A major challenge of any finfish culture program, such as for stock enhancement, is providing the appropriate diets at the appropriate times during development. Weaning onto formulated diets is a stressful time for cultured fish, and this is especially true for flatfish that are concurrently undergoing dramatic morphological and physiological transformations associated with metamorphosis. Weaning occurs twice for stock enhancement fish; the second time as they transition from formulated hatchery feed back onto live diets once released. To successfully wean fish for stock enhancement during these sensitive early life stages, we need to fully understand the ontogenetic development of the digestive system, identify diets that will optimize weaning success in the laboratory and in the wild, and compare the feeding ecology and digestive development of captively reared and wild fish. The objective of this research is to further investigate the ontogenetic development of the digestive system in winter flounder, and to develop optimal weaning strategies for stock enhancement.
| Dr. Hunt Howell | Marine Program | Zoology Dept. | College of Life Sciences | UNH Home |