Supplementation of sodium chloride in diets to improve the meat quality of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,reared in low‐salinity water

To investigate the effect of dietary sodium chloride (NaCl) on meat quality of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) reared in low‐salinity (2 g L^?1) water, shrimp were distributed into four groups (treatments T‐1, T‐2, T‐3 and control) with three replicates. All shrimps were completely randomised stocked into 12 tanks at an initial density of 40 shrimps per tank. Diets for the control, T‐1, T‐2 and T‐3 groups consisted of the basal diet supplemented with 0 g kg^?1, 10 g kg^?1, 20 g kg^?1 and 40 g kg^?1 of NaCl respectively. After 50 days, shrimps in T‐3 showed significantly better (P < 0.05) moisture, crude protein and ash than those of the control and T‐1. Higher muscle Na content was observed (P < 0.05) in T‐3 than that of the control. Significant increases (P < 0.05) in contents of inosinic acid, total free amino acid (TFAA) and essential free amino acid (EFAA) were also found in T‐3. Texture assays showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in hardness, adhesiveness and springiness between group T‐3 as compared with those of T‐1 and control. It indicated that dietary supplementation of NaCl appeared to be a promising practice to improve meat quality of white shrimp reared in low‐salinity waters.     

The effects of dietary lipid levels on performance and heat‐shock protein response of juvenile white seabass,Atractoscion nobilis

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of dietary lipid on growth performance and heat‐shock protein (HSP70 and HSP60) response of white seabass (WSB), Atractoscion nobilis. Five diets were formulated to contain 440 g kg^?1 protein from 300 g kg^?1 fish meal, 240 g kg^?1 soybean meal and 100 g kg^?1 soy protein concentrate with different levels of lipid: 100, 120, 140, 160 or 180 g kg^?1. At the end of the trial, heat shock response based on HSP70 and HSP60 was measured in liver and white muscle from fish at ambient temperature and temperature shock conditions. Final weight and percent gain were significantly higher for fish fed the 100 g kg^?1 lipid diet than for fish fed the rest of the diets (P ≤ 0.05). Feed conversion ratio was lowest for fish fed the 100 g kg^?1 lipid diet. The HSP70 and HSP60 responses were positively correlated to dietary lipid levels following temperature shock. At ambient temperature, HSP60 and HSP70 responses in muscle and HSP60 response in liver increased with dietary lipid level. Temperature shock significantly increased the HSP response of fish in all treatments. Results of this study demonstrated that a moderate (110–120 g kg^?1) level of dietary lipids would be recommended for production diets but a higher dietary lipid level may be required for optimal stress tolerance.     

Larval development and salinity tolerance of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) from hatching to juvenile settlement

Salinity tolerance and growth of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus at different developmental stages were evaluated, including newly hatched larvae (nhl), yolk sac larvae (ysl), oil droplet larvae (odl), post oil droplet larvae (podl), premetamorphic larvae (preml) and prometamorphic larvae (proml), at 11 salinities from 5 to 55 g L^?1 for 96 h. The ontogenesis during the early life of P. olivaceus was investigated under hatchery salinity 35 g L^?1. The results showed that suitable salinities for nhl, ysl, odl, podl, preml and proml larvae were 10 to 25 g L^?1, 10 to 30 g L^?1, 20 to 30 g L^?1, 30 g L^?1, 10 to 30 g L^?1, 15 g L^?1, respectively, demonstrating an ontogenetic variation of salinity tolerance. The salinity tolerance of nhl, ysl, preml was higher than that of odl, podl and proml. The ysl and preml larvae displayed wide salinity tolerances. The present findings demonstrate that the suitable salinity for larviculture of P. olivaceus is 20–25 g L^?1 before the depletion of oil droplet; after that, higher salinity (30 g L^?1) should be ensured for the post‐oil droplet larvae; the premetamorphic larvae can be cultured at a wide salinity range (10–30 g L^?1), and the metamorphosed larvae should be reared at salinity about 15 g L^?1.     

Acute toxicity of nitrite on white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) juveniles in low‐salinity water

The nitrite toxicity was estimated in juveniles of L. vannamei. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC₅₀ of nitrite‐N on juveniles were 8.1, 7.9, 6.8 and 5.7 mg L^?1 at 0.6 g L^?1; 14.4, 9.6 8.3 and 7.0 mg L^?1 at 1.0 g L^?1; 19.4, 15.4, 13.4 and 12.4 mg L^?1 at 2.0 g L^?1 of salinity respectively. The tolerance of juveniles to nitrite decreased at 96 h of exposure by 18.6% and 54.0%, when salinity declined from 1.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 and from 2.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 respectively. The safe concentrations at salinities of 0.6, 1.0 and 2.0 g L^?1 were 0.28, 0.35 and 0.62 mg L^?1 nitrite‐N respectively. The relationship between LC₅₀ (mg L^?1), salinity (S) (g L^?1) and exposure time (T) (h) was LC₅₀ = 8.4688 + 5.6764S – 0.0762T for salinities from 0.6 to 2.0 g L^?1 and for exposure times from 24 to 96 h; the relationship between survival (%) and nitrite‐N concentration (C) for salinity of 0.6–2.0 g L^?1, nitrite‐N concentrations of 0–40 mg L^?1 and exposure times from 0 to 96 h was as follows: survival (%) = 0.8442 + 0.1909S – 0.0038T – 0.0277C + 0.0008ST + 0.0001CT–0.0029SC, and the tentative equation for predicting the 96‐h LC₅₀ to salinities from 0.6 to 35 g L^?1 in L. vannamei juveniles (3.9–4.4 g) was 96‐h LC₅₀ = 0.2127 S² + 1.558S + 5.9868. For nitrite toxicity, it is shown that a small change in salinity of waters from 2.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 is more critical for L. vannamei than when wider differences in salinity occur in brackish and marine waters (15–35 g L^?1).     

Effects of acute change in salinity and moulting on the infection of white leg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) with white spot syndrome virus upon immersion challenge

In the field, moulting and salinity drop in the water due to excessive rainfall have been mentioned to be risk factors for WSSV outbreaks. Therefore, in this study, the effect of an acute change in environmental salinity and shedding of the old cuticle shell on the susceptibility of Penaeus vannamei to WSSV was evaluated by immersion challenge. For testing the effect of abrupt salinity stress, early premoult shrimp that were acclimated to 35 g L^?1 were subjected to salinities of 50 g L^?1, 35 g L^?1, 20 g L^?1, 10 g L^?1 and 7 g L^?1 or 5 g L^?1 and simultaneously exposed to 10^5.5 SID₅₀ mL^?1 of WSSV for 5 h, after which the salinity was brought back to 35 g L^?1. Shrimp that were transferred from 35 g L^?1 to 50 g L^?1, 35 g L^?1 and 20 g L^?1 did not become infected with WSSV. Shrimp became infected with WSSV after an acute salinity drop from 35 g L^?1 to 10 g L^?1 and lower. The mortality in shrimp, subjected to a salinity change to 10 g L^?1, 7 g L^?1 and 5 g L^?1, was 6.7%, 46.7% and 53.3%, respectively (P < 0.05)_. For testing the effect of moulting, shrimp in early premoult, moulting and post‐moult were immersed in sea water containing 10^5.5 SID₅₀ mL^?1 of WSSV. The resulting mortality due to WSSV infection in shrimp inoculated during early premoult (0%), ecdysis (53.3%) and post‐moult (26.72%) demonstrated that a significant difference exists in susceptibility of shrimp during the short moulting process (P < 0.05). The findings of this study indicate that during a drop in environmental salinity lower than 10 g L^?1 and ecdysis, shrimp are at risk for a WSSV infection. These findings have important implications for WSSV control measures.     

Effects of stocking density and water conditioners on yolk‐sac larvae of two marine finfish during simulated air transport

As marine finfish aquaculture expands, there is an increasing interest in the ability to ship early life stages from breeding centres to hatcheries so that each hatchery does not have to maintain its own broodstock. Here, we conducted 24 h air‐shipping simulations with yolk‐sac larvae of California yellowtail (CYT; Seriola lalandi) and white seabass (WSB; Atractoscion nobilis) to help fill in the informational gaps for shipping marine fish larvae. We examined the effects of a pH buffer on water quality, post‐shipping larval survival and subsequent survival to first feeding at larval densities of 1000, 3000, 6000 and 9000 larvae L^?1. The pH buffer, 8.3 Trizma^®, was tested at varying concentrations of zero (NT = 0.00 g L^?1), low (LT = 0.75 g L^?1), medium (MT = 1.5 g L^?1) and high (HT = 3.0 g L^?1). Trials were conducted using replicate 2 L aquarium bags filled with 500 mL of seawater and held in a water bath at 19–20°C. Results showed an interspecific difference in survival at the highest shipping densities under these experimental conditions. Shipping densities up to 6750 CYT larvae L^?1 or 3000 WSB larvae L^?1 consistently yielded >90% survival immediately after simulated shipment and >85% survival 48 h after the simulations. Furthermore, at these densities, pH was maintained at ~8.0 when buffered at 1.5 g L^?1. The highest tested densities of 9580 CYT larvae L^?1 and 9940 WSB larvae L^?1, yielded lower survival 69–79% and 0.0–1.3% respectively after 24 h. Final pH in the high density CYT trials were unsatisfactory (below 7.0), regardless of the buffer concentration; however pH in the WSB high density trials improved with increasing buffer concentration. On the basis of the results from these air‐shipping simulations, we recommend CYT and WSB larvae be shipped in seawater with 1.5 g L^?1 Trizma^® at densities not greater than 6750 larvae L^?1 for CYT and 3000 larvae L^?1 for WSB. We believe this represents an important step in improving long distance transport protocols for these species and provides useful guidance in air transport of other economically and ecologically important marine species. Additional research is warranted to compare these simulation results with those from actual air shipments, as we did not account for factors that may vary in flight like temperature and pressure variations, and physical agitation.     

Effects of ammonia exposure on stress and immune response in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ammonia exposure on stress and immune response in turbot. The species was exposed to five total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations: 0 (control), 1, 5, 20 and 40 mg L^?1 for 96 h. After 0, 24, 48 and 96 h of exposure, blood samples were collected to measure the levels of corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, growth hormone (GH), lysozyme (LZM), complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4) and immunoglobulinM (IgM); liver samples were taken to analyse oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione, GSH; malondialdehyde, MDA), and gene expression of heat shock proteins (HSP 70 and HSP 90) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1). The results showed that exposure to higher concentrations of TAN (20 and/or 40 mg L^?1) enhanced the levels of CRH, ACTH and cortisol and attenuated the levels of GH, LZM, C3, C4 and IgM in plasma of turbot after 48 and 96 h. In liver, TAN (20 and/or 40 mg L^?1) apparently increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT), mRNA levels of HSP (HSP 70 and 90) and formation of MDA, decreased the content of GSH and mRNA levels of IGF‐1 after 48 and 96 h of exposure. Overall, our results suggested that high ammonia exposure caused activation of hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal axis, inhibition of GH/IGF axis and immunity, and occurrence of oxidative stress.     

Effects of dietary α‐ketoglutarate supplementation on the antioxidant defense system and HSP 70 and HSP 90 gene expression of hybrid sturgeon Acipenser schrenckii ♀ × A. baerii ♂ exposed to ammonia‐N stress

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary α‐ketoglutarate (AKG) supplementation on the antioxidant defense system and gene expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and HSP 90 in hybrid sturgeons Acipenser schrenckii ♀ × A. baerii ♂ exposed to ammonia‐N stress. A 2 × 3 factorial experiment was arranged, in which each diet (0%, 1% AKG) was randomly assigned to 0.25 (control) 5 and 10 mg L^?1 ammonia‐N groups with three replicate aquaria for each 72 h. The 10 mg L^?1 ammonia‐N significantly increased serum ammonia concentrations and intestinal Gln concentrations and GS activity compared with the 0.25 or 5 mg L^?1 ammonia‐N groups. The intestinal Gln concentration and GS activity increased, and the serum ammonia concentration decreased, in fish given dietary supplementation of 1.0% AKG compared with fish given diets without AKG. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in serum, gills and intestines decreased when fish were exposed to 5 or 10 mg L^?1 ammonia‐N, and their activity increased in fish given diets with 1% AKG. Catalase in the serum and gills decreased when fish were exposed to 5 or 10 mg L^?1 ammonia‐N and increased in fish given diets with 1% AKG. The 10 mg L^?1 ammonia‐N or 1% AKG supplementation increased HSP 70 and HSP 90 gene expression in the liver. The increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, and increased HSP 70 and HSP 90 gene expression in fish fed diets containing 1% AKG suggested higher tolerance to ammonia‐N stress.     

Survival and behavioural responses of cool and warm water fish sedated with AQUI‐S®20E (10% eugenol) at high loading densities

This study evaluated the effects of AQUI‐S^®20E (10% eugenol) sedation on the survival and behaviour of yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill) and Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. held in high loading densities. Fish were held in 0–300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E (0–30 mg L^?1 eugenol) for up to 10 h in static tanks. At 17°C, yellow perch held in 200 and 300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E were lightly sedated for up to 7 h. Yellow perch at 200 and 300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E also had >95% mean survival 7‐days post exposure using loading densities up to 360 g L^?1. Nile tilapia were only sedated for ≤3 h in concentrations up to 300 mg L^?1 at 22°C and had >90% mean survival at loading densities ≤480 g L^?1. Ammonia in tanks increased significantly as loading density increased, but treatment with AQUI–S^®20E did not reduce ammonia accumulation. Results suggest that AQUI–S^®20E was effective to sedate yellow perch and Nile tilapia at high loading densities, but sedation varied with loading density and species.     

Quantifying the dietary potassium requirement of subadult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

A growth trial lasting for 12 weeks was conducted in 21 net cages to determine the dietary potassium (K) requirement of subadult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) (Average weight: 331.3 g). Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic semi‐purified diets were compounded with different dietary K level. The specific growth rate (SGR) of fish was significantly (P < 0.05) improved by dietary K supplementation, SGR and the gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity increased first and then decreased (P < 0.05) as dietary K level increased. The highest SGR and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity values were both observed at 6.38 g kg^?1 group. Dietary K level showed significant (P < 0.05) effect on serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glucose (GLU), the maximum values of SOD and GLU were in 8.42 and 6.38 g kg^?1 group, respectively. The body lipid content of the 6.38 g kg^?1 group was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control. However, the ash content in the 8.42 g kg^?1 group was significantly higher than those in the 1.21, 2.21, 4.41 and 6.38 g kg^?1 group. When dietary protein was 320 g kg^?1 and the waterborne potassium ranged from 6.86 to 9.10 mg L^?1, the dietary K requirement for subadult grass carp judged from SGR and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity is 5.38 and 7.41 g kg^?1 diet, respectively.     

Growth,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile Manchurian trout,Brachymystax lenok (Pallas) fed different dietary protein and lipid levels

A 10‐week feeding trial with four dietary protein levels (400, 450, 500 and 550 g kg^?1 crude protein) and two dietary lipid levels (80 and 160 g kg^?1 crude lipid) was conducted to assess optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for the growth, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile Manchurian trout (initial weight 11.80 ± 0.15 g). Fish were fed twice daily (08:30 and 16:30 h) to apparent satiation. The results showed that fish fed the diet with 500 g kg^?1 protein and 80 g kg^?1 lipid had the highest growth and feed efficiency. However, fish fed the diet with 450 g kg^?1 protein and 160 g kg^?1 lipid showed comparable growth to that of the fish fed diet 5 (500/80) and had higher protein efficiency ratio (PER), nitrogen retention (NR) and energy retention (ER) than other groups (P < 0.05). Growth, PER, NR and ER of fish fed the 160 g kg^?1 lipid diet was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of fish fed the 80 g kg^?1 lipid diet at 400 and 450 g kg^?1 protein diet, whereas these values showed an opposite trend at 500 and 550 g kg^?1 protein diet, and the lowest PER, NR and ER was found by fish fed the 400 g kg^?1 protein diet with 80 g kg^?1 lipid. Fish fed diets with 400 g kg^?1 protein had lower feed intake (FI) than that of other groups. Feed intake of fish fed 80 g kg^?1 lipid level was significantly lower than that of fish fed 160 g kg^?1 lipid diet at 400 g kg^?1 protein (P < 0.05), while no significant differences were observed at 450, 500 and 550 g kg^?1 protein‐based diets. Contrary to moisture content, lipid content of whole body and muscle increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing lipid levels. The results of this study indicated that the diet containing 450 g kg^?1 protein and 160 g kg^?1 lipid, with a P/E ratio of 23.68 g protein MJ^?1 would be suitable for better growth and feed utilization of juvenile Manchurian trout under the experimental conditions and design level used in this study.     

Comparative study on dietary protein requirements for juvenile and pre‐adult gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III)

Two 8‐week growth trials were conducted in indoor recirculation system to evaluate the protein requirements for juvenile (3.70 ± 0.20 g) and pre‐adult (85.2 ± 0.70 g) gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III. Six isoenergetic diets were formulated for each trial using fish meal and casein as protein sources, and protein level was 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 200–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2. With the increasing dietary protein, feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Weight gain (WG) increased first and then reached a plateau in 330–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P > 0.05), while decreased after the maximum value in 350 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Productive protein values (PPVs) were lower in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 400–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Increasing dietary protein level increased protein content and decreased lipid content in whole fish body and white muscle (P < 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matters (ADC_d) decreased, while apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (ADC_p) increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Trypsin activity significantly increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P < 0.05) and was not affected in Trial 2 (P > 0.05). Hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in both trials increased when dietary protein was above 400 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05). Based on quadratic regression of WG, it was estimated that dietary protein requirement for maximum growth was 414 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 376 g kg^?1) and 365 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 324 g kg^?1) for juvenile (3.70 g) and pre‐adult gibel carp (85.2 g).     

Effects of dietary supplementation of A3α‐peptidoglycan on the growth,immune response and defence of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

To determine the effects of A3α‐peptidoglycan (A3α‐PG) extracted from Bifidobacterium sp. on the growth, immune response and disease resistance of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus, a 70‐day feeding trial was conducted in this study. A total of 216 sea cucumbers were fed with four practical diets prepared from a commercial feed with different contents (0, 1.5, 2.5 and 4.0 g kg^?1) of A3α‐PG. The specific growth rate (SGR), total coelomocyte count (TCC), phagocytotic activity and activities of four immunological enzymes in both cell‐free coelomic fluid (extracellular, EC) and coelomocyte lysate supernatant (intracellular, IC), including acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were measured at the end of the feeding trial. Finally, the animals were administered a 16‐day Vibrio splendidus challenge via intraperitoneal injection to test the potency of A3α‐PG on disease resistance. Compared with the control (0 g kg^?1 A3α‐PG), a significant increase (P < 0.05) in SGR was observed in the groups fed with 1.5 and 2.5 g kg^?1 A3a‐PG. The TCC, ranging from 7.25 × 10⁶ to 1.05 × 10⁷ cells mL^?1, was not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by A3α‐PG,. Coelomocyte phagocytotic activities in all of the A3α‐PG‐supplemented groups were significantly activated (P < 0.05), but no significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed. Sea cucumbers fed with 1.5 and 2.5 g kg^?1 A3α‐PG exhibited significant activation (P < 0.05) of EC/IC‐ACP, EC/IC‐ALP, and EC/IC‐POD activities. A significant increase in EC‐SOD activities (P < 0.05) was exhibited by all groups with A3α‐PG supplementation. The challenge test showed that animals fed with diets containing 2.5 and 4.0 g kg^?1 A3α‐PG had significantly lower cumulative mortalities compared with the control 16 days after exposure. All of the results presented here show that A3α‐PG can positively enhance the growth, immune response and disease resistance of sea cucumber, suggesting that dietary supplementation of A3α‐PG has potential applications in the health management of economic species of sea cucumber.     

Effect of different dietary levels of commercial wood charcoal on growth,body composition and environmental loading of red tilapia hybrid

A 60‐day feeding study was performed to evaluate the role of dietary commercial wood charcoal (CWC) in fish growth performance, body composition and water quality of fingerlings red tilapias (Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus). Four levels of charcoal (10, 20, 30 and 40 g kg^?1) were added to the control diet (0 g kg^?1 CWC) and fed to red tilapias (initial weight of 1.20 ± 0.04 g). At the end of the feeding trial, the fish weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and energy retention of the fish groups fed 30 and 40 g kg^?1 (CWC) in diet were significantly (P < 0.05) higher comparing with all other tested fish groups. Moreover, some proximate composition such as crude protein and nitrogen retention efficiency g kg^?1 of the fish groups fed on 30 and 40 g kg^?1 CWC diets showed higher values (P < 0.05) than those of other tested fish groups (0, 10 and 20 g kg^?1 CWC). Apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and dry matter were improved (P < 0.05) in CWC‐tested fish groups compared to the control fish group. These data were powered by the data of the water quality that showed significant (P < 0.05) enhancement in both dissolved oxygen and ammonia concentrations by the increment in dietary charcoal levels. The above‐mentioned parameters' data suggested that 30 g kg^?1 dietary CWC can be considered as a suitable level to maintain normal growth of red tilapia juveniles as well as to enhance water quality of the rearing area.     

Effects of temperature and dietary protein on the growth performance and IGF‐I mRNA expression of juvenile mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Juvenile mirror carp were fed with five different diets containing 303, 322, 341, 361 and 379 g kg^?1 protein and reared at three different water temperatures (18, 23 and 28 °C) for 60 days. We investigated the insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) mRNA expression, growth performance and the relationship between IGF‐I mRNA expression and the growth performance. The results indicated that the IGF‐I mRNA expression, final body weight, specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) were enhanced significantly with increasing dietary protein levels (P < 0.05), whereas the protein efficiency ratio, hepatosomatic index (HSI) and viscerosomatic index (VSI) were decreased. Moreover, the IGF‐I mRNA expression, final body weight and SGR were increased significantly with temperature, whereas the HSI and VSI indices were decreased significantly with temperature. Correlation analysis showed that the IGF‐I mRNA expression levels in the brain and liver were positively related to the SGR and FE growth indices (P < 0.01). Finally, the optimal protein requirements for fish growth in different seasons were determined based on the values of SGR and FE, that is 343–348 g kg^?1 protein at 18 °C, 354–352 g kg^?1 at 23 °C and 371–362 g kg^?1 at 28 °C. In this way, we can adjust the dietary protein levels according to culture temperature to reduce any negative impacts on dietary costs and environmental pollution.     

Digestibility of feed ingredients in Florida pompano,Trachinotus carolinus adapted to either sea water or low salinity

Seven potential feed ingredients were evaluated for digestibility with Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus using extruded diets. Ingredients included Special Select^? menhaden meal, fishery processing by‐product (Montlake meal), NuPro^® yeast extract, canola protein concentrate, corn protein concentrate, barley protein concentrate and Spirulina. Digestibility values were determined when fish were held at 3 and 28 g L^?1 salinity to determine the effect of salinity on digestibility. With the exception of the canola protein concentrate, the coefficients were numerically higher in pompano held at 28 g L^?1. No significant differences were detected for apparent crude protein or apparent energy digestibility between the two salinities. Amino acids were highly available from the two marine‐based ingredients and the barley and canola concentrates. The availability of alanine, leucine, isoleucine and phenylalanine was significantly higher (P < 0.05) from the barley protein concentrate at 28 g L^?1 than 3 g L^?1 salinity. Methionine and phenylalanine were highly available from all the ingredients except the yeast protein. Conversely, glycine was not well utilised from any of the ingredients. The apparent digestibility coefficients provided here allow for more precise formulation of diets for Florida pompano reared in both seawater and low‐salinity environments.     

Co‐culture of sea cucumber Holothuria scabra and red seaweed Kappaphycus striatum

Commercially valuable sea cucumbers are potential co‐culture species in tropical lagoon environments, where they may be integrated into established aquaculture areas used for seaweed farming. In the current study, wild‐caught juvenile sea cucumbers, Holothuria scabra, and red seaweed Kappaphycus striatum were co‐cultured on Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania. Sea cucumbers (97 g ± 31 SD, n = 52) were cultured in mesh enclosures at initial cage stocking densities of 124 ± 21 SD and 218 ± 16 SD g m^?2 under seaweed culture lines. Over 83 days, individual growth rate (1.6 g d^?1 ± 0.2 SD) of sea cucumbers at low stocking density was significantly higher (χ² = 8.292, d.f. = 1, P = 0.004) than at high‐stocking density (0.9 g d^?1 ± 0.1 SD). Seaweed individual growth rates [6.27 (±0.3 SE) g d^?1] were highest in co‐culture with sea cucumber at low density but did not differ significantly from high sea cucumber density or seaweed monoculture treatments (χ² = 3.0885, d.f. = 2, P = 0.2135). Seaweed growth varied significantly (χ² = 35.6, d.f. = 2, P < 0.0001) with sampling period, with the final sampling period resulting in the highest growth rate. Growth performance for seaweed and sea cucumbers (χ² = 3.089, d.f. = 2, P = 0.21 and χ² = 0.08, d.f. = 1, P = 0.777 respectively), did not differ significantly between monoculture and co‐culture treatments, yet growth in co‐culture was comparable with that reported for existing commercial monoculture. Results indicate H. scabra is a highly viable candidate species for lagoon co‐culture with seaweed. Co‐culture offers a more efficient use of limited coastal space over monoculture and is recommended as a potential coastal livelihood option for lagoon farmers in tropical regions.     

Synchronization of ovulation in cultured northern whitefish (Coregonus peled,Gmelin 1788) using [D‐Arg6Pro9Net]‐sGnRH analogue and its effect on egg quality

Female northern whitefish were treated with salmon [D‐Arg⁶Pro⁹Net]‐sGnRHa emulsified in Freund′s incomplete adjuvant as a sustained release treatment (sGnRHa‐FIA) or with [D‐Arg⁶Pro⁹Net]‐sGnRHa dissolved in physiological saline as acute release treatment (sGnRHa‐PS). Females in four experimental groups (A, B, C, D) and one control group (E) were injected intraperitoneally as follows: A and B – sGnRHa‐FIA at doses of 50 and 25 μg kg^?1, respectively; C – double injection (DI) of sGnRHa‐PS at 25 μg kg^?1 administered 3 days apart; D – single injection (SI) of sGnRHa‐PS at 25 μg kg^?1; and E – control group receiving a 1:1 mixture of FIA and physiological saline. All treatments induced and synchronized ovulation. Mean time to ovulation was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in GnRHa‐treated groups compared with control. Hormone treatments did not affect the relative fecundity. Slight differences were found in ovarian fluid pH between group A and D (P < 0.05). Except for group C, egg size was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in hormonally synchronized groups compared with the control. Survival to the eyed stage of eggs from females in groups A, B and C was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in groups D and E. Per cent hatched alevins was lower (P < 0.01) in groups A, B and C than in groups D and E. We conclude that synchronization of ovulation in northern whitefish can be induced by a single acute injection of [D‐Arg⁶Pro⁹NEt]‐sGnRHa at 25 μg kg^?1 BW if given near the natural spawning time determined by water temperature below 2°C.     

Effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharide on growth,survival, physiological,immunological and gut morphological conditions of black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon Fabricius 1798)

The aim of this experiment was to determine the effects of dietary inclusion with mannan oligosaccharide (Bio‐Mos, Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA) on growth, survival, physiological and immunological conditions and gut morphology of the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon). Five diets supplemented with MOS at 0 g kg^?1 (control diet), 1, 2, 4 and 8 g kg^?1 were fed to the prawn juveniles (0.4 ± 0.06 g, total weight) for the duration of 63 days. Growth was the highest (P < 0.05) when the prawns were fed the 1 g kg^?1 MOS included diet. Wet tail muscle index (Tw/B), dry tail muscle index (Td/B) and tail muscle protein (Tmp) were higher (P < 0.05) in the prawns fed MOS included diets MOS compared with the prawns fed the control diet. Total haemocyte counts (THCs) of the prawns fed MOS included diets were higher (P < 0.05) than THCs of the prawns fed the control diet. Epithelium layer and epidermal cell density of the gut of the prawns fed 1 g kg^?1 and 2 g kg^?1 MOS diets were better than the prawns fed the control and other MOS diets. The results imply a positive effect of dietary supplementation of 1–2 g kg^?1 MOS in the culture of black tiger prawns.