Swim bladder inflation failure in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) larvae in pond culture

摘要

Environmental conditions have a major impact on swim bladder inflation (SBI) in intensively cultured pikeperch Sander lucioperca, but there is currently no evidence of SBI inflation failure under natural conditions. The goals of this study were to quantify SBI failure in pond-cultured pikeperch larvae and to investigate whether pond conditions and characteristics including surface area, average depth, submerged and littoral vegetation, or bottom substrate play a significant role in its occurrence. Pikeperch larvae (n=5700) in 19 ponds were examined for SBI at 16days post-hatching. The swim bladder (SB) failed to inflate in 243 (4.2%) of the larvae with incidence of non-inflation ranging from 0 to 17.6% in individual ponds. No significant differences were found in total length (P>0.27) or weight (P>0.14) of larvae with and without inflated SB. The proportion of larvae with successfully inflated SB was significantly influenced by the presence of littoral vegetation and by interaction of presence of littoral vegetation with pond surface area and with pond average depth. Fish in ponds lacking littoral vegetation with water depth 0.9m showed higher rates of SB inflation failure.