Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
2.7
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management
share announcement

Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 10713

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Carlos Alfonso Alvarez-González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
División Académica de Ciencias BIológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Mexico
Interests: fish nutrition; aquaculture; management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore various aspects of nutrition, physiology, and management practices in fish aquaculture and fisheries, with a focus on promoting sustainable fish production and conservation.

Optimizing fish nutrition is vital for the growth, health, and productivity of fish species. As the aquaculture industry expands to meet increasing seafood demand, understanding the nutritional requirements of fish becomes crucial. This Special Issue explores the development of well-balanced diets, incorporating alternative feed ingredients and assessing nutrient utilization to support fish growth, immune function, and reproduction.

Understanding fish physiology is key to addressing challenges related to growth, health, and adaptation. Investigating physiological responses to factors such as temperature, water quality, and stressors aids in developing strategies to enhance fish welfare and performance. Furthermore, unraveling physiological mechanisms underlying traits like growth, reproduction, and disease resistance contributes to selective breeding and improved management practices.

Effective management practices are essential for sustainable fish production and conservation. This Special Issue examines innovative approaches and technologies for fish farm management, disease prevention, and environmental sustainability. The integration of scientific knowledge, industry practices, and policy frameworks is crucial for responsible aquaculture and fisheries management.

We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute to this Special Issue, sharing their scientific insights, innovative approaches, and practical solutions to advance the fields of fish nutrition, physiology, and management for sustainable fish production and conservation.

Dr. Carlos Alfonso Alvarez-González
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fish
  • aquaculture
  • production
  • physiology
  • sustainable production

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 1234 KiB  
Article
Growth, Nutrient Deposition, Plasma Metabolites, and Innate Immunity Are Associated with Feeding Rate in Juvenile Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus)
by Jeong-Hyeon Cho, Ali Hamidoghli, Sang-Woo Hur, Bong-Joo Lee, Seunghan Lee, Kang-Woong Kim and Seunghyung Lee
Animals 2024, 14(21), 3127; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14213127 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 630
Abstract
A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different feeding rates on growth performance, nutrient deposition, plasma metabolite, and immunity of juvenile starry flounder. Fish (initial mean body weight, 183.6 ± 2.3 g) were subjected to eight feeding rates (0.4, [...] Read more.
A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different feeding rates on growth performance, nutrient deposition, plasma metabolite, and immunity of juvenile starry flounder. Fish (initial mean body weight, 183.6 ± 2.3 g) were subjected to eight feeding rates (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0, 2.4, 2.8, and 3.2% body weight/day [BW/d]) with a commercial diet containing 53.5% crude protein and 10.2% crude lipid. After the feeding trial, fish growth increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 0.4% to 2.0% BW/d, with no significant differences being observed beyond 2.0% BW/d. Protein and lipid gains in the whole body and liver of the fish fed 2.0–3.2% BW/d were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the fish fed 0.4% and 0.8% BW/d. Conversely, protein retention in the whole body and the liver decreased with an increased feeding rate. Lysozyme activity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the fish fed 1.6–2.8% BW/d than in those fed 0.4–1.2% BW/d. The best-fit model analyses for optimum feeding rate (OFR) revealed that the estimate for each parameter varied between 0.7% (feed conversion ratio) and 3.1% (lipid gain in carcass) BW/d. The OFR for productivity (weight gain) and enhanced innate immunity (lysozyme) were estimated at 2.4% and 1.7% BW/d, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1748 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Stress on the Skin Welfare of Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus Linnaeus, 1758) Broodstock
by Thor Magne Jonassen, Albert Kjartan Dagbjartarson Imsland and Karin Pittman
Animals 2024, 14(21), 3114; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14213114 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 580
Abstract
The aim of this study was to build on the work already conducted in optimising lumpfish broodstock temperature, photoperiod and nutrition by providing vital information on the stress relationship between mucosal barrier functions and the sexual development of lumpfish broodstock. From a population [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to build on the work already conducted in optimising lumpfish broodstock temperature, photoperiod and nutrition by providing vital information on the stress relationship between mucosal barrier functions and the sexual development of lumpfish broodstock. From a population of approx. 300 fish of 1587 g (SEM ± 704 g), a sub-population of 20 fish was injected with 30 mg/kg fish cortisol implants on 5 January 2018. The control group was not treated with implants. The stress-induced cortisol implant group showed elevated plasma cortisol over a period of approximately one month. Analyses of mucus cell area and density suggested that induced stress could produce a positive functional response (stimulus) in lumpfish early in the experiment through a gentle increase in the barrier strength of the skin, reduced mucus cell size and increased density of mucous cells, resulting in a strengthening of the respiratory capacity of the gills. Mucous cell density and calculated barrier strength in the skin were significantly negatively correlated with plasma cortisol, while in the gill filaments of females, there was a significant negative correlation between mucous cell density and oestrogen levels. The reduced density of “empty” cells (Q cells) after stress induction indicates that these cells are important for the maintenance of homeostasis (physiological equilibrium). The fish in this experiment were considered more robust compared to previous analyses on smaller lumpfish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 9427 KiB  
Article
The Indigenous Probiotic Lactococcus lactis PH3-05 Enhances the Growth, Digestive Physiology, and Gut Microbiota of the Tropical Gar (Atractosteus tropicus) Larvae
by Graciela María Pérez-Jiménez, Carina Shianya Alvarez-Villagomez, Marcel Martínez-Porchas, Estefanía Garibay-Valdez, César Antonio Sepúlveda-Quiroz, Otilio Méndez-Marín, Rafael Martínez-García, Ronald Jesús-Contreras, Carlos Alfonso Alvarez-González and Susana del Carmen De la Rosa-García
Animals 2024, 14(18), 2663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182663 - 13 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1139
Abstract
Probiotics in aquaculture hold promise for enhancing fish health and growth. Due to their increased specificity and affinity for their host, indigenous probiotics may offer isolated and potentially amplified benefits. This study investigated the effects of Lactococcus lactis PH3-05, previously isolated from adults [...] Read more.
Probiotics in aquaculture hold promise for enhancing fish health and growth. Due to their increased specificity and affinity for their host, indigenous probiotics may offer isolated and potentially amplified benefits. This study investigated the effects of Lactococcus lactis PH3-05, previously isolated from adults of tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus), on the growth, survival, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, expression of barrier and immune genes, and intestinal microbiota composition in the larvae of tropical gar. Larvae were fed with live L. lactis PH3-05 concentrations of 104, 106, and 108 CFU/g for 15 days alongside a control diet without probiotics. Higher concentrations of L. lactis PH3-05 (106 and 108 CFU/g) positively influenced larval growth, increasing hepatocyte area and enterocyte height. The 106 CFU/g dose significantly enhanced survival (46%) and digestive enzyme activity. Notably, the 108 CFU/g dose stimulated increased expression of muc-2 and il-10 genes, suggesting enhanced mucosal barrier function and anti-inflammatory response. Although L. lactis PH3-05 did not significantly change the diversity, structure, or Phylum level composition of intestinal microbiota, which was constituted by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes, an increase in Lactobacillus abundance was observed in fish fed with 106 CFU/g, suggesting enhanced probiotic colonization. These results demonstrate that administering L. lactis PH3-05 at 106 CFU/g promotes growth, survival, and digestive health in A. tropicus larvae, establishing it as a promising indigenous probiotic candidate for aquaculture applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 7449 KiB  
Article
Effects of Thyroid Powder on Tadpole (Lithobates catesbeiana) Metamorphosis and Growth: The Role of Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota
by Bo Zhu, Chuang Shao, Wenjie Xu, Jihong Dai, Guihong Fu and Yi Hu
Animals 2024, 14(2), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020208 - 8 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2263
Abstract
A low metamorphosis rate of amphibian larvae, commonly known as tadpoles, limits the farming production of bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeiana). This study aimed to examine the effects of processed thyroid powder as a feed additive on tadpole metamorphosis, lipid metabolism, and gut [...] Read more.
A low metamorphosis rate of amphibian larvae, commonly known as tadpoles, limits the farming production of bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeiana). This study aimed to examine the effects of processed thyroid powder as a feed additive on tadpole metamorphosis, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota. Five groups of tadpoles were fed with diets containing 0 g/kg (TH0), 1.5 g/kg (TH1.5), 3 g/kg (TH3), 4.5 g/kg (TH4.5), and 6 g/kg (TH6) thyroid powder for 70 days. The results showed that TH increased the average weight of tadpoles during metamorphosis, with the TH6 group having the highest values. The TH4.5 group had the highest metamorphosis rate (p < 0.05). Biochemical tests and Oil Red O staining showed that the lipid (triglyceride) content in the liver decreased after TH supplementation, especially at doses higher than 1.5 g/kg. RT-qPCR revealed that TH at doses higher than 4.5 g/kg significantly up-regulated the transcriptional expression of the pparα, accb, fas, fadd6, acadl, and lcat genes, which are related to lipid metabolism (p < 0.05). These results showed that TH seems to simultaneously promote the synthesis and decomposition of lipid and fatty acids, but ultimately show a decrease in lipids. As for the gut microbiota, it is noteworthy that Verrucomicrobia increased significantly in the TH4.5 and TH6 groups, and the Akkermansia (classified as Verrucomicrobia) was the corresponding genus, which is related to lipid metabolism. Specifically, the metabolic pathways of the gut microbiota were mainly enriched in metabolic-related functions (such as lipid metabolism), and there were significant differences in metabolic and immune pathways between the TH4.5 and TH0 groups (p < 0.05). In summary, TH may enhance lipid metabolism by modulating the gut microbiota (especially Akkermansia), thereby promoting the growth of tadpoles. Consequently, a supplementation of 4.5 g/kg or 6 g/kg of TH is recommended for promoting the metamorphosis and growth of tadpoles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2607 KiB  
Article
Different Starch Sources Affect the Growth Performance and Hepatic Health Status of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) in a High-Temperature Environment
by Dongyu Huang, Jiaze Gu, Chunyu Xue, Lu Zhang, Xiaoru Chen, Yongli Wang, Hualiang Liang and Mingchun Ren
Animals 2023, 13(24), 3808; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13243808 - 10 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1524
Abstract
The experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different starch types on the growth performance and liver health status of largemouth bass in a high-temperature environment (33–35 °C). In this study, we designed five diets using corn starch (CS), tapioca starch (TS), [...] Read more.
The experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different starch types on the growth performance and liver health status of largemouth bass in a high-temperature environment (33–35 °C). In this study, we designed five diets using corn starch (CS), tapioca starch (TS), sweet potato starch (SPS), potato starch (PS), and wheat starch (WS) as the starch sources (10%). We selected 225 healthy and uniformly sized largemouth bass (199.6 ± 0.43 g) and conducted the feeding experiment for 45 days. The results showed that the WS group had the highest WGR, SGR, and SR and the lowest FCR. Among the five groups, the WS group had the highest CAT activity, SOD activity, and GSH content, while the SPS group had the highest MDA content. Furthermore, oil red O staining of liver samples showed that the TS group had the largest positive region, indicating high lipid accumulation. Lastly, the gene expression results revealed that compared with the WS group, the CS, TS, and SPS groups showed suppressed expression of nrf2, keap1, cat, sod, gpx, il-8, and il-10. Therefore, our results demonstrated the effect of different starch sources on largemouth bass growth performance and hepatic health in a high-temperature environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1074 KiB  
Article
Feeding Strategy to Use Beef Tallow and Modify Farmed Tiger Puffer Fatty Acid Composition
by Feiran Zhang, Lin Li, Xiaoxue Meng, Jian Liu, Xishuai Cui, Qiang Ma, Yuliang Wei, Mengqing Liang, Houguo Xu and Artur Rombenso
Animals 2023, 13(19), 3037; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193037 - 27 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1380
Abstract
A 12-week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish oil (FO) with beef tallow (BT) on the fatty acid composition of farmed tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes). Two replacement strategies were used: a standard Graded Dietary Replacement of [...] Read more.
A 12-week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish oil (FO) with beef tallow (BT) on the fatty acid composition of farmed tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes). Two replacement strategies were used: a standard Graded Dietary Replacement of FO with BT (GDR strategy) and Alternate Feeding between FO- and BT-based Diets (AFD strategy). The positive and negative control diets were formulated with 6% FO (FO-C group) or BT (BT-C group) as the sole added lipid source. In the GDR strategy, three experimental diets were formulated, with 25, 50 and 75% of the added FO in the FO-C diet replaced with BT, named 25BT, 50BT and 75BT, respectively. In the AFD strategy, alternated feeding patterns between the FO-C and BT-C diet—namely, 1, 2 and 3 weeks with BT-C followed by 1 week feeding with FO-C (1BT-1FO, 2BT-1FO and 3BT-1FO, respectively)—were applied. Each diet or feeding strategy was assigned to triplicate tanks. The results showed that dietary BT inclusion reduced the contents of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in both the muscle and liver (edible tissues for this species) of the experimental fish, and the liver displayed a more drastic decrease than the muscle. The LC-PUFA content linearly decreased with the decreasing dietary FO levels in the GDR strategy. However, in the AFD strategy, a linear relationship was not observed between the LC-PUFA content and the FO feeding duration. The 3BT-1FO treatment resulted in higher LC-PUFA content than 2BT-1FO. When comparing the two strategies with the same final FO administration level—namely, 50BT vs. 1BT-1FO, and in particular, 75BT vs. 3BT-1FO—the AFD strategy resulted in higher LC-PUFA contents in both the muscle and liver than the GDR strategy. In conclusion, when FO was replaced with BT in the diets, alternate feeding between FO- and BT-based diets resulted in a higher LC-PUFA content than the standard direct replacement. Three weeks of feeding with BT-C followed by one week of feeding with FO-C appeared to be a good alternate feeding pattern. This study provided a promising strategy of FO-sparing in fish farming when the LC-PUFA contents were maintained as high as possible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3969 KiB  
Article
Phenylalanine Plays Important Roles in Regulating the Capacity of Intestinal Immunity, Antioxidants and Apoptosis in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
by Changguo Yi, Hualiang Liang, Dongyu Huang, Heng Yu, Chunyu Xue, Jiaze Gu, Xiaoru Chen, Yongli Wang, Mingchun Ren and Lu Zhang
Animals 2023, 13(18), 2980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182980 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1634
Abstract
This experiment was planned to explore the role of dietary phenylalanine levels in intestinal immunity, antioxidant activity and apoptosis in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Six iso-nitrogen and iso-energy diets with phenylalanine levels of 1.45% (DPHE1), 1.69% (DPHE2), 1.98% (DPHE3), 2.21% (DPHE4), [...] Read more.
This experiment was planned to explore the role of dietary phenylalanine levels in intestinal immunity, antioxidant activity and apoptosis in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Six iso-nitrogen and iso-energy diets with phenylalanine levels of 1.45% (DPHE1), 1.69% (DPHE2), 1.98% (DPHE3), 2.21% (DPHE4), 2.48% (DPHE5) and 2.76% (DPHE6) were designed. Juvenile largemouth bass were fed the experimental diet for 8 weeks. In this study, the DPHE5 group increased the expression of intestinal antioxidant genes in largemouth bass (p < 0.05), and the increase of antioxidant enzyme activities and content of related substances was most concentrated in the DPHE3 and DPHE4 groups (p < 0.05). The results of plasma biochemistry were similar to that of enzyme activity. The expression of genes related to the TOR signalling pathway mainly increased significantly in the DPHE5 group (p < 0.05). Similarly, the expression of inflammatory factors, as well as apoptotic factors, also showed significant increases in the DPHE5 group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, unbalanced phenylalanine in the diet could lead to a decrease in intestinal immune and antioxidant capacity and also cause a decline in the aggravation of intestinal cell apoptosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition, Physiology and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop