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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148257
Title: COMPARISON OF THE STRESS RESPONSE TO SEINING BETWEEN SUNSHINE AND PALMETTO HYBRID STRIPED BASS

Author
item Davis Jr, Kenneth
item Freeman, Donald
item Snyder, Gregory

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/2003
Publication Date: 3/10/2004
Citation: Davis Jr, K.B., Freeman, D.W., Snyder, S.G. 2004. Comparison of the stress response to seining between sunshine and palmetto hybrid striped bass. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 35:109-112.

Interpretive Summary: Hybrid striped bass can be produced between striped bass and white bass. Hybrids produced by female striped bass are called palmetto bass and those produced from female white bass are called sunshine bass. This study was done to compare the stress response of the two types of hybrids due to seining during different seasons. Fish were grown in 0.1 ha ponds and were seined to sample the growth of the fish in April, October and December. Blood samples were taken from fish immediately after seining and plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose and chloride were determined to evaluate the stress response. Plasma cortisol and glucose were increased after seining in April and October and the response was much higher in April than in October. Glucose was not changed in December in either hybrid, but cortisol increased significantly higher in sunshine bass when compared to palmetto bass. Plasma chloride was not affected in any of the samples. These differences were thought to be due to the temperature of the water and the feeding history. In general the two types of hybrids were similar in their response to seining.

Technical Abstract: Hybrid striped bass were originally produced by crossing female striped bass (Morone saxatillis) with male white bass (M. chrysops) and were referred to as the original cross to distinguish them from hybrids produced by crossing female white bass with male striped bass and called the reciprocal cross. More recent terminology has been developed to call the prior (original cross) the palmetto bass and the latter (reciprocal cross) the sunshine bass. Both types of hybrids have been produced for stocking and aquaculture purposes. The sunshine bass has become more popular because female striped bass are very large, hard to handle, and often do not survive stripping of the eggs. This study compared the physiological stress response of sunshine and palmetto hybrid striped bass due to seining from ponds in spring, and early and late autumn. Plasma samples were taken from fish immediately after seining from 0.1 ha ponds. Stress due to seining was determined by plasma cortisol, glucose and chloride concentrations. Plasma cortisol and glucose concentrations were increased by seining and chloride concentrations were not changed. Both hybrids were similar in the concentrations of the physiological stress indicators except sunshine bass had significantly higher cortisol concentrations in the December sample. A distinct seasonal difference in response was apparent with higher changes of the stress indicators in April than in October and a reduced response in December. The seasonal differences in the stress response were thought to be due to temperature and feeding history.