Effects of music enrichment on the welfare of small ornamental fishes

IF 3.2 2区农林科学 Q1 FISHERIES

Aquaculture Reports Pub Date : 2025-06-24 DOI:10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102950

Tianyu Niu, Bochun Xiang, Puyi Huang, Xigui Yang, Longhui Chai

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Auditory enrichment is an emerging method to enhance the welfare of ornamental fish, yet its effects remain poorly understood. This study evaluated how music style and tempo influence stress-related behaviors and cortisol secretion in two model species: zebrafish (Danio rerio) and guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Fish (n = 4 × 3 per species) were exposed for five consecutive days (4 h/day) to one of four auditory treatments—slow-tempo piano (SP, 40–65 bpm), fast-tempo piano (FP, 150–210 bpm), slow-tempo guzheng (SG), fast-tempo guzheng (FG)—or to silence (control). Positive behaviors (touching the water surface, following, wandering) and negative behaviors (freezing, aggression, sprinting) were quantified from 15-min video recordings. Whole-body cortisol concentrations were measured using ELISA. Music enrichment significantly affected both behavioral responses and cortisol levels (ANOVA, p < 0.05). In zebrafish, SP and SG promoted positive behaviors, whereas FP and FG increased negative behaviors; SG alone significantly lowered cortisol relative to the control. In guppies, FP, SG, and FG increased positive behaviors; SG reduced negative behaviors; and all music treatments significantly decreased cortisol levels. Novel tank test performance was unaffected in either species. Overall, slow-tempo guzheng music exerted the strongest anxiolytic effect, particularly in guppies. We conclude that playback of slow guzheng music offers a practical, non-invasive approach to reduce stress and improve welfare in ornamental fish housed in barren aquaria.

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音乐富集对小型观赏鱼福利的影响

听觉富集是一种新兴的提高观赏鱼福利的方法，但其效果尚不清楚。本研究评估了音乐风格和节奏如何影响两种模式物种：斑马鱼（Danio rerio）和孔雀鱼（Poecilia reticulata）压力相关行为和皮质醇分泌。鱼（n = 4 × 3 /种）连续5天（4 小时/天）暴露于四种听觉处理中的一种-慢节奏钢琴（SP, 40-65 bpm），快节奏钢琴（FP, 150-210 bpm），慢节奏古筝（SG），快节奏古筝(FG) -或沉默（对照组）。从15分钟的录像中量化积极行为（触摸水面、跟随、徘徊）和消极行为（冻结、攻击、冲刺）。采用ELISA法测定全身皮质醇浓度。音乐丰富显著影响行为反应和皮质醇水平（方差分析，p <； 0.05）。在斑马鱼中，SP和SG促进积极行为，FP和FG增加消极行为；与对照组相比，SG单独显著降低皮质醇。在孔雀鱼中，FP、SG和FG增加了积极行为；SG减少了消极行为；所有音乐疗法都能显著降低皮质醇水平。两种物种的新型水箱测试性能均未受影响。总的来说，慢节奏的古筝音乐发挥了最强的抗焦虑作用，尤其是在孔雀鱼身上。我们的结论是，慢古筝音乐的播放提供了一种实用的，非侵入性的方法来减轻压力，提高观赏鱼的福利。

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来源期刊

Aquaculture Reports Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Animal Science and Zoology

CiteScore

5.90

自引率

8.10%

发文量

469

审稿时长

77 days

期刊介绍： Aquaculture Reports will publish original research papers and reviews documenting outstanding science with a regional context and focus, answering the need for high quality information on novel species, systems and regions in emerging areas of aquaculture research and development, such as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, urban aquaculture, ornamental, unfed aquaculture, offshore aquaculture and others. Papers having industry research as priority and encompassing product development research or current industry practice are encouraged.