title: Effects of environmental enrichment on growth, aggressive behaviour and brain monoamines of gilthead seabream Sparus aurata reared under different social conditions.
abstract: The presence of blue or red-brown substrate on the tank bottom has been previously reported as an efficient means of environmental enrichment for gilthead seabream. The present study aimed to investigate whether this enrichment is still beneficial when gilthead seabream is reared under different social conditions (i.e. a lower 4.9 kg m(-3) and a higher 9.7 kg m(-3) density). Water exchange was adjusted according to fish biomass to exclude density effects on water quality. In the enriched tanks single-colour glass gravel was used as substrate (blue and red-brown substrate, or BS and RBS respectively), while control tanks had no gravel. Growth, aggressive behaviour and size distribution results indicated that the lower density created a less favourable social environment. In both densities studied, BS enhanced growth, suppressed aggression and reduced brain serotonergic activity. In the condition of intense social interactions (i.e. the lower density) BS also reduced brain dopaminergic activity. These results along with the negative correlations observed between brain monoamines and fish body mass, indicated that substrate and density effects are socially-induced. However, there may be several biotic and/or abiotic factors interfering with substrate effects that should be investigated before the practical use of a substrate in land-based intensive aquaculture.
authors: Department of Applied Hydrobiology, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece.
authors: Alkisti
authors: A
authors: Batzina
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 115 27 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Dalla
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 115 27 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
authors: Zeta
authors: Z
authors: Papadopoulou-Daifoti
authors: Department of Applied Hydrobiology, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: nafsika@aua.gr.
authors: Nafsika
authors: N
authors: Karakatsouli
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003441:Crowding / Q000523:psychology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004777:Environment; D005398:Fisheries; D006799:Housing, Animal; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Aggressive behaviour; Brain monoamines; Density; Dopamine; Growth; Serotonin; Sparus aurata; Substrate