Physiological performance of aquatic animals under farming-induced stress conditions

Aquaculture is one of the most emerging sectors, growing like industries that mitigates the dramatic increase in aquatic product demand. Accordingly, new technologies that aim to increase sustainable aquaculture production against climatic changes and pollution have been introduced. Examples of these include biofloc technologies, recirculatory aquaculture systems, in pond race systems, integrated farming, smart aquaculture, aquaponics, nano-feed technology, nutrigenomics application, compensatory growth technology, etc.

Most of the aquaculture systems, however, are applied at high or super-high stocking densities and eventually increase biotic and abiotic stressors occurrence on cultured aquatic organisms. These stressors could include high stocking density, high ammonia levels, low dissolved oxygen, high microbial load, and species-specific interaction among others. In return, these rearing conditions then risk to induce several physiological responses in aquatic animals, such as dysregulated hemostasis, oxidative stress, suppression of immune systems, low growth performance, high feed conversion ratio, anemia, disease susceptibility, and finally could induce high mortality rate. Unfortunately, to date, the physiological responses of farmed aquatic animals to the application of different rearing technologies and stressors are still not completely understood.

Therefore, with this Research Topic, we aim to shed light on the effects of advanced farming techniques on the physiological performance of aquatic organisms. This assessment is of prime importance not only to validate the suitability of these modern systems but also to provide sustainable environmental conditions that can ultimately optimize fish health and performance.

In order to get a comprehensive overview of this subject are, highly advanced research (including Original Research, Perspectives, Mini Reviews, Commentaries and Opinion papers) on the following fields are particularly welcomed, while other topics will also be considered:

1. Fish physiological performance and welfare related to farming systems.
2. Stocking density and physiological responses.
3. Hypoxia and hyperoxia stress responses.
4. Ammonia toxicity and tolerance in farmed fish species.
5. Immune status (innate and specific) of aquatic animals in different rearing systems.
6. Intra and inter species-specific stress responses.
7. The physiological responses of genetically farmed fish.
8. Fish physiological responses to multi-stressors.
9. The exposure of farmed fish to different water contaminations.

Keywords: Advanced Aquaculture techniques, Physiological response, Cellular stress, Immunological status, Gene expression, oxidative stress, stocking density, hypoxia, farmed fish species

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