1. Introduction
The pH value of water is crucial for fish growth, survival, and metabolic characteristics [
1]. Hatch rate, abnormal rate and viability of newly hatched larvae will be significantly affected by the pH valve [
2]. Both the temperature and pH have an impact on the amount of unionized ammonia in the water column, and influence the embryo development of
Takifugu obscurus [
3]. Due to the burning of fossil fuels and factory emissions, the rapid increase in the concentration of acid gases in the air, and ocean acidification are unavoidable major problems currently facing. Ocean acidification can affect aquatic communities and cause ecological connection change, fish communities will make a change at the same time. For example, the growth of coral reefs is disturbed by climate warming and acidification, and coral reefs cannot maintain normal carbonate production [
4,
5]. Most river and sea water pH levels fall between 6.5 and 8.5, however, this range is gradually changing [
5]. The chemistry of water carbonate is significantly altered by the rise in CO
2 concentration on the water surface, which may result in a sea pH decrease of 0.2 to 0.4 units this century [
6]. Additionally, excessive sulfur and nitrogen pollution in the atmosphere can generate acid rain, which can result in an acidic water environment and affect aquatic metabolisms. The ideal pH range for fish is 6.5–9.0, and the great climate change has devastated some commercial aquatic products, which results in huge economic loss [
3,
7]. Acidemia may occur due to reduced excretion of metabolically produced H
+ and CO
2 when fish are stressed with debilitating acids, thereby increasing permeability to H
+ and Na
+. When the capacity of the buffering mechanism is exceeded, the pH of the blood drops and the ability of hemoglobin to transport oxygen decreases. Oxidative stress, DNA damage and antioxidant enzyme gene express when exposed to acute pH stress [
8]. A low or high pH value has a great impact on fish reproduction, and unsuitable pH conditions can reduce sexual maturity, spawning frequency and quality [
3]. When cultured in outdoor ponds, due to the forceful photosynthesis at noon, the pH value of the water will increases. When the fish exceeds the tolerance range of the pH value, it will lead to rapid death of fish, which is also the main cause of collective death.
A stable water environment is significant for
Takifugu obscurus to survive, grow and reproduce. Numerous environmental factors like salinity, temperature, heavy metals, pH and other factors can influence the growth and survival of
Takifugu obscurus [
9,
10,
11]. As a typical euryhaline species,
Takifugu obscurus can survive and thrive at salinities between 0 ppt and 32 ppt, that is why it could be cultivated in both freshwater and seawater, according to research by Gao, Quan Xin, et al. But excessive salinity environment can still contribute to the death of
Takifugu obscurus [
12,
13]. Temperature is another crucial ecological factor because it can increase oxygen radicals, the concentration of free calcium ions in the cytoplasm, and the rate of apoptosis, all of which can cause fish to lose their ability to function normally and eventually die [
9,
14]. The optimal temperature range for
Takifugu obscurus is between 22 and 23 °C, and the maximum temperature that can be tolerated is 32 °C. As the temperature rises between 20 and 29 °C, the growth rate of
Takifugu obscurus larvae will be accelerated accordingly [
15]. Additionally, extensive ammonia exposure can induce relevant oxygen genes, interrupt intracellular Ca
2+ homeostasis and subsequently lead to DNA damage and cell apoptosis in pufferfish [
16]. Except for salinity, temperature and ammonia, organic pollutants, low oxygen, pathogens and heavy metals can infect physiological reactions as well. for example, cadmium as an industrial pollutant that can be enriched by the food chain, cause damage to growth and respiratory by inducing numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS) [
2]. Interestingly the light will affect the growth of
Takifugu obscurus as well. In dark conditions, the larvae have a high mortality rate and cannot grow and eventually perish. The larvae can survive in the majority of brackish waters due to their high salinity tolerance [
17]. However, the effect of pH on
Takifugu obscurus is still unknown.
The area of saline-alkali land in the world accounts for about one-third of the land area. China is a big country with saline-alkali land, ranking third among the top 10 countries in terms of saline-alkali land area. Saline-alkali land of China is distributed in 17 provinces and autonomous regions including northwest, northeast, north China and coastal areas. In recent years, due to the limitation of land use and water ecological environment protection, the freshwater aquaculture industry and its future development are facing huge difficulties. More researchers focus on the development and utilization of saline-alkali water resources to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources. and ecological protection. The total area of saline-alkali wasteland and saline-alkali land affecting arable land exceeds 351,000 square kilometers in China [
18]. At present, many methods have been adopted for the management and utilization of saline-alkali land, including planting salt-tolerant crops, microbial management, and aquaculture. Rice-fishing comprehensive breeding systems in low-lying saline-alkali land were studied, which provided data support and a scientific basis for the sustainable development of rice-fishing comprehensive breeding in saline-alkali land [
19]. Using idle saline-alkali water resources for fishing can not only reduce the surrounding soil salinity, improve the ecological environment, and increase the area of arable land, but also provide economic benefits for the fishery [
20]. At present, the main economic aquatic species cultured in saline-alkali land are
Piaractus brachypomus, Cyprinus carpio, Oreochromis niloticus, Carassius auratus gibelio and Macrobrachium rosenbergii, etc. [
21]. Since pH is related to the effect of alkalinity on organisms, it is necessary to pay attention not only to alkalinity but also to the pH value in saline-alkali water cultivation [
22]. Through the implementation of the integration of fish and agriculture in saline-alkali land, the cultivation of excellent varieties of saline-alkali-tolerant, the vigorous development of aquaculture, and the promotion of local economic development, a series of measures have been taken to scientifically improve the
saline-alkali land. The pH value has been reduced from 8.8 to 8.2. And the alkalinity has been reduced from 6‰ dropped to about 2‰ [
23]. The results show that for different salinity levels, taking measures such as digging ponds for precipitation, raising fields for land reclamation, and fishery in saline-alkali land can significantly improve soil salinization [
19].
Takifugu obscurus is widely distributed in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the inland waterways of China and the Korean Peninsula. As a typical anadromous fish,
Takifugu obscurus is 20–40 cm long, inhabits the bottom of nearshore and inland waterways, and migrates to freshwater rivers to reproduce from February to May every year. The freshly hatched fish larvae spend several months in freshwater and migrate to the sea and take over several years at sea until sexual maturity [
24]. According to
Figure 1,
Takifugu obscurus has a nearly oval body with black dots, a reasonably long head, hard rostra between the upper and lower jaws and small eyes. The artificially farmed
Takifugu obscurus typically has a rounder body shape, more fat content, and a faster growth rate; before sexual maturity, the male identities growth rate is faster than the female identity, and when the female is getting close to sexual maturity, the female’s growth rate surpasses the male’s [
25].
Takifugu obscurus is referred to as the “crown of dishes” because of its rapid growth and nutritional quality. Whereas internal organs and blood of
Takifugu obscurus are often very poisonous, especially during maturity. The pufferfish toxin has significant economic and therapeutic value, which is an important medicine that can be used for analgesia, and it has an important role in the treatment of cancer and drug rehabilitation [
26,
27]. While the ovaries of
Takifugu obscurus are toxic and inedible, the gonads are edible and nutrient-rich containing micronutrients [
28].
Furthermore, the demand for
Takifugu obscurus is gradually increasing and far exceeds the yield. Due to overexploitation and environmental contamination, the population of this species has gradually declined in recent decades. Consequently, groundwater or river water is used for the majority of
Takifugu obscurus culture, which is also practiced in a few traditional outdoor earthen ponds and factories.
Takifugu obscurus larvae were reported to have a greater survival rate in low salinity environments than in freshwater [
29]. Due to environmental damage and exploitation, the number of wild individuals of this fish has drastically decreased in recent years despite its great economic worth. In this study, we aim at the effect of pH value on fertilized eggs, larva fish and juvenile fish of
Takifugu obscurus. The early life stage of mangy fish will be close to their survival threshold and only a slight change in water quality might result in death [
30]. Fertilized eggs are the most vulnerable stage in the life cycle of
Takifugu obscurus. And larva fish is a very significant part of choosing excellent breeds according to the corresponding pH environment. When the
Takifugu obscurus is three-months-old, they are moved from indoor pools to outdoor pools. During this transfer process, the physical and chemical properties of the water, especially the pH will greatly change. Therefore, investigation of
Takifugu obscurus reactions to changes in ecological conditions in their early stages is important for the conservation of this species. This experiment also established the
Takifugu obscurus pH tolerance range, which can be used as a guide when picking breeding waters in the future. The findings of this study demonstrated a correlation between the hatching of fertilized eggs and the pH level of
Takifugu obscurus, as well as the ability of hatchlings to tolerate different pH levels. Finally, the range of pH values tolerated by hatchlings was determined, providing a basis for saline-alkali farming, and it was discovered that the acute experiment has more significant mortality than progressive groups, which illustrates the importance of respite before releasing fish into pounds.
4. Discussion
Along with the right levels of salinity and dissolved oxygen, certain pH criteria must also be met for
Takifugu obscurus eggs to hatch. Exceeding the appropriate range will cause embryonic development difficulties, which will cause abnormalities and other difficulties and harm the survival of subsequent larva. Excessively extreme pH like pH 5 and pH 11 circumstances can directly cause the mortality of eggs. Studying the effects of pH on the
Takifugu obscurus is crucial because, as a result of environmental degradation in recent years, CO
2 is absorbed by the ocean and causes ocean acidification, which has a significant impact on marine animals and may even cause the extinction of some species [
42]. In our study,
Takifugu obscurus will begin to die under pH 8. At present, the pH value of the global ocean is between 8 and 8.4, which is close to the optimum range for the growth of
Takifugu obscurus. However, due to the emission of CO
2 and industrial waste gas, global ocean acidification will be intensified, which will further affect the growth of
Takifugu obscurus. Additionally, saline-alkali land is a problem faced by the whole world, and various methods have been applied to the treatment of it. Within these methods, aquaculture on the saline-alkali land is an effective and economical method [
43]. In this study, we primarily study the pH tolerance of
Takifugu obscurus, which can provide a standard in the future. Compared with the traditional freshwater aquaculture environment, the saline-alkali land has the characteristics of high salt, high alkali and high pH, and few organisms can live normally in this extreme environment. China is one of the countries with the largest area of saline-alkali land, ranking third among the top ten countries in the world. Due to the low rainfall and long sunshine time in many areas, conditions are provided for the formation of saline-alkali land. For example, the salinity of the northeast saline-alkali land salinity can reach 10g/L, the pH can reach 8.5. From our conclusion, it can be seen that the
Takifugu obscurus meets the basic conditions for breeding in this area.
The ability of juvenile fish to tolerate pH levels depends on the incubation environment, and there is a direct correlation between the pH of the incubation environment and the development of fertilized eggs [
44]. Low or high pH conditions can slow down or kill eggs from hatching, and they can also cause more deformed young to be born, for example, groups pH 6 and 10 incubate more deformed larva fish than other groups. Especially, under pH 6, deformed larva fish account for 70%. Larva fish that hatched in alkaline conditions (pH 9, 10) were more tolerant of alkalinity but less tolerant of acid, whereas hatchlings that hatched in acidic conditions (pH 6) were more tolerant of acid but less tolerant of alkalinity. The optimal survival environment is still under weakly alkaline conditions, regardless of the incubated pH levels. In actual production, the pH value of the hatching water can be adjusted appropriately according to the pH value of the breeding water in order to adapt to the corresponding breeding environment, improve the adaptability of fish to the water environment, and increase the survival rate and growth speed. But it is worth noting that this method does not greatly improve the tolerance to extreme conditions such as pH 6 and 11. According to a study on whelk, a high pH value can cause congestion and the death of the fish, while too low of a pH can impair the blood oxygen transport ability of the fish [
45,
46]. The survival of
Takifugu obscurus is extremely correlated with the pH of the water quality. The preliminary findings of the pre-experiment on the initial ambiguous concentration gradient in this experiment considerably lowered the gradient. Calculating the initial pH level necessary for
Takifugu obscurus viability offers a certain benchmark for choosing a future aquaculture water environment.
Table 1.
Semi-lethal concentrations (LC50) of salinity for economic species in China (g/L) [
47,
48,
49,
50,
51,
52].
Table 1.
Semi-lethal concentrations (LC50) of salinity for economic species in China (g/L) [
47,
48,
49,
50,
51,
52].
Species |
24 h |
48 h |
pH Value |
Temperature/°C |
Colossoma brachypomus Cuvier |
11.99 |
11.41 |
8.21 |
23.0 |
Oreochromis niloticus |
13.69 |
13.64 |
8.60 |
25.0 |
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix |
11.24 |
8.96 |
8.60 |
23.0 |
Oreochromis niloticus |
18.37 |
14.66 |
8.91 |
23.0 |
Carassius auratus gibelio |
11.53 |
10.77 |
8.80 |
24.5 |
Eriocheir Sinensis Milne-Edwards |
8.12 |
6.47 |
6.47 |
20.3 |
Macrobrachium rosenbergii |
8.58 |
5.32 |
5.32 |
23.6 |
Chalcalburnus chalcoides aralensis |
11.32 |
9.16 |
8.30 |
24.0 |
Carassius Auratus |
9.99 |
6.87 |
8.24 |
23.0 |
Carassius auratus Linnaeus |
11.80 |
11.1 |
8.32 |
24.0 |
Schizothorax biddulphi |
4.01 |
3.62 |
3.62 |
24.0 |
Table 2.
Semi-lethal concentration (LC50) of alkalinity for economic species in China (mmol/L) [
53,
54,
55,
56,
57,
58,
59,
60].
Table 2.
Semi-lethal concentration (LC50) of alkalinity for economic species in China (mmol/L) [
53,
54,
55,
56,
57,
58,
59,
60].
Species |
24h |
48h |
pH value |
Temperature/°C |
Colossoma brachypomus Cuvier |
83.25 |
56.99 |
8.85 |
23.0 |
Oreochromis niloticus |
142.1 |
128.28 |
8.32 |
20.0 |
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix |
55.91 |
25.94 |
8.59 |
25.0 |
Silver carp |
51.41 |
27.06 |
8.74 |
23.0 |
Carassius auratus gibelio |
98.74 |
79.49 |
8.84 |
25.0 |
Eriocheir sinensis Milne-Edwards |
52.97 |
42.44 |
8.33 |
20.3 |
Macrobrachium rosenbergii |
51.02 |
37.02 |
8.59 |
23.6 |
Penaeuschinensis |
22.00 |
11.66 |
8.60 |
23.0 |
Chalcalburnus chalcoides aralensis |
54.30 |
23.63 |
8.30 |
24.0 |
Carassius Auratus |
71.71 |
69.85 |
8.24 |
23.0 |
Carassius auratus Linnaeus |
69.83 |
68.77 |
8.32 |
24.0 |
Schizothorax biddulphi |
97.14 |
86.75 |
8.36 |
24.0 |
At an appropriate temperature of 22°C and pH 8.3, the semi-lethal salinity of
Takifugu obscurus approached 35 g/L after 24 h [
13,
17]. In this study,
Takifugu obscurus had a semi-lethal pH of 10.3 and water alkalinity of 99 mmol/L at a water temperature of 22 °C, and a semi-lethal pH of 9.95 and water alkalinity of 89 mmol/L at 48 h. Low-lying salt flats often have a pH variance between 7.08 and 9.64, with an average of 8.29 (usually below 9), which is exactly close to the optimum pH for
Takifugu obscurus growth. For instance, the pH of salt flats in Gaocheng County, Shandong Province, varies between 7.78 and 9.2, thus
Takifugu obscurus can adapt to the majority of the saline-alkaline condition from pH point [
21].
Takifugu obscurus can adapt to the majority of saline environments because it has a higher salinity tolerance of over 35 g/L, while in northeast saline-alkali land in China, salinity is about 10g/L. In terms of salinity tolerance, for instance,
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix had a semi-lethal salinity of 9.996 g/L at 24 h [
61], whereas
Takifugu obscurus can tolerate salt up to 35 g/L. In addition to salinity tolerance, Although
Cyprinus carpio and
Carassius auratus gibelio have excellent alkalinity tolerance,
Takifugu obscurus have a semi-lethal concentration of 99 mmol/L after 24 h, as shown in
Table 2. This makes it more tolerant than most species like
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Penaeuschinensis. In addition,
Takifugu obscurus have a higher commercial worth than the majority of current species.
IK Jang discovered that shrimp mixed with carnivorous fish, like
Takifugu obscurus, can effectively prevent and control the spread of white spot disease because
Takifugu obscurus will choose to consume diseased and dead shrimp, cutting off the transmission pathway [
62], and the previous pond farming when the WSSV outbreak caused incalculable losses to the shrimp farming industry.
Takifugu obscurus generally offers benefits over traditional farmed species, such as high tolerance, and good meat quality, in addition to high economic value and diverse feeding habits. The breeding habitat can be improved and better economic benefits can be attained by introducing
Takifugu obscurus into saline areas [
63].
Takifugu obscurus generally offers benefits over traditional farmed species, such as high tolerance, and good meat quality, in addition to high economic value and diverse feeding habits. The breeding habitat can be improved and better economic benefits can be attained by introducing
Takifugu obscurus into saline areas.