Identification and characterization of a green-type mutant of Porphyra tenera Kjellman var. tamatsuensis Miura (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

We identified two green-colored conchocelis strains of cultivated Porphyra, ‘Oba-green’ and HGT-6 (F₁ strain of ‘Oba-green’), based on PCR-RFLP and sequence analyses of the nuclear ITS region and the plastid RuBisCO spacer region. These molecular analyses confirmed that the two strains were green-type mutants of the endangered species Porphyra tenera, although their blade color was not green. Under the same culture conditions, blade length increase was significantly higher in HGT-6 than in a wild strain HGT-1 of P. tenera, and the blade shape of HGT-6 was extremely elongate compared with that of HGT-1. From the growth characteristics and ITS-1 sequence data, HGT-6 was confirmed to be a green-type mutant of P. tenera var. tamatsuensis, a vigorously growing cultivar. Although photosynthetic pigment contents were lower in HGT-6 than in HGT-1, total content of four major free amino acids was higher and the blade thickness was almost the same in HGT-6 and HGT-1. These results suggest that the green-type mutant HGT-6 has potential as breeding material for further development of Porphyra breeding.     

No AFLP sex-specific markers detected in Pangasianodon gigas and P. hypophthalmus

Sex-specific DNA markers are useful for hatchery management. Sex identification at early ages can reduce broodstock rearing costs. This study employed the Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) approach for the identification of sex-linked markers in Pangasianodon gigas and P. hypophthalmus. Eight DNA pools (4 females, 4 males) each from P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus were screened using a total of 570 and 102 different primer combinations, respectively. None of the 570 primer combinations gave sex-associated amplification for P. gigas while 31 of the 102 primer combinations gave apparent sex-associated amplification across the pooled DNA samples of P. hypophthalmus. However, none of the 45 SCAR markers derived from the presumed sex-specific fragments showed sex specificity when tested using DNA of individual P. hypophthalmus males and females.     

Performance and cost‐effectiveness of sexually produced Acropora granulosa juveniles compared with asexually generated coral fragments in restoring degraded reef areas

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Vegetative propagation of the carrageenophytic red alga Gigartina skottsbergii Setchell et Gardner: Indoor and field experiments

The carrageenophytic red alga Gigartina skottsbergii presents several biological constraints for its cultivation such as restricted temporal availability and high spore mortalities that affect the development of its mass cultivation. For this reason, research to develop alternative propagation methods has been undertaken. Previous laboratory studies demonstrated that manipulating temperature, light and nutrients could enhance healing and regeneration of this seaweed. In this study nursery and field experiments were undertaken to establish the possibility to regrow G. skottsbergii in conditions similar to those applied in mass cultivation practices. Frond fragments and rhizoids were tested as alternative ways to obtain new plants. Our results indicate that regeneration occurs in the field, and can be managed in nursery conditions. The addition of a nitrogen source enhances the growth from 0.6 to 1.0% d^− 1 of the healed fragments and the use of a photon flux density above 50 μmol m^− 2 s^− 1 increases the growth rate but decrease the survival of the explants. Explants can be transferred to field conditions and grow at similar rates to those registered in the nursery (0.5% d^− 1). It is also possible to propagate rhizoids of G. skottsbergii and it seems that the attachment of a frond portion to the substratum, enhanced its survival and regeneration capacity. Finally, this study demonstrated that rhizoids attached to rocks can regenerate complete plants in nature, a feature which could be a useful for developing a sustainable harvesting methodology.     

Nubbing of Coral Colonies: A Novel Approach for the Development of Inland Broodstocks

The establishment of large numbers of ramets from any individual coral genet can be used as a valuable source of material for the trade in ornamental marine organisms and in physiological and ecotoxicological studies. Here we discuss the rationale and the applicability of rearing ex situ large numbers of nubbins (minute fragments, down to the size of a single polyp). Nubbins taken from colonies of the branching Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata show high survivorship under ex situ conditions and fast growth rates (5- to 6-fold increase in polyp numbers within 3 months) of the basal plates which revealed a significant correlation between tissue surface area and polyp numbers. Nubbins from branch tips and mid branches grew at a similar rate, but growth was affected by different light regimens. This approach requires further experimentation to elucidate optimal conditions.     

Suitability of the copepod, Acartia clausi as a live feed for Seabass larvae (Lates calcarifer Bloch): Compared to traditional live-food organisms with special emphasis on the nutritional value

Though artificial propagation of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer (Bloch) in captivity through induced breeding techniques is standardized under Indian conditions, larval and nursery rearing techniques including suitable nursery feeds have to be standardized to obtain better survival and growth. Feeding experiments in triplicate were conducted to evaluate the suitability of the marine copepod Acartia clausi as live prey for fourteen day-old seabass larvae (6.53 ± 0.06 mm; 8.58 ± 0.33 mg) and compared with the traditional live prey, rotifers and Artemia nauplii. While A. clausi and rotifers were mass produced using algae Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros affinis and Chlorella marina, Artemia nauplii were produced using cysts. Nutritional quality of cultured copepods was evaluated based on the proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid composition, and compared with that of rotifers and Artemia nauplii. Proximate composition varied significantly (P < 0.05) among the different live feeds. A. clausi showed higher protein (63.12%) and lipid (16.65%) content than Artemia nauplii and rotifers. Total essential amino acids content was 2% lower in A. clausi compared to that in Artemia nauplii. Fatty acid profiles of the live feed organisms showed that A. clausi is a rich source of n − 3 fatty acids. The total n − 3 fatty acid content of A. clausi was 33.94%. Length, weight overall weight gain and survivorship were significantly (P < 0.05) different among the dietary treatments, and weight gain was comparatively higher in A. clausi fed larvae. Survival of seabass larvae fed A. clausi was obtained highest as 58.13% against the lower values of 39.93% and 41.62% in larvae fed rotifer and Artemia nauplii respectively. Final carcass composition of the larvae of L. calcarifer fed different live-food organisms showed significant differences (P < 0.05) among the dietary treatments. The fatty acid composition of the dietary treatments was reflected to a certain extent in the fatty acid composition of the seabass larvae. The present investigation revealed the nutritional value of calanoid copepod and thus underlining its usefulness as a suitable live-food organism for rearing larvae of the commercially valuable Asian seabass.     

三疣梭子蟹CYP302a1基因克隆及其表达分析

细胞色素P450(CYP)302a1是昆虫蜕皮激素合成通路中的关键酶,为了研究其在三疣梭子蟹蜕皮过程中的调控作用,实验采用反转录PCR(RT-PCR)和cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)技术,克隆得到了三疣梭子蟹CYP302a1全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号:KM596851).该序列全长为3 171 bp,包含一个长度为1 626 bp的开放阅读框,编码541个氨基酸;序列分析显示该氨基酸含helix-C、helix-K、helix-I、PERF及heme-binding共5个P450特征保守区域;系统进化树分析发现三疣梭子蟹CYP302a1与日本剑水蚤CYP302a1聚为一小支,再与其他物种CYP302a1聚为一支.采用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术分析了CYP302a1在不同组织和蜕皮过程中的表达水平变化.结果显示,CYP302a1的表达量在Y器中最高,而在其他组织中均极低(P＜0.05);蜕皮过程中,CYP302a1在蜕皮后期(A、B期)表达量最低,从蜕皮间期(C期)开始上升,至蜕皮前期的D1亚期达到最大值,随后下降.结果表明CYP302a1在三疣梭子蟹蜕皮调控中可能起着重要作用.     

太平洋鳕RAG1和IgM基因荧光定量PCR方法的建立及初步应用

为研究太平洋鳕发育早期特异免疫系统形成的机制,通过RAG1和IgM基因的转录水平衡量特异免疫系统的发育特点.根据GenBank中RAG1和IgM的序列信息,分别设计1对特异引物,从太平洋鳕头肾中扩增得到RAG1和IgM的基因片段.将所获基因片段分别插入到克隆载体pMD18-T中,从而构建太平洋鳕RAG1和IgM基因的质粒标准品.建立并优化太平洋鳕RAG1和IgM基因绝对荧光定量PCR方法.为进一步验证该方法的可靠性,分别利用绝对定量和相对定量检验目的基因在太平洋鳕早期发育过程不同组织内的表达差异.以优化后的绝对荧光定量PCR方法检测不同发育时期太平洋鳕RAG1和IgM的表达情况.结果显示,RAG1的回归方程为y=-3.266x+33.77,回归系数R2=0.996;IgM的回归方程为y=-3.119x +27.61,回归系数R2 =0.998.绝对定量和相对定量结果在基因转录趋势上显现出一致性,即RAG1基因在胸腺和头肾中表达,且在胸腺中的表达量显著高于头肾中的表达量,在肝脏和脾脏中无表达;IgM基因在胸腺、头肾、肝脏和脾脏中均有表达,其中脾脏中表达量最高,其次是头肾.RAG1基因在太平洋鳕发育早期的表达水平很低,到61日龄(days posthatching,dph)至95 dph表达量显著提高;IgM基因在早期表达水平同样很低,到33 dph至61 dph才有明显表达,在95 dph时表达量显著提高.研究表明,本实验方法可靠,特异性较强,可成功对目标基因转录水平进行检测.     

Enhanced production of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in integrated open-water cultivation with Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

Survivorship and performance was investigated for two size classes of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus grown adjacent to open-water Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) cultivation on the north-west coast of Scotland. Juvenile P. lividus were maintained for 12 months at 0 m, 50 m and 2.5 km from the mariculture activity. The sea urchins at the 0 m station showed higher survivorship than at the 50 m and 2.5 km stations and had significantly greater test diameter than at the 50 m station. Only urchins at 0 m developed gonads and, although small, these were of acceptable or excellent colouration in terms of their marketability. Adult P. lividus were maintained for 3 months at 0 m and 15 m from the mariculture activity, either with or without additional macroalgae Laminaria spp. Sea urchins at the 0 m station and fed additional macroalgae showed higher gonadal growth than sea urchins at the 15 m station held without additional food. Gonad colouration in the adult urchins, irrespective of the treatment, was acceptable or excellent. The 0 m station also received significantly greater quantities of particulate organic matter (POM) than the other stations in both the juvenile and adult experiments. At the 0 m station, the presence of the fatty acid 22:1n-11 and elevated levels of the long chain n-3 fatty acid DHA 22:6n-3 in the gonadal tissue of the urchins confirmed the consumption of fish farm derived POM and highlighted the potential human health benefits from consuming sea urchin roe.The results show that P. lividus can thrive in the salmon culture environment and suggests that the integration of P. lividus with Atlantic salmon can provide a viable means to culture this species, even at this northerly latitude. Salmon-sea urchin co-culture would enable fish farms to diversify into producing a second highly valuable product and would reduce the increasing worldwide pressure of sea urchin fisheries on wild stocks.     

Susceptibility by amberjack (Seriola dumerili), yellowtail (S. quinqueradiata) and Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) to Neobenedenia girellae (Monogenea) infection and their acquired protection

This study investigated: 1) susceptibility differences to infection by Neobenedenia girellae (Capsalidae) between amberjack Seriola dumerili (Carangidae), yellowtail S. quinqueradiata and Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (Paralichthyidae); 2) growth and egg production of N. girellae on each fish species; 3) acquired protection of each fish species against this parasite. The number of N. girellae on S. dumerili was significantly higher than on S. quinqueradiata and P. olivaceus when these fishes were exposed to oncomiracidia in the same aquarium. Neobenedenia girellae growth on S. dumerili was fastest and, thus the number of eggs laid by parasites on S. dumerili was greater than on the other two species. Seriola dumerili and P. olivaceus, which were previously infected with N. girellae and treated by freshwater bath, acquired partial protection against re-infection by N. girellae. The relative re-infection of three S. dumerili individuals out of eleven individuals was markedly low compared with the initial infection, and the relative initial infection and re-infection on two P. olivaceus out of eleven individuals was markedly low. The results of this study could be useful to control N. girellae infections when cultivating S. dumerili, S. quinqueradiata and P. olivaceus.     

AFLP-based genetic linkage map of marine shrimp Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) chinensis

This paper presents the genetic linkage map of the Chinese shrimp Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) chinensis constructed with 472 AFLP markers. A hundred F₁ progeny from an intercross between a female from the new variety “Yellow Sea No. 1” and wild caught male used for the mapping study. Two separate maps were constructed for each parent. The female linkage map consisted of 197 marker loci forming 35 linkage groups and spanned a total length of 2191.1 cM, with an average marker space of 13.5 cM. The male map consisted of 194 marker loci mapped to 36 linkage groups and spanned a total length of 1737.3 cM, with an average marker spacing of 11.0 cM. The level of segregation distortion observed in this study was 12.2%. The estimated genome length of P. chinensis was 3150.3 cM for the female and 2549.3 cM for the male, respectively. The observed genome coverage was 69.6% for the female and 68.1% for the male map. The linkage maps constructed in this study provide basic information for further linkage studies on Chinese shrimp, and more importantly, the construction of the maps are part of the work of the genetic breeding programs which will be used for growth discovered in the QTL analysis of P. chinensis.     

长江流域泥鳅与大鳞副泥鳅种质资源调查与研究

对长江流域泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅野生群体进行了系统资源调查,结果显示,二倍体泥鳅(2n)与多倍体泥鳅(3n,4n,5n)在长江流域均有分布,其中二倍体泥鳅数目占有绝对优势,少量多倍体泥鳅集中分布于长江流域中游地区及若干湖泊。此外,显著性分析表明,泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅的雌性个体都显著大于雄性个体,两物种间个体大小无显著性差异。二倍体泥鳅的体长与体质量明显小于三倍体泥鳅及四倍体泥鳅,而三倍体泥鳅与四倍体泥鳅间无显著性差异。野生群体中,泥鳅雌性个体所占比例从上游到下游逐渐减少,大鳞副泥鳅无明显变化。相关性分析显示,泥鳅体质量与地域经度呈负相关,大鳞副泥鳅体质量与地域经度无显著相关性。研究表明,长江流域多倍体泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅物种资源丰富。     

The mariculture potential of the Indonesian reef-dwelling sponge Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru: Growth, survival and bioactive compounds

In the present study, the Indonesian reef-dwelling sponge Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru de Voogd [de Voogd, N.J., 2004. Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru spec. nov. (Porifera: Demospongiae: Haplosclerida) from Indonesia. Zool. Meded. 78, 477-483.] (Demospongiae, Callyspongiidae) was cultured for a period of 6 months at three sites in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia. A total of 250 sponge cuttings of two size classes (30 and 40 mm in length) were threaded on either polyethylene or very fine nylon rope and attached to horizontal mooring systems. All sponge cuttings were photographed at regular time intervals. Survival rates were high (82%-100%) among all treatments used. Growth rates differed significantly among treatments, but did not differ significantly per location, farming method, explant size and explant position obtained from the parent sponge. The concentration of the bioactive compound amphitoxin in the cultured explants was not significantly lower than in the natural population, but the concentration did vary significantly between explants used in the different treatments, and also between the different fragments of the natural population. The high growth potential and high survival rate suggest that this sponge species is a promising candidate for further mariculture development.     

Growth performance of the rotifers Brachionus plicatilis, B. ‘Nevada’ and B. ‘Cayman’ under different food concentrations

Numerical response experiments were conducted using three strains of the Brachionus plicatilis species complex. They are commonly used in aquaculture, and could also coexist in nature although this has not been studied yet. Brachionus plicatilis sensu stricto (s.s.), B. ‘Cayman’ and B. ‘Nevada’ were cultured at different concentrations of Nannochloropsis oculata (0-40 mg C l^− 1). Growth rate, egg female ratio (EF), fecundity and percentage of ovigerous females were determined at each food concentration. From the growth rate and EF, the egg development time and mortality rate were estimated using the Paloheimo equation. Monod curves with a threshold for zero growth described the relationship between growth rate and food concentration. The three strains had different growth rates at low (< 0.04 mg C l^− 1) and high (> 5.0 mg C l^− 1) food concentrations, but were similar at intermediate food levels. B. ‘Cayman’ had the highest maximum growth rate (1.57 ± 0.07 d^− 1), whereas B. plicatilis s.s. had the less negative minimum growth rate and the highest maximum EF (0.96 ± 0.02 eggs ind^− 1). These differences were attributed to the lowest egg development time of B. ‘Cayman’ (5.95 ± 0.24 h) and the higher starvation resistance of B. plicatilis s.s. (84 ± 12 h), respectively. B. ‘Nevada’ was the inferior competitor at high and low food concentrations due to the higher investment in body growth rather than reproduction. The outcome of competition in hatcheries is predicted to favor B. ‘Cayman’ under high food concentrations, whereas the three species may coexist under moderate food limitation.     

半滑舌鳎StAR基因克隆及其在不同组织的时空表达分析

利用半滑舌鳎性腺转录组测序获得的StAR基因部分序列,设计RACE引物,克隆了半滑舌鳎StAR基因的cDNA序列,全长为1 294 bp,5'端UTR为132 bp,3'端UTR为310 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)为852 bp,共编码283个氨基酸。将半滑舌鳎StAR基因与其他物种StAR基因进行氨基酸同源性分析,结果显示,半滑舌鳎StAR与塞内加尔鳎、大口黑鲈、花鲈、金头鲷的同源性都达到了85%,与虹鳟、斜带石斑鱼及日本鳗鲡的同源性分别为81%、83%和76%。雌、雄鱼不同组织StAR基因的表达分析表明,StAR基因在雄鱼性腺中高表达,在雄鱼的肝脏、脑及心脏中表达量较低,而在雄鱼的其他组织中不表达;在雌鱼肠中不表达,在其他组织(卵巢、肝脏、脾脏、脑、垂体、肌肉、心脏、肾脏)中微量表达。荧光定量PCR分析不同组织与不同时期性腺表达谱表明,雄鱼性腺中StAR基因的表达量显著高于雌、雄鱼其他各组织(P0.05),提示StAR基因对雄鱼精巢发育起重要作用。雄鱼不同时期表达谱分析结果显示,StAR基因在66天前的精巢中不表达,在150天时表达量急剧增加,至2龄时表达量最高,3龄时表达量下降,说明该基因在精巢发育成熟过程中起重要作用。原位杂交结果显示,StAR基因主要在雄鱼精巢的精子细胞中表达,而在雌鱼的卵巢中不表达。研究表明,StAR基因在半滑舌鳎精巢发育中发挥作用,且可能在精子形成中发挥重要作用。     

四种不同添加物对仿刺参非特异性免疫力和肠道免疫基因Aj-p105、Aj-p50、Aj-rel和Aj-lysmRNA表达的影响

本实验研究了饲料中添加酵母多糖(6.3 g/kg)、马氏副球菌(109 cfu/kg)、大黄(25.0 g/kg)和氟苯尼考(15.0 mg/kg)4种添加物对仿刺参[初始体质量(4.68±0.36)g]非特异性免疫力以及肠道组织免疫相关基因Aj-p105、Aj-p50、Aj-rel和Aj-lys mRNA表达的影响.每个处理分别设置5个重复,以投喂未添加上述任何成份的基础饲料组作为空白对照,养殖实验周期为60 d.结果发现,饲料中添加马氏副球菌能显著提高仿刺参体腔细胞的吞噬活性和呼吸爆发活力,而添加酵母多糖可以显著提高仿刺参体腔细胞的吞噬能力,但是添加氟苯尼考显著降低了仿刺参体腔细胞的呼吸爆发活力;而在仿刺参中肠肠道组织中,酵母多糖和马氏副球菌处理组免疫基因Aj-p105和j-p50 mRNA的表达均大幅上调,显著高于对照组.其中,酵母多糖添加组增幅分别为43.2％和63.1％,马氏副球菌添加组的增幅分别为49.8％和48.0％.马氏副球菌添加组中免疫基因Aj-lys的表达显著高于对照组,增幅为46.4％;大黄添加组中Aj-p105 mRNA的表达量显著高于对照组,而氟苯尼考添加组中Aj-p50、Aj-rel和Aj-lys的mRNA表达量相对于对照组均显著下降.研究表明,饲料中适当添加酵母多糖和马氏副球菌可有效提高仿刺参非特异性免疫力,而饲料中抗生素氟苯尼考的添加会降低仿刺参非特异性免疫力.     

吉富罗非鱼与奥利亚罗非鱼自繁与杂交 F1遗传特性与抗病力分析

以吉富罗非鱼与奥利亚罗非鱼为繁育亲本,采用完全双列杂交繁育4组F1,将初始规格基本一致的4组罗非鱼饲养100 d后,运用“加性-显性”遗传分析模型,分析了4组F1罗非鱼8个生长相关性状杂种优势、遗传效应以及与性状间的相关性.结果表明:(1)F1群体平均优势为0.129 4～0.368 4.除尾柄长超亲优势较大外,其他性状的群体超亲优势较小或表现出负向超亲优势.(2)8个性状的广义遗传率(HB)为0.714 2～0.995 3,表明加性效应和显性效应对性状的遗传变异影响极显著(P＜0.01).除尾柄长外,其他性状的狭义遗传率(HN)介于0.469 4～0.737 9,表明加性遗传方差在表型方差中所占比率较高.(3)体质量、全长、体长、体高、体宽、头长、尾柄长、尾柄高性状之间表型相关在0.776 6～0.999 7范围内,而遗传相关在0.994 1～1.000 0之间,表明这些性状间都存在极显著的正相关.取样结束后,采用3.95×106 CFU/mL的海豚链球菌菌液进行腹腔感染,吉富罗非鱼自繁组F1代12 h后出现死亡,而奥利亚罗非鱼自繁组F1192 h后才出现死亡.384 h后,吉富罗非鱼自繁组F1死亡率为40％,正反交组F1分别为20％和23.3％,奥利亚罗非鱼自繁组F1死亡率最低,为6.67％.研究结果表明,除尾柄长外,杂交F1的其他性状不具备超亲优势,然而杂交可以提高选育后代的抗病力.     

副溶血弧菌对斑节对虾非特异性免疫酶活性的影响

为了研究副溶血弧菌对斑节对虾非特异性免疫酶活性的影响,分别对斑节对虾注射生理盐水和副溶血弧菌,于不同时间点测定肝胰腺和鳃中的总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)和溶菌酶(LSZ)的活性变化。结果显示,与对照组相比,感染副溶血弧菌后,肝胰腺和鳃中T-AOC活性分别于12和6 h达到最大值(P0.05),随后逐渐降低;肝胰腺中ACP活性于3 h显著升高,随后逐渐降低,并于24 h达到最小值(P0.05),而鳃中ACP活性于12 h达到最大值,随后逐渐降低,并于48 h显著低于对照组(P0.05);肝胰腺和鳃中ALP活性整体均呈现出先升高后下降的趋势,但未出现显著低于对照组的现象;肝胰腺和鳃中LSZ活性均于3 h显著升高至最大值(P0.05),随后逐渐恢复至初始水平。研究表明,副溶血弧菌感染对斑节对虾非特异性免疫酶活有显著影响,对其机体免疫防御系统有明显的破坏作用。     

Recruitment and effects of Discocotyle sagittata (Monogenea) infection on farmed trout

Farmed rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta were monitored over 3 years for infection with the blood-feeding gill fluke Discocotyle sagittata. Parasite transmission is seasonal: new infections take place during summer/autumn, and transmission is generally negligible during winter/spring. There are 2 sources of infection for naïve fish-of-the-year: limited invasion when fish are in the raceways by riverborne larvae originating external to the farm; and internally, within the farm, when 0+ fish are transferred to ponds previously occupied by older cohorts of infected fish. Thereafter, infection levels continue to increase in rainbow trout primarily through transmission within the farm. Prevalence rose to 100% in 1+ fish by the end of their second summer. In O. mykiss, mean abundance reached 194 worms/host for 1+ fish (up to 489 worms/host) and 160 worms/host for 2+ fish. By contrast, in S. trutta, parasite prevalence never exceeded 85% and, after the first year's invasions, infection levels decreased over time: in 1+ and 2+ brown trout, parasite mean abundance was < 4 (maximum 15) worms/host. We present evidence of the detrimental effects of D. sagittata on the host: high burdens are associated with pale gills, decreased body condition and host mortality. Parasite burdens become overdispersed during the warmer part of the year, as prevalence and mean abundance increase. However, the degree of parasite overdispersion decreases over winter; we cannot distinguish whether decreased aggregation is due to parasite losses from infected fish (including immune-mediated parasite mortality) or parasite-induced host mortality.     

Development of a coastal environment assessment system using coral recruitment

A new method for assessing coastal environments using the reproduction potential of corals has been developed and examined in situ. Six assessment racks were deployed before the full moon of May 2006 at three sites located around a river outlet in Nagura Bay, Ishigaki Is. and at one control location in Sekisei Lagoon. Each rack was equipped with two marine blocks (MB) containing 378 holes, two cases of coral settlement devices (CSDs), each containing 120 CSDs, and a water temperature logger. Assessment was based on recruitment of Acropora due to mass spawning. After 4 months of deployment, the surface of assessment racks showed apparent biofouling depending on sites mainly by algal settlement on the surfaces. Almost all the holes of the MBs were partly occupied, mainly by turf algae. Nagura Bay was thought likely to be an “unhealthy” coral reef due to runoff from land. However, our assessment showed that there were 0.85 corals per CSD in the Bay, compared with 0.51 in Sekisei Lagoon, indicating that coral larvae supply is not the cause of the unhealthy condition of corals in the Nagura Bay.