As we know, fishing is focused on middle-sized and large individuals through lower limit and fishing equipment restrictions, which often favours a fast life-cycle in target species.
As we know, fishing is focused on middle-sized and large individuals through lower limit and fishing equipment restrictions, which often favours a fast life-cycle in target species. JYU researchers found that zebra fish with different life-history traits react differently to chronic exposure to manganese sulphate (MnSO4).
“In our research,” explains Academy Research Fellow Silva Uusi-Heikkilä from the University of Jyväskylä, “we concentrated on two life-history types: fast-growing fish characterised by rapid juvenile growth, early maturation, and smaller size, versus slowly growing fish characterised by slower juvenile growth, later maturation and greater size.”
The findings show that MnSO4 exposure slows down the growth of zebra fish and lowers their condition factor, which is an indicator of well-being. However, the scope of impacts varies by life-history types. Fish with the fast life-history strategy were more sensitive to MnSO4, as they grew more slowly when exposed to high concentrations. In addition, they had a lower condition factor, and they ate less than their conspecifics with a slow life-history strategy.
Read More: University of Jyvaskyla
Photo Credit: Johanna Hippeläinen
