The Effects of Stocking Density and Feeding Frequency on Aggressive and Cannibalistic Behaviors in Larval Hatchery-Reared Spotted Seatrout, Cynosion Nebulosus

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The Effects of Stocking Density and Feeding Frequency on Aggressive and Cannibalistic Behaviors in Larval Hatchery-Reared Spotted Seatrout, Cynosion Nebulosus The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Master's Theses Spring 5-2014 The Effects of Stocking Density and Feeding Frequency on Aggressive and Cannibalistic Behaviors in Larval Hatchery-Reared Spotted Seatrout, Cynosion nebulosus Christopher Burton Manley University of Southern Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses Recommended Citation Manley, Christopher Burton, "The Effects of Stocking Density and Feeding Frequency on Aggressive and Cannibalistic Behaviors in Larval Hatchery-Reared Spotted Seatrout, Cynosion nebulosus" (2014). Master's Theses. 31. https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/31 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The University of Southern Mississippi THE EFFECTS OF STOCKING DENSITY AND FEEDING FREQUENCY ON AGGRESSIVE AND CANNIBALISTIC BEHAVIORS IN LARVAL HATCHERY- REARED SPOTTED SEATROUT, CYNOSCION NEBULOSUS by Christopher Burton Manley A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School of The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Approved: _Chet Rakocinski_____________________ Director _Reginald Blaylock____________________ _Phillip Lee__________________________ _Maureen A. Ryan____________________ Dean of the Graduate School May 2014 ABSTRACT THE EFFECTS OF STOCKING DENSITY AND FEEDING FREQUENCY ON AGGRESSIVE AND CANNIBALISTIC BEHAVIORS IN LARVAL HATCHERY- REARED SPOTTED SEATROUT, CYNOSCION NEBULOSUS by Christopher Burton Manley May 2014 The Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is a euryhaline fish that inhabits coastal regions from Massachusetts to Texas. Due to its predaceous nature and proximity to coastal shorelines it is the most important marine finfish in the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this importance, Spotted Seatrout has been identified as a possible candidate for stock enhancement. Stock enhancement is the practice of releasing hatchery-reared juveniles to increase local recruitment beyond existing levels. However, raising enough Spotted Seatrout in an intensive aquaculture system has proven difficult due to aggression and cannibalism during the larval stages. The manipulation of stocking density as well as feeding frequency might be used to reduce aggression and cannibalism. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of stocking density and feeding frequency on aggressive and cannibalistic behaviors in larval hatchery-reared Spotted Seatrout at both small- and production- scales. For the first two small-scale experiments, fish larvae were filmed and behaviors were quantified. Three different aggressive behaviors were quantified: nip (aggressor strikes prey causing prey to dart), chase (aggressor moves more than one body length toward prey), and capture (predator captures and holds prey but unable to consume). From these experiments, the author found that in all stocking densities (15, 30, and 60 fish L-1) there ii was a significant increase in aggression and cannibalism with time since feeding; and the author identified a density threshold of 30 fish L-1, beyond which the intensity of aggressive behaviors did not increase. These results implied that aggression in early stage hatchery-reared Spotted Seatrout might be alleviated by increasing feeding frequency, and furthermore, the Spotted Seatrout possibly could be cultured at densities higher than the current protocol allows. From the second experiment, the author concluded that the 2 h feeding frequency treatment elicited fewer aggressive and cannibalistic acts than the 1 h, 4 h, and 8 h treatments. Lower levels of aggression and cannibalism associated with the 2 h feeding frequency treatment could be attributed to a balance between the optimal amount of live feed and the gut evacuation rate of larval Spotted Seatrout. In the third large-scale production experiment, I found a significantly lower per capita mortality and correspondingly higher specific growth rate for the 30 fish L-1 treatment than for the lower density 15 fish L-1 treatment. This difference resulted in a 45% higher production yield within the high density treatment. Due to logistical constraints, only two replicates were available for the production experiment. Thus, the statistical power of this experiment was low; however, directional trends consistently suggested biological importance. Feeding every 2 h suggested an apparent decrease in per capita mortality, leading to a 15% increase in production. The observed higher specific growth in the high density treatment likely reflected a decrease in aggression. Also, size heterogeneity did not differ between density treatments, reinforcing the case that using a higher stocking density and a 2 h feeding frequency schedule should be ideal for the production of larval Spotted Seatrout. Overall, the results iii from the production-scale run were consistent with the results of the two earlier small- scale experiments, suggesting that a stocking density of 30 fish L-1 and a feeding frequency of 2 h should be effective for reducing aggression and cannibalism in the culture of Spotted Seatrout. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to thank Dr. Reginald Blaylock for his enormous contributions and guidance throughout this study. Also, thanks to the rest of the committee members Dr. Chet Rakocinski and Dr. Phillip Lee for their advice and support. I also would like to thank the members of the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center including M. Lee, B. Schesny, J. Snawder, D. Butler, S. Barnes, A. Apeitos, and T. Guest, without whose help none of this would have been possible. Special thanks go to Chris Snyder at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory’s Marine Education Center for the use of his video cameras and to Dr. Richard Heard (Coastal Sciences, USM) for the use of his video camera. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………………….. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ………………………..…………………………………….. iii LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………………………..... v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS …………………………………………………………… vi CHAPTER I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION………………………………………….1 II. STOCKING DENSITY EFFECTS ON AGGRESSIVE AND CANNIBALISTIC BEHAVIORS IN LARVAL HATCHERY-REARED SPOTTED SEATROUT, CYNOSCION NEBULOSUS……....................14 Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion III. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEEDING FREQUENCY AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS IN LARVAL HATCHERY-REARED SPOTTED SEATROUT, CYNOSCION NEBULOSUS ………………...33 Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion IV. MANIPULATING FEEDING FREQUENCY AND STOCKING DENSITY TO ENHANCE YEILD OF HATCHERY-REARED SPOTTED SEATROUT, CYNOSCION NEBULOSUS…………………47 Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion iv Conclusion V. GENERAL CONCLUSION…………………………………………….61 APPENDIXES………………………………………………………..………………….65 LITERATURE CITED…………………………………………………………………..66 v LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Within subjects and between subjects effects for the Two-way Repeated Measures ANOVA on behavior variables for all densities…………………………………22 vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. The number of nips per individual at each stocking density (15 fish L-1, 30 fish L- 1, and 60 fish L-1) with increasing days post hatch (DPH) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus at three time intervals after feeding......................................................24 2. The number of chases per individual at each stocking density (15 fish L-1 , 30 fish L-1, and 60 fish L-1) with increasing days post hatch (DPH) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus at three time intervals after feeding………………………………......25 3. The number of captures per individual at each stocking density (15 fish L-1, 30 fish L-1, and 60 fish L-1) with increasing days post hatch (DPH) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus at three time intervals after feeding…………………….....26 4. Average number of nips before and after a feeding at each feeding frequency treatment (1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus. ……………….….41 5. Average number of chases before and after a feeding at each feeding frequency treatment (1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus……………….…...42 6. Average number of captures before and after a feeding at each feeding frequency treatment (1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus…………………....43 7. Per capita mortality for each treatment (15 fish/L, 15 fish/L & feeder, 30 fish/L, 30 fish/L & feeder) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus……………………………..54 8. Specific growth for each treatment (15 fish/L, 15 fish/L & feeder, 30 fish/L, 30 fish/L & feeder) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus………………………………...54 9. Coefficient of variation for each treatment (15 fish/L, 15 fish/L & feeder, 30 fish/L, 30 fish/L & feeder) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus……………………..55 10. Number of larvae harvested for each treatment (15 fish/L, 15 fish/L & feeder, 30 fish/L, 30 fish/L & feeder) for larval Cynoscion nebulosus..……………………56 vii 1 CHAPTER I GENERAL INTRODUCTION Need for Aquaculture The human population is predicted to rise to 9.2 billion people by 2050, and this increase will create a substantially increased demand for food and recreation (FAO, 2010). Fish provides a major subsistence food source for humans as well as a source of recreation. Currently, per capita consumption of seafood is approximately 17 kg per year, creating $98.4 billion in revenue (FAO, 2010). The recreational
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