Response of juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) to water temperature: Growth, antioxidant capacity, and metabolism
摘要
Temperature directly modulates key biological processes in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii), including growth, development, survival, and reproductive success. However, the long-term effects of temperature stress on their growth, physiology, and hepatic metabolic adaptations remain poorly understood. In this study, the growth performance, physiological responses, and hepatic metabolite profiles of juvenile S. schlegelii reared at 16 °C (T16 group), 20 °C (T20 group), and 24 °C (T24 group) for 28 days were evaluated to clarify the temperature-mediated regulatory mechanisms of growth. The results revealed that growth was highest in the T20 group within the tested temperature range, with significantly greater final body length, weight, specific growth rate, and feed conversion efficiency in the T20 group than in the T16 and T24 groups (P < 0.05). At 24 °C, hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly elevated (P < 0.05), indicating increased antioxidant defence. Conversely, hepatic triglyceride levels were significantly reduced at 16 °C (P < 0.05), suggesting that lipid mobilization occurred for cold adaptation. The temperature regimes altered the hepatic metabolite profiles, with 24, 75, and 45 differentially abundant metabolites identified in the T20 vs. T24, T20 vs. T16, and T16 vs. T24 comparisons, respectively. The key pathways affected included bile secretion, cholesterol metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism. These findings reveal critical metabolic markers and pathways underlying temperature-induced growth regulation in juvenile S. schlegelii, providing insights for optimizing aquaculture practices.