Sensitive stages during embryonic development of wolffish,Anarhichas lupusL. determining the final numbers of rays in unpaired fins and skeletal abnormalities

Abstract

Larvae of common wolffish (Anarhichas lupus L.) obtained from eggs incubated at a constant temperature of 7.0 C had mean numbers of rays in the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins of 74.5, 46.4, and 23.8 respectively; those incubated at 11.0 C had 53.8, 25.7, and 25.2 rays, respectively. Several skeletal abnormalities, including fusion of parts and abnormal structure of neural arches in the pre-urostyle area, accompanied the reduction in numbers of dorsal and anal fin rays at 11 C. To test which period of embryonic development was critical for determining the final numbers of unpaired fin rays and skeletal abnormalities, the eggs were transferred from 7 C to 11 C and back at different stages. Determination of the final numbers of rays in the dorsal and anal fins and most of skeletal abnormalities occurred mainly between 50% vascularization of the yolk sac and the beginning of formation of rays in the caudal and pectoral fins. The final number of caudal fin rays was determined between the latter stage and formation of rays in the dorsal and anal fins. To reduce the egg incubation period and still obtain larvae without skeletal abnormalities, a temperature regime during embryonic development is suggested.1996 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

The prevalence of vertebral deformities is increased with higher egg incubation temperatures and triploidy in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.

“…), Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) (Koumoundouros et al . ) and Anarhichas lupus L. (Pavlov & Moksness ). Our values of 12–23% deformed diploid fish (defined as fish with one or more deformed vertebrae) are in accordance with values previously reported in this species (Ytteborg et al .…”

Growth, diet and metabolism of common wolf–fish in the North Sea, a fast–growing population

“…data). From aquaculture experiments the optimum temperature of growth for common wolf-fish has been suggested as between 7 and 11 C (Pavlov & Novikov, 1993;Pavlov & Moksness, 1996). McCarthy et al (1998) found that for juvenile common wolf-fish the optimum temperatures for wet weight growth and growth efficiency were 11·0 and 9·6 C, respectively.…”

Effect of egg incubation temperature on the occurrence of skeletal deformities in Solea senegalensis

“…Previous studies have shown that inappropriate rearing temperatures will critically affect embryonic development in flatfish larvae, compromising hatching and growth as previously described for Southern flounder ( Paralichthys lethostigma ) (Daniels et al., 1996; Maaren and Daniels, 2001) and Northern rock sole ( Lepidopsetta polyxystra ) (Laurel and Blood, 2011) by altering the time of hatching, hatch success, and influencing larval growth, survival and metamorphosis. Altered temperature was also reported to affect development of the skeleton by inducing metamorphosis‐related morphological abnormalities in brown sole ( Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini ) (Aritaki and Seikai, 2004) or to affect the number of vertebrae composing the axial skeleton in halibut (Lewis‐McCrea et al., 2004) and to promote an increase in the incidence of skeletal deformities in other teleosts such as gilthead seabream (Georgakopoulou et al., 2010), European seabass (Koumoundouros et al., 2001) or wolfish (Pavlov and Moksness, 1996). It was also demonstrated that temperature has a decisive effect on the size at different ontogenic events such as fin formation and metamorphosis take place (Seikai et al., 1986; Polo et al., 1991; Koumoundouros et al., 2001).…”