Manipulation of ovulation time in the yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginea Storer using photothermal cues and gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) administration

The yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), once considered a prime candidate for aquaculture, were photothermally manipulated in an attempt to advance the ovulation time of females of this species. The success of these techniques would be highly beneficial to the broodstock management of yellowtail flounder.; Two groups of female yellowtail flounder were held under compressed photothermal environmental laboratory conditions as an attempt to advance ovulation and spawning time. One group was administered a controlled release gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) in February, the other group was administered a sham pellet in an identical manner. A third group of fish was held under ambient photoperiod and temperature conditions. The experiment ran for two years using a different group of animals for each year. In year two, a sub-group (five females) of the ambient control fish was given a GnRH-a pellet in February. In year one a total of 6 females were used in each of the photothermally advanced group. In year two this number was increased to twelve in both photothermally treated groups. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...