Journal of Environmental Biology

Blood physiological responses and growth of juvenile starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus exposed to different salinities

Han Kyu Lim¹, Byung Hwa Min²*, Mun Gyeong Kwon², Soon-Gyu Byun², Mi Seon Park²,

Min Hwan Jeong², Young Soo Kim³?and Young Jin Chang³?

1Department of Marine and Fisheries Resources, Mokpo National University, jeonnam, 534 729, Republic of Korea

2National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan, 619 902, Republic of Korea

3Department of Aquaculture, Pukyong National University, Busan, 608 737, Republic of Korea

*Corresponding Author email : pkmbh@korea.go.kr

Publication Data

Paper received:

09 February 2011

Revised received:

15 December 2011

Re-revised received:

27 July 2012

Accepted:

10 February 2013

Abstract

Blood physiological responses, growth and survial rates were examined in juvenile starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus exposed to different salinities (5, 10, 20, 33 ppt) for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, the plasma levels of Na⁺?and osmolality were similar at 10, 20, 33 ppt, however, the values were significantly lower at 5 ppt compared to those at other salinities. Stress responses such as plasma levels of cortisol, glucose, hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in all groups showed no significant difference. Although no differences in growth were observed, body weight at 20 ppt tended to be higher than others. Survival in all groups was greater than 99% with no significant differences. These results suggest that starry flounder is euryhalin species, thus this fish can be reared with normal growth and survival rate at 5-33 ppt salinity without osmoregulatory disturbance and stress.

Key words

Growth, Osmoregulation, Platichthys stellatus, Salinity, Starry flounder, Stress responses, Survival

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