Compensatory growth in Alaska yellowfin sole, Pleuronectes asper, following food deprivation

Abstract

During the early spring four groups of sub-adult Pleuronectes asper were fasted for either 0, 2, 4 or 6 weeks at the beginning of a 12-week experiment, then fed to satiation to examine their ability to compensate with faster growth after food deprivation. All fish increased their stored energy reserves markedly and at the end of the experiment all four groups had similar body energy content (J g-I), length gains and dry weight to wet weight ratios. The groups of yellowfin sole fed continuously or fasted for 2 weeks gained the most weight, 25 and 24% respectively. Fishes fasted either 4 or 6 weeks exhibited significantly lower weight gains of 16 and 15% respectively over the 12-week experiment. Because of this disparity in weight gain the total body energy content of the continuously fed fish and those fasted for only 2 weeks increased by approximately 60 vs 46%) or 35% for sole fasted for 4 or 6 weeks.The experiment showed P. asper had a limited capacity for compensatory growth. When food was scarce yellowfin sole allocated energy preferentially to growth in length instead of weight. These findings may account for some of the interannual differences in mean length and weight at age for yellowfin sole from the Bering Sea where variations in extent and duration of ice cover and the boreal bottom water delimit the growing season.

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“…Partial compensatory growth (when fish submitted to feed deprivation and refeeding regime and do not achieve the same body mass as those fed continuously) (Paul et al, 1995), was reported in fish that were subjected to 2 days deprivation / 4 days refeeding cycle. In accordance with our study, Christensen and McLean (1998) reported that compensatory growth was also demonstrated in the same fish (O. mossambicus).…”

“…This strategy is believed to take advantage of a phenomena called compensatory growth, which is described as an accelerated growth rate resulting from an appropriate refeeding of the fish after a period of feed restriction or exposure to unfavorable conditions such as low temperature, low oxygen, and reproductive effort (Ali et al, 2003). Compensatory growth can be classified as over-compensation (Hayward, Noltie, & Wang, 1997), complete-compensatory (Jobling, Koskela, & Winberg, 1999) or partial compensation (Paul, Paul, & Smith, 1995), and it depends on the species, the duration, and severity of the process (Tian & Qin, 2004).…”

Compensatory growth, energy storage and behavior of juvenile Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis following thermally induced growth reduction

“…Gaylord & Gatlin 2001). Most research on the capacity for compensatory growth has examined responses to periods of food restriction or deprivation (Jobling et al 1994, Paul et al 1995, Sogard & Olla 2002. However, compensatory feeding and growth responses have also been observed in response to growth reductions resulting from oxygen depletion (Bejda et al 1992, Foss & Imsland 2002, delay in diet switch (Buckel et al 1998), and reduced temperatures (Mortensen & Damsgård 1993, Nicieza & Metcalfe 1997.…”

Avaliação do crescimento e do custo da alimentação do pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887) submetido a ciclos alternados de restrição alimentar e realimentação

“…O papel da temperatura na regulação da alimentação e crescimento é pouco descrito em peixes, mas sabe-se que a maioria deles se alimenta melhor (Paul et al, 1995) e as taxas de crescimento tendem a ser mais altas (Dobson & Holmes, 1984), na primavera e verão.…”

“…O retorno às condições adequadas de alimentação, após um período de inanição ou má nutrição, promove um crescimento rápido no animal, chamado crescimento compensatório (Dobson & Holmes, 1984;Paul et al, 1995;Xie et al, 2001). O crescimento compensatório em peixes pode ter importante aplicação na aqüicultura (Quinton & Blake 1990;Hayward et al, 1997).…”