Hatching rate and larval growth variations in Pseudoplatystoma punctifer : maternal and paternal effects

Abstract

In Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (e.g. Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) larvae, parental effects on hatching, growth of initial stages and dry feed adaptation were evaluated as they could influence fry heterogeneity, which is responsible for the enhancement of cannibalism, and which remains one of the main factors of mortality during larval stages. A full factorial experiment was carried out with 3 females × 3 males producing nine families of full siblings, raised separately in triplicates into 30 L tanks at 28±0.5 °C in a water recirculating system. Paternal and maternal effects were observed on hatching success, yolk utilization efficiency and growth until 26 days post fertilization. Hatching success was generally over 80% except for one male × female combination (25%). Total length (TL) at hatching and during the first 4 weeks of exogenous feeding on live Artemia nauplii and dry feeds was determined in each family using digital photographs of larvae and nih image j analysis freeware. Mean TL was calculated for each family at each sampling time and analysed using multifactorial analysis of variance tests. These results indicate not only dam but also sire effects at very early developmental stages as well as in subsequent stages of P. punctifer.

Histological development of the digestive system of the Amazonian pimelodid catfish Pseudoplatystoma punctifer

“…However, survival rates in these systems are generally low and quite unpredictable (Gomes et al, 2000;Mai and Zaniboni Filho, 2005, among others), as they are highly impacted by food availability and the presence of predators. In P. punctifer, the difficulty of larvae to accept inert diets at weaning and a strong cannibalistic behaviour hampers the aquaculture of this fast-growing Amazonian catfish species, even in recirculation systems (Baras et al, 2011;Nuñez et al, 2011). One of the first steps in order to enhance the success of P. punctifer larval rearing and facilitate the overcoming of the major bottleneck of its culture, is the description of the ontogeny of the digestive system in order to synchronize the larval stage of development and maturation of their digestive organs with the feeding protocol and rearing practices, as well as identifying limiting factors during larval rearing.…”

Molecular identification of a cryptic species in the Amazonian predatory catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma (Bleeker, 1962) from Peru

“…In fish farming, misidentified species can be unintentionally hybridized, which may result in strong efficiency loss in the domestication process, with decreasing reproductive success (infertility), reducing adaptive value (outbreeding depression) and disappearance of unique evolutionary units in the wild in case of restocking (Bartley et al 2000;Frankham et al 2004;Meldgaard et al 2007). Until recently, the joint IRD-IIAP scientific program aiming at developing the aquaculture of doncella in the Peruvian Amazon (Nuñez et al 2011;Baras et al 2011a, b), ignored this possible admixture between Pseudoplatystoma species. Fortunately the present study has permitted to verify that only P. punctifer cluster-1 (the most abundant in nature) was present in our breeding stocks.…”

Growth, cannibalism, and survival relations in larvae of European catfish, Silurus glanis (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Siluridae)—attempts to mitigate sibling cannibalism

“…Larval growth or size heterogeneity both impact substantially the cannibalistic behaviour in young fishes, especially in predatory species with large gape Jobling 2002, Baras 2013). Several factors may contribute to larval growth, including genetic effects (at both parental and population levels), and nongenetic effects (such as maternal non-genetic contributions and environmental conditions; Saillant et al 2001, Butts and Litvak 2007, Ottesen and Babiak 2007, Donelson et al 2009, Nuñez et al 2011. A clear impact of parentage on larval growth or size heterogeneity has been found in several species: Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus Linnaeus, 1758 (see Panagiotaki and Geffen 1992); European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) (see Saillant et al 2001); Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Linnaeus, 1758) (see Ottesen and Babiak 2007); and Amazonian catfish, Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (Castelnau, 1855) (see Nuñez et al 2011).…”

“…Baras and Jobling (2002) identified several population factors, as well as extrinsic factors (environmental structure, temperature, light intensity, food availability, and food quality) that regulate size heterogeneity and cannibalism in fishes. However, effects of intrinsic factors-including maternal or paternal effectson growth heterogeneity (which is the main cause of cannibalism) in larval or juvenile stages, have been showed in several species (Saillant et al 2001, Babiak et al 2004, Butts and Litvak 2007, Ottesen and Babiak 2007, Adamek et al 2011, Nuñez et al 2011.…”