Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.2
2.7
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Environmental Adaptation and Metabolic Regulation in Aquatic Animals
share announcement

Environmental Adaptation and Metabolic Regulation in Aquatic Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3100

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fan Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Fisheries, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Interests: aquaculture; glucose and lipid homeostasis; heavy metal and antibiotic; aquatic toxicity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shengyan Su

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, China
2. Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China
Interests: crustacean; genetics; genomic selection; molecular breeding; computational tools in breeding; gene editing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Maintaining an optimal aquatic environment is essential for sustainable aquaculture, directly impacting the health, growth, and reproduction of aquatic species. This Special Issue focuses on the metabolic regulation and physiological responses of aquatic animals, particularly fish, to environmental stressors such as temperature variation, hypoxia, heavy metals, and antibiotics. We seek to advance understanding of metabolic regulation, stress adaptation, and reproductive performance under such conditions. Studies employing genomic, transcriptomic, and biochemical approaches are especially encouraged to identify key regulatory pathways and resilience traits. By integrating cutting-edge research, this Special Issue will enhance theoretical knowledge in the field of fish physiology and support the development of innovative, sustainable aquaculture practices.

Prof. Dr. Fan Yu
Dr. Shengyan Su
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aquaculture
  • health
  • growth
  • reproduction
  • environment stressor
  • metabolic regulation
  • physiology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

24 pages, 3517 KB  
Article
Identification of Association Between Mucus Microbiota and Gene Expression in the Gill of a Streptococcus agalactiae-Resistant Nile Tilapia Strain Though Multi-Omics Analyses
by Haotian Wu, Liting Chen, Ting Huang, Yi Liu, Liming Luo, Lingyu Kong, Yumeng Sun, Wenchao Zhang, Zhongbao Guo, Zhichang He, Yongju Luo, Jun Xiao and Ying Lu
Animals 2026, 16(9), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16091389 - 2 May 2026
Viewed by 357
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae infections severely threaten global tilapia aquaculture, causing substantial mortality and economic damage. The “Zhuangluo 1” (ZL) strain, derived from the fast-growing GIFT Nile tilapia and refined through multiple generations of selection, uniquely combines robust resistance to S. agalactiae with improved growth [...] Read more.
Streptococcus agalactiae infections severely threaten global tilapia aquaculture, causing substantial mortality and economic damage. The “Zhuangluo 1” (ZL) strain, derived from the fast-growing GIFT Nile tilapia and refined through multiple generations of selection, uniquely combines robust resistance to S. agalactiae with improved growth traits. This study examined gene expression and regulation of gill mucus microbiota in ZL during experimental S. agalactiae challenge. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed Flavobacterium, Vogesella, Hydrogenophaga, Acidovorax, Rheinheimera, and Deinococcus as prominent genera in the gill mucus microbiome of ZL across time points. Transcriptome time-course analysis identified differentially expressed genes in gills of ZL that were predominantly enriched in cytoskeleton in muscle cells and motor protein pathways. Abundances of the dominant genera Flavobacterium and Hydrogenophaga showed significant correlations with genes regulating mucus secretion, mucin glycosylation, immune modulation, and oxidative stress response in ZL. Untargeted metabolomics of gill mucus revealed substantially higher levels of metabolites potentially linked to microbial metabolism and host–microbiota interactions in ZL. A complementary genome-wide association study for resistance in ZL further localized genes underlying these expression–microbiota associations. These findings elucidated microbiota–host interactions between ZL and gill mucus microbiota, and provide more insights into the role of mucus regulation in disease resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Adaptation and Metabolic Regulation in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5393 KB  
Article
Transcriptomic Response and Molecular Adaptation Mechanisms of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Intestine Under Dual Stress of High Temperature and Zinc
by Xiaoying Jiang, Junli Zheng, Zilong Jiang, Yiyu Cao, Ying Jiang, Wei Hu, Deliang Li and Fan Yu
Animals 2026, 16(9), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16091334 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 210
Abstract
This study employed a 2 × 2 factorial design to investigate the transcriptomic responses of common carp intestine under the single and combined stress of high temperature and zinc. Results from Illumina RNA-seq, WGCNA, and qPCR showed high-quality sequencing data with good reproducibility. [...] Read more.
This study employed a 2 × 2 factorial design to investigate the transcriptomic responses of common carp intestine under the single and combined stress of high temperature and zinc. Results from Illumina RNA-seq, WGCNA, and qPCR showed high-quality sequencing data with good reproducibility. High temperature was the core driver of global transcriptomic reprogramming, inducing numerous DEGs via activating metabolic and stress signaling pathways. Zinc alleviated heat stress by reducing DEGs by 43.2% and activating DNA repair and cell cycle pathways. WGCNA identified core modules for heat response and zinc mitigation, revealing “emergency defense” and “repair adaptation” strategies. This study enriches the teleost stress adaptation theory and provides a scientific basis for healthy carp aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Adaptation and Metabolic Regulation in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 17701 KB  
Article
Synergistic Effects of Ammonia and Hypoxia Stress on the Transcriptomic Responses of the Razor Clam (Sinonovacula constricta)
by Zidai Liu, Hao Zhang, Congying Lai, Ran Sun, Hongqiang Xu, Hanhan Yao, Yinghui Dong, Zhihua Lin and Liyuan Lv
Animals 2026, 16(6), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060896 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 666
Abstract
The co-occurrence of ammonia nitrogen and hypoxia represents a physiologically taxing synergistic challenge for benthic bivalves—as it forces a conflict between the high energy demand for detoxification and the limited energy supply under low oxygen, yet the tissue-specific strategies underlying their resilience remain [...] Read more.
The co-occurrence of ammonia nitrogen and hypoxia represents a physiologically taxing synergistic challenge for benthic bivalves—as it forces a conflict between the high energy demand for detoxification and the limited energy supply under low oxygen, yet the tissue-specific strategies underlying their resilience remain poorly understood. This study investigated the physiological and transcriptomic responses of the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta to ammonia (AG), hypoxia (HG), and their combination (HAG) over 96 h. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that the gill and hepatopancreas employ distinct, organ-coordinated adaptive strategies rather than a uniform systemic response. The gill prioritized respiratory homeostasis by fine-tuning oxygen sensing: transcriptional suppression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α) (to limit glycolytic acidosis) was followed by a chronic induction of HIF-2α, alongside the specific upregulation of the mitochondrial respiratory gene cytochrome c oxidase-6b (COX-6b). In contrast, the hepatopancreas executed a critical metabolic trade-off centered on arginine metabolism. Under combined stress, arginine flux was redirected toward the urea cycle via a robust upregulation of arginase (ARG) for detoxification, while nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was concurrently suppressed. This reciprocal regulation suggests a strategy to prioritize ammonia clearance and energy conservation at the expense of immune signaling. These findings elucidate how S. constricta navigates the bioenergetic conflict between detoxification and oxygen limitation, providing molecular targets for breeding stress-resistant aquaculture strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Adaptation and Metabolic Regulation in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 5856 KB  
Article
Effects of Light Spectrum and Intensity on Cellular Stress Responses in Baikal Whitefish and Its Hybrid Embryos: A Basis for Optimizing the Aquaculture Environment
by Yulia P. Sapozhnikova, Anastasiya G. Koroleva, Vera M. Yakhnenko, Evgenia A. Vakhteeva, Alexander A. Epifantsev, Sergey A. Potapov, Olga Yu. Glyzina, Viktor A. Pal’shin, Ilya A. Aslamov, Changxu Tian, Xian Li and Lyubov V. Sukhanova
Animals 2026, 16(4), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040561 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 822
Abstract
The light spectrum is a key factor in aquaculture, but its effects on molecular stress responses during early fish development are unclear. This study examined how light of different wavelengths (spectra) affects embryos of Baikal whitefish Coregonus baicalensis and its hybrid with Yenisei [...] Read more.
The light spectrum is a key factor in aquaculture, but its effects on molecular stress responses during early fish development are unclear. This study examined how light of different wavelengths (spectra) affects embryos of Baikal whitefish Coregonus baicalensis and its hybrid with Yenisei hump-snout whitefish C. fluviatilis. Eggs were incubated from 35 days post-fertilization under white light (1.8 and 20 µmol m−2 s−1), darkness, red (peak at 631 nm), green (peak at 507 nm) and blue (peak at 459 nm) light. We analyzed relative telomere length, telomerase activity, blood profiles, and expression of stress-related genes (HSP-90, MtCK) at key developmental stages. Notably, a significant increase in telomere length was observed throughout early development (from embryo to larva to fry), independent of the light spectrum. Red light and darkness acted as potent stressors, indicating proteotoxic stress and energy imbalance. In Baikal whitefish, this was accompanied by notable telomere shortening at the earliest stage and elongation at later stages under certain conditions, potentially mediated by increased telomerase activity, a response that may be metabolically costly. Conversely, green light was the most neutral. The effect of blue light differed between Baikal whitefish and its hybrid, with the hybrid proving more sensitive. Furthermore, high-intensity white light (20 µmol m−2 s−1) also induced negative effects in the hybrid, such as increased telomere length, suggesting that excessive irradiance itself can be a stressor, independent of spectral composition. We conclude that darkness or a predominance of red light is suboptimal for incubating these whitefish, while green light provides a more favorable environment, offering a basis for optimizing aquaculture light conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Adaptation and Metabolic Regulation in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 3627 KB  
Article
Estrogen Receptor 2b Is Involved in Regulating Gonadotropin-Inhibitory Hormone Expression During Early Development in Zebrafish
by Wei Peng, Bolan Zhou, Yunsheng Zhang, Lili Hu and Liangguo Liu
Animals 2026, 16(3), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16030444 - 1 Feb 2026
Viewed by 573
Abstract
Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of reproductive function in vertebrates. It is able to inhibit the synthesis and secretion of GnRH and Gth in the HPG axis. However, the regulatory role and mechanism by which current [...] Read more.
Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of reproductive function in vertebrates. It is able to inhibit the synthesis and secretion of GnRH and Gth in the HPG axis. However, the regulatory role and mechanism by which current gonadal steroid hormones regulate GnIH are still unclear. In this study, transcription factor binding site analysis was performed on the promoter sequence of zebrafish GnIH. Whereafter, transgenic zebrafish (GnIH: mCherry) accurately labeled GnIH and esr2b knockout zebrafish, which were constructed previously, were used to explore the regulation between estrogen and GnIH. In vitro exposure of wild-type zebrafish embryos and transgenic zebrafish embryos to estradiol showed that 10 μM estradiol significantly increased the transcription level of GnIH. However, both 10 μM and 50 μM estradiol significantly increased the transcription level of GnIH in esr2b knockout zebrafish. We compared the expression levels of GnIH in esr2b knockout zebrafish and wild-type zebrafish at different developmental stages (48 hpf–120 hpf). The results showed that from 96 hpf, the expression level of GnIH in esr2b knockout zebrafish was significantly higher than that in wild-type zebrafish, indicating that esr2b is involved in the negative regulation of GnIH, and this regulatory relationship is established on the fourth day of zebrafish development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Adaptation and Metabolic Regulation in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop