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus juveniles in a cold environment

Abstract

This study assessed the paternal effects on the growth of early juvenile winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus and examined the energy allocation strategy employed during this critical stage. Males from three different locations (Passamaquoddy Bay, Baie-des-Chaleurs and the St Lawrence Estuary) were crossed with females from the Baie-des-Chaleurs, and the growth characteristics of hybrids from settlement to 45 days post-settlement were monitored under similar culture conditions. Young juveniles displayed good growth rates (0·09 ± 0·02 mm day −1 ), with no differences related to sire origin, in terms of growth indicators (length, width, RNA:DNA and triacylglycerol:sterol ratios), condition indices (Fulton's K, pigmentation and fin erosion) and biochemical components (nucleic acids, proteins and lipid classes). These results suggest the absence of a paternal contribution to the growth strategy during the early juvenile stage of P. americanus. The results also highlight the high energetic cost associated with metamorphosis: young juveniles mobilized most of their triacylglycerol reserves during the growth period following settlement.

The Effects of Live and Artificial Diets on Feeding Performance of Cultured Winter Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, in the Wild: Survival, Feeding, Growth, and Nucleic Acid Analyses

“…The mode in the frequency distribution of RD values in this study fell between 3 and 3.5, the same as that recorded by Mercaldo‐Allen et al () when examining wild‐collected juvenile winter flounder held in the laboratory at similar temperatures. de Montgolfier et al () and Fraboulet et al () both recorded lower mean values (<3) for juvenile winter flounder from colder, Canadian waters.…”

“…A number of studies have examined RNA and DNA concentrations of young winter flounder at various developmental and nutritional states (Buckley 1980;Ben Khemis et al 2000;de Montgolfier et al 2005;Mercaldo-Allen et al 2008;Fraboulet et al 2010) and habitats (Kuropat et al 2002). The mode in the frequency distribution of RD values in this study fell between 3 and 3.5, the same as that recorded by Mercaldo-Allen et al (2008) RD ratio of juvenile Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, fed live mysids for 8 d was 1.7 times higher than those of juveniles fed artificial feeds (Gwak et al 2003).…”

Expression of genes involved in key metabolic processes during winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) metamorphosis

“…Winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus is a common inshore flatfish that occurs from Labrador (Atlantic Canada, 53°N) to Georgia (southeast United States, 33°N; Scott and Scott 1988). Most studies regarding metamorphosis in this species have investigated size and age at settlement (Chambers and Leggett 1987;Chambers and Leggett 1992;Fraboulet et al 2009), temperature effects on growth (Chambers and Leggett 1992;Benoît et al 2000;Fraboulet et al 2010;, and requirements in nutrient or abiotic parameters for aquaculture production (Ben Khemis et al 2000;Seychelles et al 2009;Fraboulet et al 2011).…”

“…Each replicate tank contained individuals. Settled larvae were reared according to Fraboulet et al (2010), using flowing filtered seawater (50 µm, 2 L min -1 ) and under natural conditions of temperature (10.4 ± 1°C), salinity (28.8 ± 1.3), and photoperiod (artificial light 400 lux, 12L:12D). Each day, settled larvae were fed the same diet as during the larval stage (5 rotifers ml -1 at 11:00, 13:00, and 16:00), completed with 10 microdiet meals (Gemma wean; www.skretting.com) in excess every 30 min between 09:00 and 11:00 and between 13:30 and 15:30.…”

Pre-settlement processes of northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra) in relation to interannual variability in the Gulf of Alaska

“…Documented interannual variability of phytoplankton blooms in relation to thermal shifts could lead to asynchrony with the prey resources necessary for larval growth and development to metamorphosis (Mackas et al, 1998;Edwards and Richardson, 2004). Metamorphosis is an energetically demanding process and it is likely that larval fish must meet some energy storage requirement prior to initiating metamorphosis (Boglino et al, 2012;Fraboulet et al, 2010). Spatial and temporal mismatches with prey may have negative implications for larval growth as well as energy stores prior to metamorphosis .…”