| Abstract: | Atlantic salmon reared in recirculating aquaculture system(RAS) may lead to inappropriately high stocking density, because ?sh live in a limited space. Finding the suitable stocking density of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS is very important for RAS industry. In this paper, the influence of stocking density on growth and some stress related physiological factors were investigated to evaluate the ef fects of stocking density. The ?sh were reared for 220 days at ?ve densities(A: 24 kg/m^3; B: 21 kg/m^3; C: 15 kg/m^3; D: 9 kg/m^3 and E: 6 kg/m^3). The results show that 30 kg/m^3 might be the maximum density which RAS can af ford in China. The stocking densities under 30 kg/m^3 have no ef fect on mortality of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS. However, the speci?c growth rate(SGR), ?nal weight and weight gain in the high density group were signi?cantly lower than the lower density groups and middle density groups. Moreover, feed conversion rate(FCR) had a negative correlation with density. Plasma hormone T_3 and GH showed signi?cant decrease with the increase of the stocking density of the experiment. Furthermore, thyroid hormone(T 3), GH(growth hormone) activities were decreased with stocking density increase. However, plasma cortisol, GOT(glutamic oxalacetic transaminase) and GPT(glutamic pyruvic transaminase) activities were increase with stocking density increase. And the stocking density has no ef fects on plasma lysozyme of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS. These investigations would also help devise effcient ways to rear adult Atlantic salmon in China and may, in a way, help spread salmon mariculture in China. |
