Multiple exposure to thunderstorm-sound in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): physiological response and stress recovery


Kuşku H., Yiğit M., Yılmaz S., Yiğit Ü., Ergün S.

ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, vol.1, no.1, pp.1-12, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 1 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.2478/aoas-2022-0075
  • Journal Name: ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-12
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The present study investigated the impacts of multiple thunderstorm-sound exposures on growth and respiratory parameters in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in order to evaluate the acoustic stress response. Thunderstorm-sound exposure for 3 hours triggered respiration speed with an alarm reflex and rapid elevation of opercula beat rate (OBR) and pectoral wing rate (PWR), which increased two-fold over the control with no sound treatment, and peaked (OBR, 71.33±5.86 beat/min; PWR, 75.00±3.61 beat/min) in 10 hours after initiation of sound. Thereafter, respiration rates declined over the following days and returned to near-initial levels (45.33±4.04 beat/min OBR and 43.00±1.00 beat/min PWR) by day-3, an indication that fish recovered from thunderstorm-sound stress after 3 days of exposure. However, the same reaction course was observed each time of multiple sound exposures, repeated 20 times in a row with 4 days intervals, underlining that fish could not attune to repeated thunderstorm-sound. Reduced voluntary feed intake as a result of anxiety and appetite loss was recorded in fish exposed to multiple thunderstorm-sound, resulting in 50 % less growth compared to those without sound treatment by the end of the 80 days experimentation. Therefore, it is advisable to monitor fish behavior during the 3 days stress- period after a thunderstorm event in order to prevent waste from excess feeding, that in turns may contribute environment-friendly aquaculture for the future and sustainability of the oceans.