Article

Light intensity impacts on growth, molting and oxidative stress of juvenile mud crab Scylla paramamosain

Details

Citation

Chen S, Migaud H, Shi C, Song C, Wang C, Ye Y, Ren Z, Wang H & Mu C (2021) Light intensity impacts on growth, molting and oxidative stress of juvenile mud crab Scylla paramamosain. Aquaculture, 545, Art. No.: 737159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.737159

Abstract
An 8 weeks regression study was performed to test the effects of increasing light intensities from darkness to 30 W m−2 on growth performance, molting, antioxidant capacity, and gene expression of molting and apoptosis-related genes in Scylla paramamosain. No significant differences were found in survival rates between treatments (ranging from 71.7 to 87.3% at the end of the experiment). However, weight gain and specific growth rate over the study period displayed a curvilinear response to light treatments with peak values in crabs exposed to 10 W m−2. Linear (BLM), quadratic (BQM), and 4-parameter saturation kinetic (4-SKM) models show the optimal light intensities for SGR were 12.98, 18.27, and 11.36 W m−2, respectively. The light intensity did not appear to impact molting. However, crabs reared in darkness showed significantly reduced molt frequency (3.51 ± 0.16) and extended intermolt intervals compared to other treatments. Melatonin levels in the eyestalks were significantly higher in crabs exposed to darkness (502.52 ± 56.24 pg mL−1) than light intensities of 10–30 W m−2 (413.50 ± 32.38 and 384.99 ± 15.56 pg mL−1). Cortisol levels were significantly lower in the 0 and 5 W m−2 groups. Light intensity significantly impacted the activity of antioxidant enzymes, with crabs showing a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) under 10 W m−2, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) under 15 W m−2 and lower malondialdehyde (MDA). Gene expression of the molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) was downregulated in eyestalks from crabs exposed to 10 W m−2 compared to darkness and 20–30 W m−2. Expression of apoptosis-related genes did not show clear light intensity trends. Taken together, these results suggest light intensity can impact S. paramamosain growth, molting, stress levels, and antioxidant capacity. As such, light regimes used in crab farming should be carefully considered to optimize productivity and welfare.

Keywords
Light intensity; Molting; Cortisol; Apoptosis; Antioxidant capacity; Scylla paramamosain

Journal
Aquaculture: Volume 545

StatusPublished
Publication date15/12/2021
Publication date online08/07/2021
Date accepted by journal05/07/2021
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/33028
ISSN0044-8486

People (1)

People

Professor Herve Migaud

Professor Herve Migaud

Honorary Professor, Institute of Aquaculture