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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417397
Research Project: Improving the Productivity and Quality of Catfish Aquaculture

Location: Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit

Title: Egg production of Gulf killifish is dependent on broodstock rearing density but not spawning substrate surface area

Author
item ALLEN, PETER - Mississippi State University
item CHESSER, BRITTANY - Mississippi State University
item GREEN, CHRISTOPHER - Louisiana State University

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2019
Publication Date: 4/5/2019
Citation: Allen, P.J., Chesser, B.B., Green, C. 2019. Egg production of Gulf killifish is dependent on broodstock rearing density but not spawning substrate surface area. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 81: (201-210). https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10087.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10087

Interpretive Summary: The Gulf Killifish, Fundulus grandis, is a popular baitfish species and a candidate for warmwater aquaculture in North America, however, the relatively low egg production in culture limits its production in culture. Researchers at Mississippi State University varied the stocking density of broodstock and examined different spawning substrates in culture. The researchers found no difference in egg production between high and low density stocking rate, nor were there any differences due to the surface area of spawning material. The research team recommended a stocking density of 45 fish per cubic meter and a spawning mat surface area of 4,500 square centimeters in a commercial-scale recirculating aquaculture system.

Technical Abstract: The Gulf Killifish Fundulus grandis is a popular baitfish for recreational fisheries and is a candidate for commercial- scale culture; however, its relatively low fecundity compared to other baitfish presents a production challenge. Egg output in relation to broodstock densities and spawning mat surface areas was evaluated in recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs). In experiment 1, broodstock were stocked at two densities (45 and 90 fish/m³), with eggs collected three times per week for 8 weeks. Broodstock (15–17 g) that were held at 45 fish/m³ had greater reproductive output (3.93 eggsfemale1d1) than broodstock that were held at 90 fish/m³ (2.22 eggsfemale1d1). However, there was no difference between the number of eggs per collection (1,005 and 1,107 eggs per 3,600-L tank) or total egg production (23,202 and 25,802 eggs per 3,600-L tank), indicating that reproductive output was limited by another factor, such as available spawning substrate. Therefore, in experiment 2, broodstock (12–16 g) were stocked at a density of 100 fish/m³ in all tanks and were held for 8 weeks with one of three spawning mat (Spawntex) surface areas: 4,500 cm2 (one tier), 9,000 cm2 (two tiers), or 13,500 cm2 (three tiers). Reproductive output was 2.12, 2.27, and 2.21 eggsfemale1d1 for the one-tier, two-tier, and three-tier treatments, respectively, with no differences among treatments. There was also no among-treatment difference in the number of eggs per collection (1,724, 1,858, and 1,794 eggs/tank) or in the total number of eggs collected (27,587, 29,728, and 28,704 eggs/tank), suggesting that increasing the surface area of spawning material does not increase egg production. Therefore, a stocking density of 45 fish/m³ and a spawning mat surface area of 4,500 cm2 in commercial-scale RAS broodstock tanks result in similar egg production compared to a higher stocking density and greater spawning mat surface area.