• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2015

The hatchability of the artificially induced hybrid between two groupers (family Serranidae), red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) and brown-marbled grouper (E. fuscoguttatus) that lives in different habit environment was investigated. There was no difference in the required time of each developmental stages after fertilization between hybrid (red spotted grouper ♀ ${\times}$ brown-marbled grouper ♂) and purebred (red spotted grouper ♀${\times}$♂) and required 25.6 hours to hatch at incubated in $25^{\circ}C$, but a noticeable unequal cleavage in cell size was observed in hybrid eggs unlikely to purebred. The hatching rate of fertilized eggs of hybrid was generally low across the four incubate temperatures (22, 25, 28, $31^{\circ}C$) with highest 9.8% in $25^{\circ}C$. This study demonstrated the possibility of artificial hybridization between two groupers, red spotted grouper and brown-marbled grouper, thus preparing the groundwork on developmental characteristics, deformities of hatched larvae and early survival ability for further studies on aquaculture.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.346-355
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• 2024

Groupers are economically important species in the fishery and aquaculture industries in Asian countries. Various species of grouper, including hybrids, have been brought to market even without precise species identification. In this study, we analyzed the structure and expression profile of the gene encoding prolactin (PRL) in the red-spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara based on genomic DNA and cDNA templates. The results showed that the PRL gene consists of five exons encoding an open reading frame of 212 amino acids, including a putative signal peptide of 24 amino acids and a mature structural protein of 188 amino acids. It showed amino acid identities of 99% with Epinephelus coioides, 83% with Amphiprion melanopus, 82% with Acanthopagrus schlegelii, 75% with Oreochromis niloticus, 70% with Coregonus autumnalis, and 67% with Oncorhynchus mykiss, indicating its closer similarity to E. coioides and other groupers but marked distinction from non-teleost PRLs. PRL mRNA expression was detected mostly in the brain, including the pituitary gland, with little expression in other tissues. While the 5-exon structure of the PRL gene of red-spotted grouper and the exon sizes were conserved, the sizes of the introns, particularly the first intron, were markedly different among the grouper species. To examine whether these differences can be used to distinguish groupers of similar phenotypes, exon-primed intron-crossing analysis was carried out for various commercially important grouper species. The results showed clear differences in size of the amplified fragment encompassing the first intron of the PRL gene, indicating that this method could be used to develop species-specific markers capable of discriminating between grouper species and their hybrids at the molecular level.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.506-514
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• 2020

We investigated seed management and feeding regime of larval red spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara using live food organisms. Fertilized eggs were produced in March 2020 by manipulating photoperiod and water temperature. Broodstock (F0) produced approximately 0.30×10⁶ eggs, of which 0.25×10⁶ were fertilized; first-generation broodstock (F1) produced 2.00×10⁶ eggs, of which 1.90×10⁶ were fertilized. Larvae were reared at temperatures of 21.0-24.5℃. The feeding regime consisted of rotifers Artemia, and commercial pellet feed. From 5-8 days after hatching (dah), rotifers collected from high-density incubation tanks were fed to grouper larvae at a density of 10-20 individuals/mL. From 9-30 dah, rotifers collected from low-density incubation tanks were fed to larvae at a density of 10-20 individuals/mL. Newly hatched Artemia were provided from 20-24 dah and enriched Artemia from 25-50 dah. Commercial pellet feed was given starting at 13 dah. The average mouth size in hatchlings was 263.4±3.7 ㎛ at 5 dah, 406.7±21.0 ㎛ at 11 dah, and 856.9±136.6 ㎛ at 21 dah. At 1 dah, larvae had a mean total length of 1.95±0.06 mm. At 66 dah, the mean TL was 4.0 cm. The final number of surviving red spotted grouper larvae was 218,380 fishes.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2022

This study aims to investigate egg quality changes and free amino acid composition. Factors that can affect egg quality about farming conditions were investigated through biochemical analysis of egg by red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara. As a result, the buoyant, fertilization embryonic survival and hatching rate were better when reared in sea cage than in tank. And the content of free amino acid in fertilized eggs reared in sea cage was higher then in tank. In conclusion, fertilized eggs with good egg quality can be produced when farming sea cage, and contained more free amino acid.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.479-485
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• 2020

We evaluated the hatchability of fertilized eggs from six hybrid combinations of highly valued grouper species inhabiting temperate and warm waters, with the goal of establishing a novel hybrid with enhanced growth and viability during the culturing period in the temperate waters of Korea. Hybrid combinations with red-spotted grouper females exhibited high hatchability with high a fertilization and hatching rate of fertilized eggs and a low deformity rate of hatched larvae. Conversely, hybrid combinations with kelp grouper females had very low hatching rates and very high deformity rates; commercial production of seed from such crosses would be difficult without improving hatchability. The hatchabilities of convict grouper ♀×giant grouper ♂ and kelp grouper ♀×red-spotted grouper ♂ were lower than those of maternal purebreds, but these two hybrid combinations were expected to produce potentially large quantities of hatched larvae. In the above evaluation, promising hybrid combinations were identified for commercial production of seed. For these hybrids to contribute to the development of Korea's mariculture industry, mass production of fertilized eggs and seeds is necessary, along with the development of advanced rearing techniques, such as the identification of a suitable rearing temperature.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2022

The present study measured the growth performance of juvenile hybrid of red-spotted grouper ♀ × giant grouper ♂ (RGGG) across four water temperatures (19, 23, 27, and 31℃) and compared it to those of maternal purebreds (red-spotted grouper ♀ × ♂, RG) for eight weeks. The specific growth rate (SGR) and weight gain (WG) of RGGG increased as temperature increased, with greater SGR and WG at higher temperatures (27 and 31℃) than RG. The condition factor of RGGG was higher than that of RG and there were no differences between temperature groups within breeding lines. Food consumption increased at higher temperatures for both RGGG and RG, and was the highest in the 31℃ group. Similar to the SGR and WG, the food conversion rate (FCR) in RGGG decreased with increasing water temperature, with the significantly lowest value at 31℃; in RG, however, FCR progressively decreased in the 27℃ group, then increased in the 31℃ group. Furthermore, the FCR of the 31℃ group of RGGG, which had the lowest value among the RGGG groups, was lower than that of the 27℃ group of RG, which had the lowest RG value. In the analysis of nonlinear regression curves within the range of experimental temperature, the optimum temperature for SGR and FCR in RGGG was 31℃, unlike in RG. In conclusion, the growth performance of juvenile RGGG seems to have largely improved from the influence of paternal traits, hybrid with giant grouper, and it is presumed to be more profitable for commercial production in tropics/subtropics.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.209-215
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• 2015

Red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara is a popular aquaculture species in many Asian countries. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite that first differentiates into female and changes to male later. Due to this reproductive characteristic, stable supply of male and female gametes is a key to the success of seed production in this species. Thus, understanding early gonadal differentiation is required to develop effective sex control techniques. Red spotted grouper were reared in indoor tanks and sampled every 5 days from 40 days post-hatch (DPH) to 130 DPH. Changes of gonadal tissues were examined and analyzed by means of histology. A pair of gonadal primordium has already existed underneath the kidney in the posterior part of the body cavity at 38 DPH when this study began. Gonadal primordia of 38, 40 DPH consisted of germ cells surrounded by a few somatic cells. The blood vessel was observed in the gonadal primordium at 45 DPH. The number of somatic cells and size of gonadal primordium increased age-dependently up to 60 DPH. Formation of ovarian cavity was obvious by two protuberant aggregations of somatic cells at 65 DPH. Completed ovarian cavity and oogonia were first observed in the gonad of one fish sample at 105 DPH. Based on these histological observations, it can be suggested that induction of primary male differentiation could be more successfully applied at around 60 DPH in this species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.367-377
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• 2016

Red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara, is a popular aquaculture species and a protogynous hermaphrodite. Induction of artificial sex change at the time of primary sex differentiation is of interest but has not been successful due to the lack of necessary basic information. To find out the potential neuroendocrine influence on the primary sex differentiation, the expression of key genes in the brain was investigated during the formation of ovarian cavity. Expression of cyp19a1b, esr1, gnrhr1, fsh, lh and cga in the brain was positively associated with the formation of ovarian cavity, showing gradual increase as the formation proceeds. However, the expression of gnrh1 was suppressed during the early part of the ovarian cavity formation, signifying potential hypothalamic influence on the primary sex differentiation in this species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2019

Higher thermal exposure can influence the blood cell morphology and count. Hence, based on the previous results (Rahman et al., 2019), the present study evaluated the morphometric indices of erythrocytes and their nucleus under different water temperatures (25℃, 28℃, 31℃, and 34℃) to investigate their use as an indicator of thermal stress in red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara. 180 healthy specimens of E. akaara were exposed to four temperature conditions (25℃ as control, 28℃, 31℃, and 34℃) for 42 days, following 2 weeks of acclimation at 25℃. Erythrocyte major axis (EL), erythrocyte minor axis (EW), nucleus major axis (NL), and nucleus minor axis (NW) were examined from the blood smears on each sampling day (i.e., 2, 7, and 42 days of thermal exposure). EL and NL were significantly decreased, whereas EW and NW were increased at higher water temperature (31℃ and 34℃). The major-minor axis proportions of erythrocytes and their nucleus (EL/EW; NL/NW) were decreased with increasing water temperature (31℃ and 34℃). The strong relationships were observed among the morphometric indices of erythrocytes and their nucleus, especially in EL vs. NL and EW vs. NW. This study reveals that elevated water temperature (31℃ and 34℃) can influence the major and minor axis morphometry of erythrocytes and their nucleus in red spotted grouper. These indices may be used as stress indicators to monitor the health status of E. akaara and probably for other fish species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2019

To produce healthy and stable seed production, we need to obtain information and understand vision that affects behavior of red spotted grouper. We examined their expression and retinal development during the juvenile development. Short-wavelength sensitive opsin (SWS2), a cone photoreceptor, began to be expressed from lens and ear vesicle formation stage and its expression increased until 10 days after hatching (dah). In case of middle-wavelength sensitive opsin (MWS), its expression was detected at 3 dah and reached the highest level at 21 dah. The expression of long-wavelength sensitive opsin (LWS) was first observed from 3 dah and their expression decreased thereafter. Rhodopsin, a rod photoreceptor, was found to be expressed from 2 dah and its expression reached the highest level at 50 dah. The outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer began to differentiate at 2 dah, while choroid first appeared at 4 dah so that the eyes became black. These results indicate that the development of retina mostly completes around 4 dah. It seems that the development of the retina and the expression of the opsin genes are closely related to the behavior such as hunting prey, considering that the timing of the completion of the development of the retina, the timing of gene expression, and the timing of completion of yolk absorption are similar.