Stressful conditions affect reproducing cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), reducing egg output and quality

Abstract

Abstract Stress has profound effects on animals, particularly if it occurs during reproduction or embryonic development. The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis is an economically and scientifically important species that is often cultured in captivity. The effects of stressors applied to reproducing females and developing embryos were investigated and compared by measuring the number and quality of eggs produced by females in a typical captive setting with females subjected to stress during egg-laying (confined space and repeated removal from the water) as well as comparing the hatching size and success of embryos subjected to naturally occurring (predator cues) and artificial (random bouts of bright LED light) stressors. Stressed females produced significantly fewer eggs and fewer of those eggs hatched. In addition, nearly a quarter of stressed mothers laid mostly white eggs lacking the dark pigment typical of this species. In contrast to maternal stress, stressors applied directly to embryos had no effect on hatching rate and neither maternal nor embryonic stress was associated with differences in hatching size. Our results suggest that reducing stress during egg-laying can increase aquacultural egg yields in S. officinalis and that the presence of pigment-less (white) eggs is a sign of maternal stress during egg-laying.