Does chronic exposure to moderate hypoxia affect growth, physiological and oxidative stress biomarkers in adult spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) and the hybrid A. minor × A. lupus?

Both in their natural habitat (estuaries, marine coastal environment, ocean depths and freshwater lakes) or in captivity conditions (land-based, open-sea aquaculture and aquariums), exposure to hypoxia can have direct detrimental effects on fish growth, reproduction, behaviour and health. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure of spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) (∼1.4 kg) and the interspecific hybrid (A. minor × A. lupus) (∼600 g) to moderate hypoxia levels (dissolved oxygen [DO]: 40%, 50% and 60% saturation) in comparison to a normoxia group (control 100%) over a period of 14 weeks at ∼7.5°C. The trials were conducted as a common-garden experiment (both fish groups reared together) in quadruplicate (4 tanks per DO level = 16 tanks). Fish performance (specific growth rate, feed intake [FI]) and physiological status (condition factor [K] and hepatosomatic index, haematocrit) were monitored at different intervals. The metabolic enzyme activity of citrate synthase (CS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) was measured as well as antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase and catalase. Oxidative stress indices were assessed by the quantification of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the measurement of the enzymatic activity level of aconitase. Significant reduction in growth rate occurred at DO 40%. DO was identified as a major driver of FI. Our results indicate a very strong adaptation to hypoxia as (1) exposures to DO 40% were not severe enough to affect aerobic or anaerobic metabolism capacity or to significantly induce oxidative stress and (2) metabolic organization of the muscle tissue, as expressed by LDH, CS and PK is not affected by DO levels down to 40%. However, at the lowest DO levels (40% and 50%), hybrid fish displayed significantly better growth than the spotted wolffish.