Morphological development and allometric growth patterns in hatchery‐reared California halibut larvae

Abstract

Morphological development, allometric growth and behaviour of hatchery-reared California halibut Paralichthys californicus were studied from hatching to metamorphosis (42 days post hatch, dph) at 18 C. Mean standard length (L S ) of larvae and juveniles increased from 2·1 mm at hatching to 10·5 mm at metamorphosis with the increase in length being approximately linear. Stages of morphological development were described using the alphabetic staging (A-I) used for other flatfish species. Organogenesis and differentiation were more rapid and complex in yolk-sac (hatching, stage A-3 dph, stage B), preflexion (3-19 dph, stages B-C), and flexion larvae (from 20 to 23 dph, stages D-E), as larvae developed most of their sensory, feeding, respiratory and swimming systems. After notochord flexion at 24-25 dph (stage F), most morphological changes were related to the progressive transformation from a bilateral symmetrical larva to an asymmetrical benthic juvenile (42 dph, stages G-I).

Early development and allometric growth patterns of rheophilic cyprinid common dace Leuciscus leuciscus (Cyprinidae: Leuciscinae)

“…In most fish species, e.g. Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (see Gisbert 1999), California halibut Paralichthys californicus (see Gisbert et al 2002), African catfish Clarias gariepinus, carp (see van Snik et al 1997), and burbot Lota lota (see Kupren et al 2014a), the process of early remodeling was linked to the positive allometric growth of many morphological characters. During a short period, growth slows down (Hoda and Tsukahara 1971;Fuiman 1983).…”

“…The fast initial growth in the head region (allometric growth of HL, HD, ED) is probably linked to the development of nervous (midbrain and hindbrain), sensory (vision and olfaction), respiratory (gill arches and filaments), and feeding systems. Increasing head size is associated with a more developed nervous system, allowing better oxygen uptake and the application of food particles of increasing size (Fuiman 1983;van Snik et al 1997, Koumoundouros et al 1999Gisbert et al 2002;Kupren et al 2014b). In the posterior part of the body, rapid tail growth of dace individuals (allometric growth of TAL, BDA, and TD) was concomitant with the development of musculature, unpaired fins, caudal peduncle, and fin rays.…”

Allometric larval growth of the bottom-dwelling catfish Lophiosilurus alexandri Steindachner, 1876 (Siluriformes: Pseudopimelodidae)

“…Positive allometric growth of the head is a common feature during early ontogeny in different teleost orders Gisbert et al, 2002;Gisbert & Doroshov, 2006), including Siluriformes (Huysentruyt et al, 2009). The fast initial growth of the head might be attributed to the development of the central nervous system, sense organs, and structures related to food capture (Fuiman, 1983;van Snik et al, 1997) as there is a quick depletion of energy reserves accumulated in the yolk sac forcing the fish to obtain exogenous food (Fuiman, 1983).…”

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“…The level of ontogenic development at hatching is species-specific and highly dependent on environmental conditions, especially of water temperature (Kamler, 1992;Teletchea et al, 2009;Kupren et al,2011b, Palińska et al, 2014. For example, many marine species from warm and temperate regions which produce numerous small eggs are extremely poorly developed at hatching (Gisbert et al, 2002;Peña and Dumas, 2009;Çoban et al, 2012).…”

“…The objective of the present study was to provide biological knowledge on the morphological and functional development of European chub free embryos, larvae and early juvenile reared under intensive conditions, with a focus on the age and size at transformation. An understanding of the morphological development and allometric growth patterns provides insight into possible functional trends and environmental preferences of different developmental stages and thus is crucial for optimization of production in aquaculture (Koumoundouros et al, 1999;Gisbert et al, 2002;Choo and Liew, 2006). Moreover they may be used for determining the quality of chub juveniles in restocking programs.…”