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Fishes
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Advances in the Physiology of Aquatic Organisms
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Advances in the Physiology of Aquatic Organisms

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 2999

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gisele Cristina Favero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratório de Aquacultura, Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte CEP 30161-970, Brazil
Interests: aquatic animal physiology; aquatic animal stress; aquatic animal production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquatic organisms (fish, crustaceans, mollusks, among others) possess complex and highly specialized physiological mechanisms, fundamental to ensuring their survival in the aquatic environment. These mechanisms allow them to maintain homeostasis, cope with environmental variations, and perform vital functions such as respiration, osmoregulation, nutrition, locomotion, and stress response. The physiology of aquatic organisms has advanced significantly in recent decades due to the need for a better understanding of how these animals respond to environmental changes and captive management, among other factors. Therefore, we invite researchers to submit papers that address topics related to the physiology of aquatic organisms, contributing significantly to the expansion of knowledge regarding the production chains of these animals in a global context.

Dr. Gisele Cristina Favero
Guest Editor

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. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • physiology of the digestive system
  • physiology of osmoregulation
  • physiology of growth
  • physiology of respiration
  • physiology of reproduction
  • physiology of pigmentation

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 12018 KB  
Article
Physiological Benefits of Probiotic Refeeding After Short-Term Fasting in Nile Tilapia: Growth Performance, Histomorphological, and Gene Expression Responses
by Mohsen A. Khormi, Walaa F. A. Emeish, Mahmoud Nasr, Fatma A. Madkour and Karima A. Bakry
Fishes 2026, 11(3), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030156 - 8 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1407
Abstract
This study investigated the physiological benefits of probiotic supplementation during refeeding after short-term fasting in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 180 fish were assigned to three groups: continuously fed control or subjected to 5 days of fasting followed by [...] Read more.
This study investigated the physiological benefits of probiotic supplementation during refeeding after short-term fasting in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 180 fish were assigned to three groups: continuously fed control or subjected to 5 days of fasting followed by 15 days of refeeding with either a basal or probiotic-enriched diet containing Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis, and B. pumilus. Growth performance indices (body weight, length, weight gain, specific growth rate, condition factor, relative feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) were measured. Muscle samples were collected for histomorphological evaluation and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of antioxidant genes catalase (cat) and superoxide dismutase 2 (sod-2), growth-related genes insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf-1) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (soc-2), anti-inflammatory gene transforming growth factor beta (tgf-β), and myostatin genes. Fasting significantly reduced (p < 0.05) body weight compared to control, confirming the impact of nutrient deprivation. Upon refeeding, fish on the basal diet showed partial growth recovery but remained below control levels, whereas probiotic-fed fish exhibited superior recovery, surpassing both control and basal groups in body weight, length and weight gain. Condition factor exhibited insignificant changes among all groups after fasting and upon refeeding. Specific growth rate of the entire experiment was highest in the probiotic group, while insignificant. Relative feed intake decreased in both refed groups, yet feed conversion ratio improved, particularly with probiotics. Gene expression analysis revealed fasting-induced upregulation of antioxidant (cat and sod-2) and myostatin (p < 0.05), alongside downregulation of growth-related (igf-1 and soc-2) and anti-inflammatory (tgf-β) genes (p < 0.05). Basal refeeding restored most expressions, whereas probiotics enhanced antioxidant, growth, and anti-inflammatory genes while normalizing myostatin (p > 0.05 vs. control). Histological evaluation showed fasting-induced muscle atrophy, which was most effectively reversed by probiotics. Overall, probiotics accelerated recovery, highlighting their potential to optimize post-fasting growth in aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Physiology of Aquatic Organisms)
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21 pages, 2150 KB  
Article
The Relationship Between Respiration Rates and Electron Transport System Activity in Fish
by Ione Medina-Suárez and Santiago Hernández-León
Fishes 2026, 11(3), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030147 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 446
Abstract
Fishes contribute to the biological carbon pump, yet their overall role remains poorly constrained due to the difficulty of obtaining direct metabolic measurements and, consequently, is poorly understood. Electron transport system (ETS) activity is commonly used as a proxy for potential respiration, but [...] Read more.
Fishes contribute to the biological carbon pump, yet their overall role remains poorly constrained due to the difficulty of obtaining direct metabolic measurements and, consequently, is poorly understood. Electron transport system (ETS) activity is commonly used as a proxy for potential respiration, but its application requires an appropriate relationship between respiration (R, measured as oxygen consumption MO2) and ETS activity. Here, we examined the relationship between swimming activity, oxygen consumption, and ETS activity in juvenile Sparus aurata using swimming-tunnel respirometry. Oxygen consumption increased with swimming speed following a four-parameter sigmoidal model, whereas ETS activity remained independent of short-term changes in activity. Normalizing respiration by ETS produced R/ETS ratios ranging from 0.17 to 0.71, values consistent with those reported for zooplankton and micronekton. Lower ratios correspond to minimal aerobic demand and may represent quiescent behaviour, while higher ratios reflect elevated demands associated with active movement or feeding. These ratios are suggested for the assessment of respiration rates from ETS activity during diel vertical migration in the ocean to improve estimates of respiratory flux. However, methodological issues related to ETS activity in different body regions must be solved to enable reliable measurements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Physiology of Aquatic Organisms)
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14 pages, 297 KB  
Article
Water Renewal Rate and Temperature on the Growth Performance and Physiology of Piaractus brachypomus in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)
by Pedro P. C. Pedras, Zandhor Lipovetsky, Fábio A. C. dos Santos, André de S. Souza, Luisa A. A. Silva, Gustavo S. da C. Júlio, Imaculada de M. C. Ananias, Sidney dos S. Silva, Ronald K. Luz and Gisele C. Favero
Fishes 2026, 11(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010064 - 19 Jan 2026
Viewed by 669
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of water renewal rate and temperature on the growth performance and physiological responses of juvenile Piaractus brachypomus reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). A total of 336 fish (1.35 ± 0.24 g) were distributed in six RAS [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effects of water renewal rate and temperature on the growth performance and physiological responses of juvenile Piaractus brachypomus reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). A total of 336 fish (1.35 ± 0.24 g) were distributed in six RAS units under two water renewal rates (42 and 128 L h−1) and three temperatures (26, 29, and 32 °C) for 45 days. Temperature was the main factor affecting growth, with higher final weight and total length at 29 and 32 °C throughout the experimental period. Water renewal rate significantly influenced feeding efficiency and energy allocation. Higher renewal (128 L h−1) increased dissolved oxygen and daily feed intake and resulted in higher hemoglobin levels and hepatic lipid deposition, particularly at 32 °C, indicating greater metabolic activity. Conversely, the lower renewal rate (42 L h−1) was associated with better feed conversion ratios at 29 °C and higher muscle lipid content at 26 °C, suggesting reduced energy expenditure. Hematocrit, total plasma protein, and cholesterol were primarily influenced by temperature, with higher values at 29 and 32 °C, while glucose, triglycerides, and liver enzymes were unaffected. Overall, temperatures of 29–32 °C optimized growth, while water renewal rate modulated feed utilization, physiological responses, and lipid deposition. These findings highlight the importance of jointly optimizing temperature and water renewal rate in RAS to enhance growth performance and metabolic balance in juvenile P. brachypomus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Physiology of Aquatic Organisms)
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