Effects of temperature on somatic growth, gastric pepsin activity, and endocrine dynamics in orangefin labeo (Labeo calbasu)

Masuda Sultana Mimi; Mazlan Abd Ghaffar; Md. Akhtar Hossain; Simon Kumar Das; Md. Nushur Islam; Mohammad Lutfar Rahman; Md. Abdul Kader; Sabuj Kanti Mazumder

doi:10.17017/j.fish.1071

Masuda Sultana Mimi Department of Genetics and Fish Breeding, Faculty of Fisheries, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
Mazlan Abd Ghaffar Higher Institution Center of Excellence (HiCOE), Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Md. Akhtar Hossain Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
Simon Kumar Das Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia; Tropical Aquafeed Innovations Lab, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
Md. Nushur Islam Department of Genetics and Fish Breeding, Faculty of Fisheries, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
Mohammad Lutfar Rahman Department of Genetics and Fish Breeding, Faculty of Fisheries, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
Md. Abdul Kader Department of Genetics and Fish Breeding, Faculty of Fisheries, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
Sabuj Kanti Mazumder Department of Genetics and Fish Breeding, Faculty of Fisheries, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17017/j.fish.1071

Keywords: growth, hormones, Labeo calbasu, pepsin, temperature

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of varying water temperatures on somatic growth, digestive enzyme activity, and endocrine responses in orangefin labeo (Labeo calbasu), a commercially important freshwater fish species. The experiment was performed in triplicate using 100 L glass aquaria at four temperature levels: 22, 26, 30, and 34°C. Over a 60-day experimental period, growth performance, pepsin activity, and hormonal dynamics were analyzed to identify optimal thermal conditions for aquaculture. Results demonstrated that 30°C was the most favorable temperature, yielding the highest specific growth rate (SGR: 0.45±0.05% day^–1, n = 10), weight gain (3.07±0.70 g, n = 10), and length increase (1.29±0.57 cm, n = 10). In comparison, 22°C exhibited the lowest growth metrics (one-way ANOVA: p < 0.05). A thermal threshold for enzymatic efficiency was shown by significantly lower pepsin activity at both lower (22°C) and higher (34°C) temperatures, whereas digestive pepsin activity peaked at 30°C (8.34±0.71 U₃₇ mg protein^–1). Endocrine analysis revealed that the hormonal dynamics also temperature dependent. Reproductive hormones-follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH: 1.45±0.10 mIU mL⁻¹), luteinizing hormone (LH: 1.61±0.04 mIU mL⁻¹), testosterone (1.50±0.01 ng dL⁻¹), and estradiol-17β (E2) reached peak at 30°C which were higher than in other treatments (p < 0.05). Overall L. calbasu exhibited optimal growth, digestive efficiency, and reproductive performance within a narrow temperature range of 26–30°C (p < 0.05). These findings underscore the species’ sensitivity to temperature variation and highlight the importance of maintaining stable thermal conditions to ensure sustainable productivity and conservation in aquaculture.

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Effects of temperature on somatic growth, gastric pepsin activity, and endocrine dynamics in orangefin labeo (Labeo calbasu)

Abstract

References

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