| Abstract: | Mariculture is a new exploratory approach for ex situ conservation of Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). In order to reveal the adaptability and physiological characteristics of cultured juvenile Chinese sturgeon in natural salinity environment, a 120‐day simulated catadromous migration experiment including 25‐day seawater acclimation and following 95‐day seawater (25‰) culture was carried out with 1.5‐year‐old Chinese sturgeons. Fish of seawater acclimation at four time points (days 0, 9, 17 and 25) and seawater culture at one time point (day 120) were sampled, and the growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical indicators were analysed. The results showed that the survival rate of seawater group throughout the experiment reached as high as 100%, and seawater culture significantly improved growth performance, the average weight and specific growth rate (SGR). Serum osmolality and ion concentrations (Na+ and Cl?) were immediately increased at the beginning of seawater acclimation, but then maintained at a relatively stable level. White blood cell (WBC), serum total antioxidative capacity (T‐AOC) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) exhibited no significant change during the seawater acclimation, but after 3‐month seawater culture, these values of seawater group were significantly higher than those of freshwater group. Our results indicated that 1.5‐year‐old Chinese sturgeons had strong adaptability to seawater environment, and their growth performance and physiological characteristics including antioxidant capacity, and immunoregulatory capacity were improved after seawater acclimation. |
