Food availability before aestivation governs growth and winter reproductive potential in the capital breeding fish, Ammodytes japonicus.

ABSTRACT: Capital breeders develop gametes by using energy that was stored before the spawning season. Energy is allocated to growth and reproduction, and limited food availability affects the balance of energy allocation, especially in fish that mature within a year, such as western sand lance (Ammodytes japonicus). This species aestivates without feeding until winter spawning and utilize energy stores that were accumulated prior to aestivation for maturation and spawning. This study aimed to evaluate the growth, energy storage, maturation rate, and reproduction of A. japonicus in response to food availability before aestivation. We conducted laboratory experiments in which young-of-the-year A. japonicus were fed at rates of 4% and 1% of their body weight per day; assigned as high and low ration gr

SUBMITTER: Kuzuhara H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6405122 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature