Influences of thermal environment on fish growth

Abstract

Thermoregulation in ectothermic animals is influenced by the ability to effectively respond to thermal variations. While it is known that ectotherms are affected by thermal changes, it remains unknown whether physiological and/or metabolic traits are impacted by modifications to the thermal environment. Our research provides key evidence that fish ectotherms are highly influenced by thermal variability during development, which leads to important modifications at several metabolic levels (e.g., growth trajectories, microstructural alterations, muscle injuries, and molecular mechanisms). In Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), a wide thermal range (ΔT 6.4°C) during development (posthatch larvae to juveniles) was associated with increases in key thermal performance measures for survival and growth trajectory. Other metabolic traits were also significantly influenced, such as size, muscle cellularity, and molecular growth regulators possibly affected by adaptive processes. In contrast, a restricted thermal range (ΔT 1.4°C) was detrimental to growth, survival, and cellular microstructure as muscle growth could not keep pace with increased metabolic demands. These findings provide a possible basic explanation for the effects of thermal environment during growth. In conclusion, our results highlight the key role of thermal range amplitude on survival and on interactions with major metabolism‐regulating processes that have positive adaptive effects for organisms.

The highs and lows of herring: A meta‐analysis of patterns and factors in herring collapse and recovery

“…Interannual temperature variability may indirectly force greater variability in growth and survival through changes in prey availability and distribution (e.g. Corten, 2001; Cushing, 1990; Southward, Hawkins, & Burrows, 1995), or directly force frequent or larger changes in growth and survival (Boltaña et al, 2017) via cumulative changes in individual metabolism and physiology (Pörtner & Knust, 2007; Pörtner & Peck, 2010). In other words, more variable SST may amplify variability in spawning biomass separately from the effect of recruitment variability.…”

Effects of food type, temperature and salinity on the growth performance and antioxidant status of the longsnout seahorse,Hippocampus reidi

“…Environmental conditions are known to be the key factors influencing the growth performance or larval development of marine fish (Boltaña et al, 2017;Hora et al, 2016;Pankhurst & Munday, 2011).…”

A comparative evaluation of hematological and biochemical parameters between the Italian mullet Mugilcephalus (Linnaeus 1758) and the Turkish mullet Chelonauratus(Risso 1810)

“…The environmental and geographical variations in particular influence not only the hematological and biochemical parameters but also the biometric indices of fish (Fazio et al, 2012a(Fazio et al, , 2012bRahman et al, 2013;Boltaña, 2017). M. cephalus and C. auratus are the two most important species of the family Mugilidae for aquaculture.…”