Daily rhythms of physiological processes in fish: synchronization to light and feeding cycles and effects on the molecular clock, epigenetics and welfare.

The aim of this thesis was to study the effect of two synchronizing factors (light and feeding time) on various physiological processes in European sea bass, a species of particular interest for aquaculture. Additionally, the effects of these synchronizing factors and stress on clock genes were examined due to their central role in regulating the circadian system. The overarching objective of each chapter was to investigate the presence of circadian rhythms in the analyzed variables and their variations during the day/night cycle. Zebrafish were also utilized to further clarify the connections between clock genes, epigenetic mechanisms, and stress responses