Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa
This study examines the impact of two types of environmental enrichment on the growth of the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a clonal fish species. We investigated the effects of two welfare-related enrichment factors: physical enrichment (presence of a halfpipe PVC and gravel substrate, E) and soc...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/18734.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846109149249667072 |
|---|---|
| author | Debbie Cunningham Tyler Reich Theresa E. Rizzi Chance Powell Ingo Schlupp |
| author_facet | Debbie Cunningham Tyler Reich Theresa E. Rizzi Chance Powell Ingo Schlupp |
| author_sort | Debbie Cunningham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the impact of two types of environmental enrichment on the growth of the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a clonal fish species. We investigated the effects of two welfare-related enrichment factors: physical enrichment (presence of a halfpipe PVC and gravel substrate, E) and social enrichment (presence of visible neighbor fish, N). Fish were divided into four treatment groups: (1) both physical and social enrichment (EN), (2) no physical enrichment but social enrichment (nEN), (3) physical enrichment without social enrichment (EnN,), and (4) no enrichment (nEnN). Results showed that individuals, which received both types of enrichment, exhibited faster growth rates and lower early life mortality compared to the other groups, indicating improved health and welfare. However, this initial advantage did not persist into adulthood, suggesting that the benefits of enrichment may be stage specific. These findings highlight the importance of environmental factors in promoting welfare in a particular species, especially during early developmental stages. This study may have implications for early life-stage fish research indicating that some environmental factors may play a role in enhancing growth, reproductive competence, and reduced mortality. Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ef80534b7554716a4b8d0c71735eac9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ef80534b7554716a4b8d0c71735eac92024-12-25T15:05:36ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592024-12-0112e1873410.7717/peerj.18734Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosaDebbie Cunningham0Tyler Reich1Theresa E. Rizzi2Chance Powell3Ingo Schlupp4Oklahoma State University, Office of the Vice President for Research, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United StatesSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United StatesSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United StatesSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United StatesThis study examines the impact of two types of environmental enrichment on the growth of the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a clonal fish species. We investigated the effects of two welfare-related enrichment factors: physical enrichment (presence of a halfpipe PVC and gravel substrate, E) and social enrichment (presence of visible neighbor fish, N). Fish were divided into four treatment groups: (1) both physical and social enrichment (EN), (2) no physical enrichment but social enrichment (nEN), (3) physical enrichment without social enrichment (EnN,), and (4) no enrichment (nEnN). Results showed that individuals, which received both types of enrichment, exhibited faster growth rates and lower early life mortality compared to the other groups, indicating improved health and welfare. However, this initial advantage did not persist into adulthood, suggesting that the benefits of enrichment may be stage specific. These findings highlight the importance of environmental factors in promoting welfare in a particular species, especially during early developmental stages. This study may have implications for early life-stage fish research indicating that some environmental factors may play a role in enhancing growth, reproductive competence, and reduced mortality. Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa.https://peerj.com/articles/18734.pdfWelfareSocial and physical enrichmentLaboratory fishPoeciliid |
| spellingShingle | Debbie Cunningham Tyler Reich Theresa E. Rizzi Chance Powell Ingo Schlupp Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa PeerJ Welfare Social and physical enrichment Laboratory fish Poeciliid |
| title | Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa |
| title_full | Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa |
| title_fullStr | Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa |
| title_short | Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa |
| title_sort | enrichment effects on growth health and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual amazon molly poecilia formosa |
| topic | Welfare Social and physical enrichment Laboratory fish Poeciliid |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/18734.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT debbiecunningham enrichmenteffectsongrowthhealthandreproductioninasinglecloneoftheasexualamazonmollypoeciliaformosa AT tylerreich enrichmenteffectsongrowthhealthandreproductioninasinglecloneoftheasexualamazonmollypoeciliaformosa AT theresaerizzi enrichmenteffectsongrowthhealthandreproductioninasinglecloneoftheasexualamazonmollypoeciliaformosa AT chancepowell enrichmenteffectsongrowthhealthandreproductioninasinglecloneoftheasexualamazonmollypoeciliaformosa AT ingoschlupp enrichmenteffectsongrowthhealthandreproductioninasinglecloneoftheasexualamazonmollypoeciliaformosa |