Reproductive performance of captive Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, according to the origin (wild or cultured) and gender

Abstract

Aim of study: The reproductive performance over a five year period in three different sole broodstocks: wild males with cultured females (WM), cultured males with wild females (CM), and a control of cultured males and females (C).

Area of study: Cantabria, Northern Spain.

Material and methods: The parental contribution was evaluated through the allocation of hatched larvae and a behavioural study was performed using underwater video recordings.

Main results: Fertilized natural spawns were only obtained from group WM showing a significantly higher mean annual volume of floating eggs compared with groups CM and C. Over the entire 5-yr a higher number of spawns, total and floating volumes of eggs were obtained compared with groups CM and C. The analysis of four polymorphic microsatellites enabled the identification of the individuals involved in the fertile spawns by parental assignment. The percentage of individuals contributing to spawns ranged between 56.3% and 75% showing fidelity patterns. However between 46.2% and 68.6% of the contribution to production was a result of the crossing of three single couples. According to the behaviour analysis, group WM presented the highest peak of activity at 20:00 h and a higher activity profile during the night, moreover, the courtship behaviours “swim follow” and “swim followed”, were only recorded in group WM.

Research highlights: The study has importance for aquaculture as it demonstrated how broodstocks with wild males and cultured females had adequate egg production for a commercial operation to supply eggs and implement single sex breeding programs.