Fig. 6

Caloric intake has differential effects on the timing of scale formation, somatic and ovarian growth and fat incorporation.

A-B: Alizarin red staining of size-matched juvenile HF-LD (A) and LF-HD (B); body lengths and ages of the shown individuals are indicated. The flank of the LF-HD fish has several rows of mineralized scales, whereas no scales are visible in the corresponding region of the HF-LD fish. (C) Plot of rows of mineralized scales vs body length. (D,E) Comparison of numbers (D) and sizes (E) of subcutaneous adipocyte sizes (E) of 18 months old LF-HD males (white columns) with age-matched HF-LD male siblings (black column) and size-matched HF-LD males (striped columns; age: 2 months). Standard lengths of investigated fish were: HD-LD, 18 months: 32.3 +/- 1.0 mm; HF-LD, 2 months: 23.0 +/- 0,8 mm; LF-HD, 18 months; 22.5 +/- 1.0 mm. Left sides of each panel show average numbers from 5 corresponding longitudinal levels along the entire dorsoventral axis (for averages of single levels, see S7 Fig.), right sides show numbers for level 5 only (ventral). Columns with different superscript letter are significantly different (p<0.05) according to ANOVA followed by the Least Significant Difference (Bonferroni’s) test; n = 40 (2 fish per condition, 5 levels per fish, 2 sections per level and left and right side per section). F-J: Plots of BMI vs length of males (F); somatic BMI vs. length of females (G); absolute ovary weight vs. length (including 2 months HF females) (H); relative ovary weight vs. length (I); relative ovarian weight vs. somatic BMI (J). Crucial parameter intervals in (C, F-J) are boxed in red or blue, intervals only occupied by HF-LD fish are highlighted in blue, intervals only occupied by LF-HD fish in red. In (G-J), HF-LD females in regions boxed in red were 2 months of age, but already sexually mature. K: Schemes showing differential energy allocations to scale formation / postembryonic development, growth, reproduction and fat storage in juvenile, small and large adult fish. Abbreviations: ha, hemal arch; na, neural arch; s, scale; vb, vertebral body.