DOI: 10.5061/dryad.v9s4mw76b
title: Data from: The role of sandy environment in enhancing growth, cognition, and reproduction in cultured Senegalese sole (<em>Solea senegalensis</em>) females

description: 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.
description: # Data from: The role of sandy environment in enhancing growth, cognition,
 and reproduction in cultured Senegalese sole (*Solea senegalensis*)
 females
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.v9s4mw76b](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