Browsing by Author "Grau, A."
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- Effects of structural environmental enrichment on welfare of juvenile seabream (Sparus aurata)Publication . Arechavala Lopez, Pablo; Diaz-Gil, C.; Saraiva, João L.; Moranta, D.; Castanheira, Maria Filipa; Nuñez-Velázquez, S.; Ledesma-Corvi, S.; Mora-Ruiz, M.R.; Grau, A.Current production systems of finfish aquaculture, and in particular intensive farming systems, can cause welfare problems leading not only to poor condition of the fish but also to a decrease in product quality. Adding structural environmental enrichment (EE) to bare rearing environments may improve the welfare of certain cultured fish. In this study we experimentally demonstrate the positive effects of adding structural EE on rearing environments of juvenile seabream (Sparus aurata). Fish maintained for 35 days with EE showed less aggression and interactions with the net pen, and lower erosion of pectoral and caudal fins, compared to fish kept in bare conditions (non-enriched, NE). In addition, EE modified the horizontal distribution of fish in the experimental cage, increasing the use of the inner areas. Non-significant effects of EE were observed on fish body condition and growth, and on brain monoamines levels and mortality. Nevertheless, this work highlights the potential use of structural EE to improve welfare of juvenile seabream, which might be feasible to apply at larger-commercial scale.
- Reproductive biology of pipefish Syngnathus typhle and S. abaster (Syngnathidae) from Western Mediterranean SeaPublication . Simal Rodríguez, A.; Grau, A.; Castro-Fernández, J.; Castejón, I.; Terrados, J.; Morales-Nin, B.; Arechavala-Lopez, P.The reproductive biology of two species of pipefish, Syngnathus typhle and S. abaster, was investigated in western Mediterranean coastal waters, through determination of sex-ratio and maturity state, and histological assessment of gonads, brood pouch and embryos of these little-known syngnathid species. A total of 22 S. typhle and 13 S. abaster individuals were collected by towing-net on shallow seagrass meadows (Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa) at Balearic Islands (Spain). Overall sex-ratio (male : female) was 1.0 : 1.2 for S. typhle and 1.0 : 2.7 for S. abaster. Regarding maturity, all stages of females were sampled while only immature or brooding males were collected. Males with embryos in the pouch were found in summer for both species, and mature females of S. typhle were found in summer whereas mature females of S. abaster were found in winter and summer, suggesting that each species might have a different reproductive cycle. This study contributes to the knowledge on the reproductive biology of the two most abundant pipefish species in W-Mediterranean coastal waters, which might help for further restocking and conservation management strategie.