• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.245-257
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• 2020

Behavioral response to a diel photoperiodicity (500 lx for 16 h, 5 lx for 4 h and < 0.5 lx for 4 h) and phototactic characteristics in dark conditions were examined with Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (Chondrostei, Actinopterygii) prelarvae. Siberian sturgeon prelarvae represented both qualitative and quantitative changes in their behavioral patterns according to different light intensities in a diel photoperiodicity. Under daylight conditions (500 lx), prelarvae displayed saltatory changes of behavioral features with ages (Day 0-Day 9) in a general order of swimming-up/drifting, swimming in the upper water column, benthic swimming with rheotaxis, schooling and post-schooling behavior. Compared to daylight conditions, prelarvae tended to show more benthic performances and quantitative reductions of schooling and post-schooling behaviors under dimlight conditions (5 lx). Under dark conditions (< 0.5 lx), prelarvae exhibited a fairly uniform behavioral pattern characterized by the benthic swimming across the bottom of the tank. From phototaxis tests under dark conditions, navigational responses of prelarvae to a spotlight illumination were quantitatively changed as their ages increased. The phototactic responses reached the peak on Day 2, continued until Day 4, and then gradually decreased until Day 8. A partial recovery of positive phototaxis was observed on Day 9. Data from this study suggest that the diel light cycle as well as the light intensity of each interval in the cycle should be considered as important components of a practical guide for evaluating fitness and developmental states of artificially propagated Siberian sturgeon prelarvae.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.4.1-4.10
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• 2019

Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) is commercially important in Korea because its caviar is highly prized. Although the early ontogeny of the species has been described, behavioral modifications in response to various light intensities or diel photoperiodicity patterns have not been studied extensively. The objective of the present study was to examine the behavioral characteristics of hatchery-produced A. gueldenstaedtii prelarvae over a diel photoperiodic cycle. During a diel light cycle comprising 16 h of daylight (450 lx), 4 h of dim light (10 lx), and 4 h of darkness (< 1 lx), newly hatched A. gueldenstaedtii prelarvae exhibited negative phototaxis in daylight (day 0-day 2), and this early behavior was not significantly affected by changes of light intensities. Rheotactic and non-rheotactic aggregation into schools was typical between days 3 and 6. Under the diel light cycle conditions described, rheotaxis was not influenced by environmental light intensity as much as non-rheotactic schooling behavior. Post-schooling behavior, which progressed from day 7 to day 8, did not change significantly during the diel light cycle. The data from the present study could be of practical value in developing a visual guide for assessing the fitness and quality of Russian sturgeon prelarvae under diel light cycle conditions in hatcheries.