Developmental change in RNA: DNA ratios of fed and starved laboratory-reared Japanese flounder larvae and juveniles, and its application to assessment of nutritional condition for wild fish

Starved Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus larvae were characterized by relatively lower levels of RNA content throughout their early life stages. Significant differences in the RNA: DNA ratios were found between fed and starved fish, and appeared to increase as starvation proceeded. Ontogenetic changes in RNA: DNA ratios were clearly observed during metamorphosis, especially decreasing during the period from the late-metamorphic to postmetamorphic stages. The criteria established from these laboratory experiments, were applied to the nutritional condition of wild larvae and juveniles collected in Wakasa Bay, Sea of Japan in 1994 and 1995 by measuring RNA and DNA content. Starved fish were mainly found in stage I (settling stage) fish during the late season of settlement in 1995. This suggests that starvation could be associated with settlement in Japanese flounder.