Effects of light intensity, tank colour and photoperiod on swimbladder inflation success in larval striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum) |
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| Authors: | D J Martin-Robichaud R H Peterson |
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| Institution: | Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Biological Station, St Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), larvae, although physoclistous as adults, initially need to inflate their swimbladders by passing ingested air through a pneumatic duct to the swimbladder. Failure to inflate the swimbladder results in swimbladder atrophy, dysfunctional buoyancy control, deformities, and poor larval survival and growth. The present investigation studied the effects of light intensity, tank colour and photoperiod on the initial swimbladder inflation success of striped bass. In the first experiment, newly hatched larvae were reared for 2 weeks in black or white 350-L circular tanks exposed to incandescent lighting at 163 or 10 lux. Larvae were fed Artemia from 6 days post-hatching (dph). The standard length, and oil globule and yolk areas were measured. Swimbladder condition and evidence of feeding were recorded. To study the effects of photoperiod on inflation, larvae were reared in black tanks exposed to either 8 h:16 h or 16 h:8 h light:dark photoperiods at 139 lux. Striped bass inflated their swimbladders between 6 and 9 dph at 17 oC. Inflation success was significantly higher in black tanks (65%) compared with white tanks (42%), but light intensity did not significantly affect swimbladder inflation. Larval growth and food consumption were better in black tanks, primarily because this treatment resulted in more larvae with inflated swimbladders, although larvae with uninflated swimbladders in black tanks were longer at 12 dph than larvae with inflated swimbladders in white tanks. Larvae that successfully inflated their swimbladders fed earlier and exhibited better growth than larvae with noninflated swimbladders. Larvae reared at higher light intensities used up yolk reserves faster. Exposing striped bass larvae to 8 h:16 h light:dark photoperiods resulted in higher inflation rates (55%) compared to larvae reared at 16 h:8 h light:dark photoperiods (30%). Therefore, black tanks and short photoperiods are preferable for early rearing of striped bass larvae to maximize swimbladder inflation success. |
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