Mature and Bi-Sexual Phase Gonad Occurrence in Cultured Red Spotted Grouper, Epinephelus akaara

INTRODUCTION

Groupers (Epinephelidae, Pisces: Perciformes) are a tropical and subtropical marine fish comprised of 16 genera and 163 species (Craig et al., 2011), and are commercially valuable in Asian live fish markets (FAO, 2017; Rimmer & Glamuzina, 2019). The sexual characteristics of Epinephelidae are complex and diverse and classified as gonochorism, protogynous hermaphroditism, and bi-directional sex change (Sadovy de Mitcheson & Liu, 2008; Liu et al., 2016).

The red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara inhabits Korea, southern China, Taiwan, and Japan (Lee et al., 2020). Originally reported as protogynous hermaphrodites (Tseng & Ho, 1988; Zhang et al., 1988), studies now show they are bidirectional sex changers in laboratory conditions (Okumura, 2001; Chan & Sadovy, 2002; Liu & Sadovy, 2004 a,b; Liu et al., 2016), and sexual-pattern plasticity between wild and reared fish has been proposed (Liu et al., 2016).

Several studies have been conducted to investigate red spotted grouper reproduction in laboratory conditions for commercial seed production (Li et al., 2005, 2006; Lee et al., 2014; Oh et al., 2018; Jeon et al., 2020; Lee et al., 2020), and there is increasing interest from Korean fish farms for commercial cultivation. In this study, we report the occurrence of mature and bi-sexual phase gonads in red spotted groupers reared for less than a year.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

When juveniles were placed in the indoor tank, the mean TL and BW were 5.72±0.58 cm and 4.53±1.34 g, respectively (Table 1; Fig. 1). In May, at the end of the indoor tank culture period, the mean TL increased by 11.72±1.01 cm, and the mean BW increased by 29.53±8.22 g. The water temperature during this period ranged from 19.86–24.65±0.59°C. In September, at the end of the net cage period, the mean TL increased by 16.63±1.25 cm, and the mean BW increased by 81.72±21.60 g. The water temperature during this period ranged from 21.86–27.65±0.77°C.

Fig. 1. Changes in water temperature, total length and body weight of red spotted grouper during rearing period. Data were expressed as mean±SE (n=10).

Download Original Figure

E. akaara juvenile growth is slower than other Korean-cultured grouper species (e.g., Epinephelus bruneus and Hyporthodus septemfasciatus) (Lee & Hur, 1998; Song et al., 2008). The low growth rates have prompted most red spotted grouper studies to focus on inducing growth, puberty, maturation, and sex inversion via changes in the water temperature, varied photoperiods, and exogenous hormone treatments (Li et al., 2005; Li et al., 2006; Lee et al., 2014; Cho et al., 2015; Lee & Baek, 2018; Oh et al., 2018; Lee et al., 2020). These studies showed that if red spotted grouper juveniles (110 days after hatching) were reared for eight months in a natural photoperiod and warm water, then the GSI increased as the water temperature increased (Oh et al., 2018). A combination of warm water and longer daylight increased the GSI and spawning in broodstock (Lee et al., 2020).

GSI, HSI were calculated and gonadal histological observations were conducted in July, August, and September (there were few mature fish with swollen abdomens in July) (Fig. 2). The GSI value peaked in July (3.39±2.54) and rapidly decreased in August (0.44±0.21); the lowest value (0.42±0.30) was calculated in September. The HSI value followed the same pattern ( July peak: 2.37±0.96; August decrease: 1.23±0.27, September low: 0.83±0.87). The GSI values of wild female red spotted groupers ranged from 0.22–1.18 in immature fish and 0.75–6.66 in mature fish (Yamamoto & Kobayashi, 2017), indicating that commercially reared red spotted grouper can reach maturity (based on the GSI value) in less than a year.

Fig. 2. External morphology of mature red spotted grouper reared less than 1 year (collecting in July, 2019). (A) An immature fish. (B) A mature fish, which has swollen abdomen and mature ovary were observed. Dotted circles indicate gonad.

Download Original Figure

In July 2019, most specimens (n=10) were in the early ovarian developmental stage, with peri-nucleolus stage oocytes (PNS, Fig. 3A, n=5) and oil droplet stage oocytes (Fig. 3B, n=1) in the lumen. We also observed fully vitellogenic oocytes (Fig. 3C, n=2) and bi-sexual phase gonads with scattered spermatocytes (SC) and spermatids (St; Fig. 3D, n=2). In August 2019, all fish (n=10) had immature ovaries with PNS oocytes (Fig. 3E, n=9), except one specimen with a completed testicular gonad, SC, and St (Fig. 3F, n=1). In September, all fish (n=10) had immature ovaries with PNS oocytes (Fig. 3G, n=9), except one specimen with abundant oogonia (Og), a few PNS oocytes, and scattered SC and St (Fig. 3H, n=1).

Fig. 3. Histological observation of red spotted grouper gonad collected from July to September, 2019. (A) Immature ovary, which has peri-nucleolus stage (Pns) oocytes (July, 2019). (B) Early vitellogenic ovary, which has several oil droplet stage (Ods) oocytes and Pns oocytes (July, 2019). (C) Mature ovary, which has fully vitellogenic stage (Vs) oocytes (July, 2019). (D) Bisexual phase gonad, which has spermatocytes (Sc), spermatids (St) and scattered Pns (July, 2019). (E) Immature ovary with Pns oocytes (August, 2019). (F) Mature testis, which has Sc and St in the lumen (August, 2019). (G) Immature ovary with Pns oocytes (September, 2019). (H) Bisexual phase gonad, which has oogonia (Og), Sc, St and scattered Pns (September, 2019). Scale bars are 100 μm in A, B, C, E, G and 50 μm in D, F, H.

Download Original Figure

Puberty is the process of physical changes by which the immature body prepares for sexual reproduction (Patiño & Sullivan, 2002; Carillo et al., 2009). This process is closely associated with the endocrine system (brain-pituitary-gonad axis), the environment, and individual factors, such as age and somatic growth (Okuzawa, 2002; Taranger et al., 2010). We could not visually identify the puberty stage because of a low occurrence of mature ovaries and testes (20% and 10%, respectively), and additional information for puberty stage classification was lacking. The reason for the low occurrence of mature gonads is unclear. Increased water temperature during the culture period (e.g., from 19.86°C to 27.65°C) may induce puberty, as reported by Oh et al. (2018) and Lee et al. (2020). Alternatively, several studies have shown that the red spotted grouper is a bi-directional sex changer, and observations of reverse sex change have been reported (although this species was a protogynous hermaphrodite) (Tanaka et al., 1990; Okumura, 2001; Liu et al., 2016). Liu et al. (2016) reported that the minimum maturation age for both sexes was 41 weeks (about 10 months), and the minimum maturation TL was 14.3 cm in females and 13.7 cm in males; our results were similar. We also observed bi-sexual phase gonads in July and September, but with different morphologies. In July, a few specimens were transitioning from female to male, with PNS oocytes, scattered SC and St, and no Og in the gonads. However, in September, a few specimens may have been transitioning from male to female based on the observation of SC and St and proliferation of Og in the gonads.

Aquaculture requires environmental control, including the artificial induction of maturation and spawning and sufficient broodstock for seed production. Reaching puberty (or maturation) at a younger age may inhibit growth and lead to low productivity in commercial cultures (Carrillo et al., 2009). Future studies should investigate the environmental conditions that inhibit puberty and how these factors affect red spotted grouper growth.