Sex ratio; Sex determination; Animal behavior; Fish physiology; Sexual differentiation; Freshwater fish; fertilization
Abstract :
[en] Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is an African freshwater fish that displays a genetic sex determination system (XX|XY) where high temperatures (above 32°C to 36.5°C) induce masculinization. In Nile tilapia, the thermosensitive period was reported from 10 to 30 days post fertilization. In their natural environment, juveniles may encounter high temperatures that are above the optimal temperature for growth (27–30°C). The relevance of the thermal sex reversal mechanism in a natural context remains unclear. The main objective of our study is to determine whether sexually undifferentiated juveniles spontaneously prefer higher, unfavorable temperatures and whether this choice skews the sex ratio toward males. Five full-sib progenies (from 100% XX crosses) were subjected to (1) a horizontal three-compartment thermal step gradient (thermal continuum 28°C– 32°C– 36.5°C) during the thermosensitive period, (2) a control continuum (28°C– 28°C– 28°C) and (3) a thermal control tank (36.5°C). During the first days of the treatment, up to an average of 20% of the population preferred the masculinizing compartment of the thermal continuum (36.5°C) compared to the control continuum. During the second part of the treatment, juveniles preferred the lower, nonmasculinizing 32°C temperature. This short exposure to higher temperatures was sufficient to significantly skew the sex ratio toward males, compared to congeners raised at 28°C (from 5.0 ± 6.7% to 15.6 ± 16.5% of males). The proportion of males was significantly different in the thermal continuum, thermal control tank and control continuum, and it was positively correlated among populations. Our study shows for the first time that Nile tilapia juveniles can choose a masculinizing temperature during a short period of time. This preference is sufficient to induce sex reversal to males within a population. For the first time, behavior is reported as a potential player in the sex determination mechanism of this species.
Research center :
GIGA-I3 - Giga-Infection, Immunity and Inflammation - ULiège Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Aquaculture
Disciplines :
Zoology Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Author, co-author :
Nivelle, Renaud ; Université de Liège - ULiège > I3-Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration
Gennotte, Vincent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de formation et de recherche en aquaculture (CEFRA)
Muller, Marc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > I3-Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration
Mélard, Charles ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de formation et de recherche en aquaculture (CEFRA)
Rougeot, Carole ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de formation et de recherche en aquaculture (CEFRA)
Other collaborator :
Kembolo Kalala, Jules; Université de Liège - ULiège > Research and Education Center in Aquaculture (CEFRA) > 2017
Nguyen, Bich Ngoc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > LEMA (Local environment management and analysis)
Language :
English
Title :
Temperature preference of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles induces spontaneous sex reversal
Publication date :
14 February 2019
Journal title :
PLoS ONE
eISSN :
1932-6203
Publisher :
Public Library of Science, United States - California
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE] F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] ULiège - Université de Liège [BE]
Funding text :
RN is a Ph.D. grant holder from FRIA-FNRS (Fond pour la Formation et la Recherche dans l’Industrie et dans l’Agriculture); MM is a "Maître de Recherche" at the "Fonds National de Recherche Scientifique"; ULiège-ARC progam (Actions de Recherches Concertées, ARC 15/19-7).
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