Melatonin supplementation alleviates stocking-density stress and enhances growth, immune, and physiological performance of Sparus aurata cultured in groundwater-based systems.

ABSTRACT: The intensive mariculture of S. aurata can promote aquaculture development, although it can also pose challenges because of predatory behavior and environmental stressors caused by intensification. The objective of this study is to alleviate stress and prevent cannibalism, thereby improving the fish's performance and welfare. A 90-day growth experiment investigated the dietary inclusion of melatonin (ML) on Sparus aurata performance, physiology, immunity, histopathology, and welfare when grown in saline groundwater (36 ppt) at stocking densities (SD) of 50 fish/500 L‒tank (SD₅₀) and 100 fish/500 L‒tank (SD₁₀₀). Six fish groups in triplicate were fed three increasing levels of ML (0, 25, and 50 mg/kg^- 1 diet) expressed as T1, T2 and T3 under SD₅₀,

SUBMITTER: Elhetawy AIG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12740964 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature