Data from: The role of sandy environment in enhancing growth, cognition, and reproduction in cultured Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) females
Data files
Jan 13, 2026 version files 259.31 KB
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qPCR_figshare_information_Brain.xlsx
117.49 KB
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qPCR_Figshare_information_Gonad.xlsx
106.15 KB
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README.md
1.91 KB
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Summary_information.xlsx
33.76 KB
Abstract
Physical enrichment improves fish welfare and reduces negative traits in captivity. Solea senegalensis, a key species in European aquaculture, is often raised in intensive fiberglass tanks, which can lead to undesirable traits, particularly for future breeders. This study assessed the long-term effects of using a sand substrate during the on-growing phase on growth, cognition, and maturation in Senegalese sole females. Six tanks with juvenile soles were divided into two environments (three fiberglass, three sand), and sampled every six months for two years (n = 30 per group). This study measured biometrics, blood, gonad histology, and gene expression in the brain and gonad. Females from sand grew faster than females from fiberglass. The histological results showed that the sand group was more mature than the fiberglass group from the second sampling, where the sand group reached previtellogenic oocytes. Sex steroids and Lh levels were also significantly higher in the sand group after two years. These results in maturation were supported by the fhra and pgrexpression in the brain and gonads. Females from sand showed higher cognitive capacity according to c-fos, nr4a2, and bdnf expression. These results show that using sand as an enrichment helps improve growth, cognition, and reproduction in Senegalese sole females.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.v9s4mw76b
Description of the data and file structure
These data were collected to observe differences between two different environmental conditions in Senegalese sole females. In this case, animals were established in tanks with enrichment (sand) and other tanks without enrichment (fibreglass). These groups were maintained in the same conditions for 2 years, where 4 different samplings were performed to observe differences between both groups in terms of growth, cognition, and reproduction.
Summary_information.xlsx: This Excel file contains the information associated with biometric data (weight in grams), cortisol (ng/mL), Fsh and Lh (ng/mL), E2 and T (ng/mL), and histology. All this information has been divided intothe experimental group, fiberglass, and sand.
qPCR_Figshare_information_Gonad.xlsx: This Excel file contains the information associated with the relative expression of the different target genes explored during the period of the study. Two housekeeping genes were used to observe the expression (Bact and UBQ) using the Geomean to calculate the average. The CT from the different target genes (hsp70, fshra, pgr, hsp90 and cyp19bUTR) are noted in the file.
qPCR_figshare_information_Brain.xlsx: This Excel file contains the information associated with the relative expression of the different target genes explored during the period of the study. Two housekeeping genes were used to observe the expression (Bact and UBQ) using the Geomean to calculate the average. The CT from the different target genes (bdnf, nrd2, c-fos, nr4a2, pgr and cyp19mUTR) are noted in the file.
Code/software
The data can be seen with Microsoft Excel