Demonstration of Survival, Growth, and Reproduction of Gulf Killifish<i>Fundulus grandis</i>in Freshwater Ponds

Populations of the Black Buffalo Ictiobus niger, a catostomid species, are in decline. Recovery plans for catostomids frequently include artificial propagation and rearing in ponds until fish grow beyond sizes that are considered vulnerable to predation. Managing ponds for specific zooplankton taxa should increase survival and growth of larval fish; however, zooplankton selectivity experiments conducted for catostomids in aquaculture are rare. We conducted two experiments to evaluate zooplankton selectivity by larval and juvenile Black Buffalo in aquaculture ponds. Fry were stocked into tanks or ponds and were allowed to forage on natural zooplankton populations. Fish and zooplankton were sampled after 3 h in tanks and weekly for 4 weeks in ponds. Proportions of zooplankton taxa consumed were compared to the proportions of taxa available in tanks or ponds. Results indicate that Black Buffalo fry do not readily consume zooplankton at first feeding. However, Black Buffalo at 11 d posthatch (1 week poststocking) selected for cladocerans, and they continued selecting for cladocerans through the first 32 d posthatch (4 weeks poststocking). Therefore, rearing ponds for larval and juvenile Black Buffalo should be managed to promote cladoceran populations where possible.

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“…Fluctuations in ammonia and pH are typical of earthen ponds, particularly of the sizes used in this study (Burger et al. ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Zooplankton Selectivity by Black Buffalo in Fertilized Ponds

et al. 2019

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“…For the first 3 days, a low salinity (2.5 ± 0.1 ppt NaCl) was maintained to reduce stress and possibility of disease, after which tank water was gradually exchanged with fresh well water over 24 hr. Compressed oxygen was bubbled into each of the three tanks during the day (0900–1700 hr) to ensure high DO levels (maximum: 14 mg/L), which reached supersaturation (190%) and natural respiration diminished DO to lower levels (minimum: 4 mg/L) through the night in order to simulate oscillating DO levels that are observed in catfish aquaculture ponds (Boyd et al, ; Burger et al, ). Throughout the acclimation period, temperature and DO were measured hourly between 0900 and 1700 hr using a DO meter (YSI 85, YSI Inc., Yellow Springs).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although chronic exposures to environmental and harvest stressors have previously been studied for their impact on the production of red fillet, acute exposure to extreme conditions may be a more plausible link, given highly variable climatic effects on ponds (Arnold et al, ; Burger, Ramee, Culpepper, Green, & Allen, ). Examination of acute exposure to extreme summer conditions of high temperature, variable oxygen and CO 2 compounded with harvest stressors has not been reported for Channel Catfish.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of acute environmental and handling exposure on physiology and fillet quality of market‐sized Channel Catfish

et al. 2020

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Catfish Ictalurus spp. are subjected to stressful conditions during harvest, which may be linked to fillet coloration and quality. Poor water quality in ponds, socks or hauling tanks, as well as handling stress, have been suggested to cause red fillets in catfish; however, chronic exposure has not resulted in red fillets. Short‐term occurrences of extreme poor water quality, particularly low dissolved oxygen, high carbon dioxide and high temperature, may occur in ponds or during harvest. Therefore, market‐sized Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus were acutely exposed (12 hr) to one of the three water quality treatments while confined during a simulated socking procedure and evaluated for stress responses by means of change in blood parameters and fillet quality. In fish subjected to the extreme treatment, hematocrit, plasma cortisol, glucose and lactate levels increased, with 22% mortality, indicating highly stressful conditions. In fish subjected to moderate and typical (control) treatments, cortisol increased but a lack of change or decrease in glucose and lactate indicated minimal anaerobic metabolism. Only one red fillet was produced by the extreme treatment and two by the typical treatment; therefore, the results suggest red fillets are not a product of poor water quality compounded by handling during harvest.

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“…The use of recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) is arguably one of the best options for inland producers to hold broodstock at brackish salinities during spawning by allowing close control over culture systems and may alleviate other potential problems, like external predators (Burger et al. ).…”

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Egg Production of Gulf Killifish Is Dependent on Broodstock Rearing Density but Not Spawning Substrate Surface Area

2019

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The Gulf Killifish Fundulus grandis is a popular baitfish for recreational fisheries and is a candidate for commercial‐scale culture; however, its relatively low fecundity compared to other baitfish presents a production challenge. Egg output in relation to broodstock densities and spawning mat surface areas was evaluated in recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs). In experiment 1, broodstock were stocked at two densities (45 and 90 fish/m³), with eggs collected three times per week for 8 weeks. Broodstock (15–17 g) that were held at 45 fish/m³ had greater reproductive output (3.93 eggs·female−1·d−1) than broodstock that were held at 90 fish/m³ (2.22 eggs·female−1·d−1). However, there was no difference between the number of eggs per collection (1,005 and 1,107 eggs per 3,600‐L tank) or total egg production (23,202 and 25,802 eggs per 3,600‐L tank), indicating that reproductive output was limited by another factor, such as available spawning substrate. Therefore, in experiment 2, broodstock (12–16 g) were stocked at a density of 100 fish/m³ in all tanks and were held for 8 weeks with one of three spawning mat (Spawntex) surface areas: 4,500 cm2 (one tier), 9,000 cm2 (two tiers), or 13,500 cm2 (three tiers). Reproductive output was 2.12, 2.27, and 2.21 eggs·female−1·d−1 for the one‐tier, two‐tier, and three‐tier treatments, respectively, with no differences among treatments. There was also no among‐treatment difference in the number of eggs per collection (1,724, 1,858, and 1,794 eggs/tank) or in the total number of eggs collected (27,587, 29,728, and 28,704 eggs/tank), suggesting that increasing the surface area of spawning material does not increase egg production. Therefore, a stocking density of 45 fish/m³ and a spawning mat surface area of 4,500 cm2 in commercial‐scale RAS broodstock tanks result in similar egg production compared to a higher stocking density and greater spawning mat surface area.

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Demonstration of Survival, Growth, and Reproduction of Gulf KillifishFundulus grandisin Freshwater Ponds

Cited by 3 publications

References 29 publications

Zooplankton Selectivity by Black Buffalo in Fertilized Ponds

Zooplankton Selectivity by Black Buffalo in Fertilized Ponds

Effects of acute environmental and handling exposure on physiology and fillet quality of market‐sized Channel Catfish

Egg Production of Gulf Killifish Is Dependent on Broodstock Rearing Density but Not Spawning Substrate Surface Area

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