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Interplay between hormonal and morphological changes throughout a critical period of larval rearing in the orbicular batfish
Waqalevu, V.; Besson, M.; Gache, C.; Roux, N.; Fogg, L.; Bertucci, F.; Metian, M.; Lafille, M.-A.; Maamaatuaiahutapu, M.; Gasset, E.; Saulnier, D.; Laudet, V.; Lecchini, D. (2020). Interplay between hormonal and morphological changes throughout a critical period of larval rearing in the orbicular batfish. Aquaculture Reports 18: 100521. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1016/j.aqrep.2020.100521
In: Aquaculture Reports. Elsevier: Amsterdam. e-ISSN 2352-5134, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Larval rearing; Mariculture; Metamorphosis; South pacific countries; Coral reefs

Authors  Top 
  • Waqalevu, V.
  • Besson, M.
  • Gache, C.
  • Roux, N.
  • Fogg, L.
  • Bertucci, F., more
  • Metian, M.
  • Lafille, M.-A.
  • Maamaatuaiahutapu, M.
  • Gasset, E.
  • Saulnier, D.
  • Laudet, V.
  • Lecchini, D.

Abstract
    Advancement and diversification of the aquaculture industry is reliant on the development of captive breeding and rearing protocols for novel fish species. Orbicular batfish (Platax orbicularis), a major emerging species in Polynesian aquaculture, live in brackish and marine waters around coral reefs, and are highly prized by Pacific Island communities for their high-quality meat. The present study describes the larval growth of P. orbicularis from hatching until 16 days after hatching (DAH) using meristics and thyroid hormone (T3) quantification. Our study highlighted that metamorphosis of P. orbicularis is critical to their production in aquaculture, as found for other species. Levels of the thyroid hormone T3 in P. orbicularis reached a peak at 12 DAH (i.e. hormonal metamorphosis). This peak occurred in concert with important morphological changes and increased mortality and growth between 9 and 12 DAH, clearly illustrating the sensitivity of this fish during metamorphosis. Overall, our study sheds light on the metamorphosis and larval development of a novel aquaculture species, and the interplay between hormonal and morphological changes throughout a critical period of its rearing. These findings may promote the development of protocols for mass-scale production of orbicular batfish in captivity, which may be particularly beneficial to the aquaculture industries of many Pacific Island countries.

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