Rearing Takifugu rubripes larvae in communal tanks: paternal genetic contribution to survivability.

We investigated the influence of paternal effects on progeny survival of the fugu Takifugu rubripes when multiple families were reared in communal tanks. Four males were crossed with four females in a factorial cross to give 16 families, and the half-siblings sharing the same mother were reared together. Male parentage was determined using microsatellite markers at 35 days. Although the maternal and tank effects were large, it was possible to detect paternal effects in relative survival rate and standard length (standardized in each tank), which were found to be significantly correlated. Paternal effects on growth rate suggest the existence of family-based differences in competition for food. Furthermore, genetic differences affecting larval growth appeared to be partly responsible for the disparity in survival rate observed among families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]