香港巨牡蛎与长牡蛎种间杂交及早期杂种优势分析

为测定香港巨牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis♀×C.hongkongensis♂)、长牡蛎自繁家系(C.gigas♀×C.gigas♂)及其两者种间杂交家系(C.hongkongensis♀×C.gigas♂)子代的早期表型性状,评估种间杂种潜力,分析早期种间杂种优势,实验于2010年7月,采用1雄对3雌的巢式设计建立了9个香港巨牡蛎自繁家系(Crassostrea hongkongensis♀×C.hongkongensis♂)(HH11、HH12、HH13……HH33)、9个长牡蛎自繁家系(C.gigas♀×C.gigas♂)(GG11、GG12、GG13……GG33)及45个种间杂交家系(C.hongkongensis♀×C.gigas♂)(HG11、HG12、HG13……HG153)。结果发现,种间杂交家系受精率及孵化率平均水平的杂种潜力hp<-1,表现出显著的杂种劣势;出现了一定程度的种间配子不兼容现象,而且存在着显著的个体间差异。从其总体水平上看,幼虫生长性状的杂种潜力hp<-1,表现出显著的杂种劣势,出现了远交衰退现象;幼虫存活性状的杂种潜力hp在-1～1之间,虽然具有正向优势,但达不到显著标准;幼虫变态率的杂种潜力hp>1,表现出显著的杂种优势。     

壳金长牡蛎自交和杂交家系生长与存活比较

选择具有生长优势的长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)G2(A)家系及具有明显生长和存活优势的G19(B)和G28(C)家系进行完全双列杂交,得到包括3个自交组(AA、BB、CC)和6个杂交组(AB、AC、BA、BC、CA、CB)共9个壳金长牡蛎实验组,分析各实验组在幼虫期及稚贝期不同日龄的各生长指标和存活性能,并评估了杂交组的杂种优势。结果表明,在整个培育阶段,大多数杂交组在不同生长时期均表现出较高的生长和存活性能,其中,浮游幼虫期5日龄,所有杂交组的壳高和壳长均显著大于自交组(P0.05);10日龄后,杂交组CB、BC和AC的壳高显著大于相应的自交组(P0.05),杂种优势明显;稚贝期85和130日龄,杂交组CB的壳高性能大于其他实验组。浮游幼虫期10日龄,CB组存活率显著大于AA、CA组(P0.05);稚贝期85日龄后,杂交组AC、CA和CB的存活率杂种优势逐渐增大;190日龄,杂交组AC、BC与自交组AA、CC之间存活率差异显著(P0.05)。研究结果为壳金长牡蛎新品种的培育及杂种优势的充分利用奠定了重要基础。     

太平洋牡蛎与葡萄牙牡蛎两亚种间杂交及其早期阶段生长与存活的杂种优势

利用山东青岛养殖的太平洋牡蛎(N)与汕头本地养殖的葡萄牙牡蛎(S)两个近缘种为亲本,采用正交设计建立了杂种组NS(N♂×S♀)和SN(S♂×N♀)与纯种组NN(N♂×N♀)和SS(S♂×S♀)4个不同的遗传组合,通过比较不同阶段(幼虫期、稚贝期、养成阶段)的生长和存活数据,研究了牡蛎近缘种间的杂种优势,目的为改良牡蛎的生产性状。结果表明,这两个近缘种之间杂交能够产生显著的杂种优势,杂交后代的生长与存活两个表型性状都得到改良。杂交组比近交组生长得快,杂种优势在幼虫期为37.44%,稚贝期为42.47%。杂交组也比近交组存活率高,8日龄幼虫存活率的杂种优势为76.80%、14日龄幼虫存活率的杂种优势可达107.70%,60、90和105日龄稚贝存活率的杂种优势分别为17.30%、15.62%和9.08%。研究表明,通过太平洋牡蛎和葡萄牙牡蛎两个近缘种间的杂交有望解决牡蛎养殖产业存在的育苗难、存活率低、生长慢、个体小等问题。     

长牡蛎“海大1号”与壳橙品系杂交子代的杂种优势及配合力

为培育生长快速、存活率高的长牡蛎新品种，以第十一代长牡蛎“海大1号”(H)和第八代壳橙品系(O)为亲本，采用完全双列杂交设计，建立自交组HH(H♀×H♂)和OO(O♀×O♂)与杂交组HO(H♀×O♂)与OH(O♀×H♂)，分析了四个组合的生长与存活杂种优势以及一般配合力(GCA)和特殊配合力(SCA)效应值。结果表明，20日龄时，杂交组存活中亲优势MF1为58.03%，HO和OH的存活与HH相比分别提高31.48%和35.80%。360日龄时，四个组合壳高由高到低依次为OH>HO>HH>OO，杂交组的壳高和湿重中亲杂种优势MF1分别为24.65%和46.02%；与HH相比，OH的壳高和湿重分别提高了23.51%和39.60%；杂交组存活中亲优势MF1、高亲优势HHO和HOH分别为68.31%、40.29%和53.96%。除180日龄时存活性状的父本GCA外，长牡蛎“海大1号”在其余时期的GCA均为正效应值，为较好的高产杂交育种亲本；OH的生长和存活SCA方差均显著高于HO。研究表明，以壳橙选育品系为母本，“海大1号”选育品种为父本的杂交组合OH具较高杂种优势与特殊配合力，可为培育生长快、存活高的优质杂交牡蛎品种提供素材。     

壳金长牡蛎家系的建立及生长和存活性状的比较

于2014年6月,以经过2代家系选育和2代群体选育共连续4代选育的壳金长牡蛎为亲本,采用巢式设计,成功构建25个全同胞家系,同时以未经选育的壳色即普通灰白色的个体子代为对照组,评估各家系和对照组在幼虫、稚贝期的生长和存活差异。结果显示,不同时期,壳金长牡蛎选育家系各生长性状平均值均高于对照组平均值,其中在幼虫期不同日龄,壳金长牡蛎所有家系壳高和存活率平均值均高于对照组,分别提高2.27%~16.67%和1.72%~9.40%;在稚贝期各阶段,壳金长牡蛎所有家系壳高、壳长、总重量及存活率的平均值均高于对照组,分别提高10.04%~19.79%、6.56%~17.78%、10.44%~32.92%和0.20%~4.26%;不同壳金家系间的生长及存活性状具有显著差异,排序也存在不一致性,其中G19和G28家系表现出较高的生长及存活性能,在11月龄,G19和G28家系的壳高、壳长、总重的累积生长量比所有家系平均值分别提高4.78%、8.22%、12.38%和7.61%、4.02%、9.04%,与对照组相比,分别提高15.31%、15.31%、24.11%和18.42%、10.85%、20.42%;存活率比所有家系平均值和对照组分别提高11.70%、12.71%和11.92%、12.94%。研究表明,壳金长牡蛎选育群体的生长性状具有一定的优势,但存活性状有待进一步的改良;家系G19和G28可作为优良品种培育的育种材料。本研究为培育快速生长和存活率高的壳金长牡蛎新品种提供了基础资料。     

深凹壳型香港牡蛎家系生长与存活性状比较

为了培育壳型和生长性状优良的深凹壳型香港牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis)新品系,以广东台山镇海湾香港牡蛎野生群体为基础群体,以壳型和生长为主要选育目标,依据壳型指数D和巢式设计建立了30个全同胞家系和1个对照组,评估各家系和对照组在幼虫期和稚贝期的生长和存活性能。结果表明,整个生长阶段,各家系生长性状和存活率的平均值均高于对照组。幼虫期,所有家系壳高、生长速度以及存活率的平均值均高于对照组,所有家系壳高平均值比对照组提高3.78%～7.73%,生长速度提高7.86%,存活率提高2.85%～7.32%。稚贝期,所有家系壳高、壳长以及生长速度、存活率的平均值均高于对照组平均值,壳高提高5.23%～16.32%,壳长提高7.94%～10.69%,生长速度提高9.55%～20.16%,存活率提高3.45%～12.25%。不同家系在不同时期的生长性状和存活性能也表现出较大的差异,G1在整个稚贝期的生长性状、生长速度以及存活率的平均值均显著高于所有家系和对照组的平均值, 12月龄G1家系的壳高、壳长、壳宽、壳型指数D、总重、壳重、软体重、存活率比所有家系平均值提高9.83%～54.75%,相比对照组平均值提高23.34%～80.77%,同时G3、G10、G12、G15、G19、G23、G26在稚贝期也表现出较大的生长优势和存活优势。研究表明,深凹壳型香港牡蛎家系选育群体在生长性状和存活性能上均具有较大的优势, G1、G3、G10、G12、G15、G19、G23、G26可作为后期培育生长性能优良的深凹壳型香港牡蛎新品系的育种材料。本研究为中国华南地区培育出深凹壳型、生长性能良好的香港牡蛎优良品种提供了理论基础和数据材料。     

长牡蛎成体生长性状的遗传参数估计

在长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)的选择育种工作中,于2009年和2010年分别获得24个和32个全同胞家系。根据长牡蛎360日龄的壳高、壳长、壳宽、总重、壳重、肉重和出肉率参数,利用ASREML软件的REML方法计算表型变量的方差组分,估算了长牡蛎成体阶段生长性状的遗传参数。结果表明,不同年份长牡蛎家系的生长存在显著差异,2009年家系的壳高、肉重和出肉率显著低于2010年家系(P<0.05),2009年家系的总重则显著高于2010家系(P<0.05)。除出肉率外,2009年和2010年家系的壳高与其他生长性状均存在显著的正相关性(P<0.05)。壳高和总重具有较高的遗传力,分别为0.35±0.15和0.27±0.13。长牡蛎成体阶段各生长性状间的遗传相关和表型相关均为正相关,但相关性的大小不同。本研究估测的长牡蛎成体阶段生长性状的遗传参数,可以为合理制定长牡蛎的育种方案和选择反应预测提供参考依据。     

长牡蛎3种壳色家系间杂交子代生长和存活比较

为了利用杂种优势培育长牡蛎优良新品种,实验以3种不同壳色长牡蛎家系(白色/W、黑色/B、紫色/P)为材料,采用3×3完全双列杂交法,建立了3个自交组合和6个正反杂交组合,分析了各实验组幼虫期和养成期的生长、存活以及杂交子代的杂种优势。结果表明,浮游幼虫期,杂交组PB表现出显著的生长优势;与自交组相比,各杂交组均有着较高的幼虫存活率;在幼虫存活率方面,所有杂交组均有较高的杂种优势率。在养成期,紫壳色自交组的壳高显著大于白壳色和黑壳色自交组;6个杂交组中,PB的壳高生长最快,BP次之,PW、WP的生长最慢;各杂交组与自交组的成活率差异均不显著;杂交组BP及其反交组PB的壳高、壳长、总重和存活率的杂种优势率分别介于3.71%~15.27%、-2.00%~13.10%、11.23%~41.56%、-2.77%~9.83%,其他4个杂交组在整个养成阶段没有表现出杂种优势。     

长牡蛎中国群体和美国群体杂交效应与三倍体的优势

将长牡蛎中国群体二倍体分别与美国群体二倍体和四倍体进行杂交,实验共设置4组,分别为杂交二倍体组、杂交三倍体组、中国二倍体组和美国二倍体组,比较了各实验组卵裂率、D幼率、D形幼虫大小及幼虫期、稚贝期的壳高生长、存活率等生物学指标,并估算杂交二倍体的杂种优势率和杂交三倍体的三倍体优势率。结果表明,杂交二倍体幼虫壳高生长的杂种优势率不明显,平均杂种优势率为1.21%,幼虫的存活率及稚贝的壳高生长表现出明显的杂种优势,平均杂种优势率分别为34.47%和20.39%。杂交三倍体的D形幼虫大小、幼虫和稚贝的壳高生长、存活率均表现出三倍体优势,D形幼虫大小三倍体优势率为5.19%,幼虫期壳高生长和存活的平均三倍体优势率分别为4.00%和19.92%,稚贝壳高生长和存活的平均三倍体优势率分别为30.18%和54.43%,200日龄,杂交三倍体鲜体质量的三倍体优势率为202.96%,存活三倍体优势率为73.60%。此外,稚贝期的杂交二倍体生长性状的杂种优势率和杂交三倍体的三倍体优势率均高于幼虫期的优势率。研究表明,中、美两地理群体杂交获得的三倍体长牡蛎子代生长和存活性状都比二倍体优良。杂交三倍体的优良性状主要是三倍体优势,杂交优势的贡献率还有待进一步实验证实。     

熊本牡蛎中国群体与美国群体杂交效应及杂交三倍体优势分析

为了评估熊本牡蛎(Crassostreasikamea)中国群体与美国群体的杂交效应与杂交三倍体优势,构建了杂交群体和自交群体,并使用细胞松弛素B诱导了杂交三倍体,比较分析了幼虫、稚贝与成贝的生长与存活优势。自交群体和杂交群体的幼虫、稚贝与成贝的培养条件均相同,室内培育幼虫,培育密度为4～5个/mL,自然海区养殖稚贝与成贝,养殖密度为40～45个/吊。结果表明,与自交组相比,杂交二倍体具有较高的卵裂率(13.61%)与D幼率(5.67%)(P0.05),但杂交二倍体幼虫的壳高生长表现杂种劣势(–0.43%),而稚贝、成贝的壳长与壳高的生长表现杂种优势,平均优势率分别为3.96%与6.65%。杂交三倍体诱导组幼虫的壳高生长优势率为3.69%,稚贝及成贝的壳长与壳高平均生长优势率分别为12.69%与13.64%,并且日龄越大生长优势越显著。总体上,杂交三倍体诱导组在3～180日龄具有存活劣势,并且15日龄存活劣势率最大(–48.72%),而在360日龄存活优势率为6.70%。杂交二倍体幼虫与成贝均具有存活优势,平均优势率分别为10.44%与4.59%。本研究表明熊本牡蛎中美地理群体杂交二倍体的生长和存活优于自交二倍体,而杂交三倍体诱导组的生长优势较显著,并且在成贝期具有显著的成活率优势,表明杂交三倍体诱导组的优势来源于三倍体优势和部分杂种优势。     

葡萄牙牡蛎与熊本牡蛎种间配子亲和力及合子育性分析

为了评估葡萄牙牡蛎(AA)与熊本牡蛎(SS)的种间配子亲和性及合子育性,以成熟的这两种牡蛎为材料,研究了温度(18、21、24、27和30℃)、盐度(16、20、24、28和32)对其受精率、孵化率的影响;在最优环境条件组合下,估算了不同精子浓度下(100、101、102、103和104个/μL)受精率及孵化率的F50临界值。结果表明,SS、AA及SA受精率和孵化率随着温度升高先上升后下降,在27℃时出现最大值,分别为99.1%±0.3%、98.4%±1.2%和81.3%±2.8%;孵化率变化趋势与受精率相似,也在27℃时出现最大值,分别为99.1%±0.5%、96.8%±2.8%和67.1%±5.5%。SS和SA在盐度24时出现最高受精率,分别为98.8%±1.3%和81.1%±7.4%,AA为94.8%±4.5%;SS和SA在盐度24时出现最大孵化率,分别为75.9%±3.7%和66.1%±4.5%,此时AA孵化率为86.4%±4.2%。在温度27℃、盐度24环境条件下,SA和AA在精子浓度103个/μL时受精率最高,分别为92.4%±1.2%和87.2%±5.7%,SS受精率为92.5%±2.2%;此时的孵化率分别为82.2%±7.0%、78.9%±7.8%和79.8%±4.3%,各实验组间无显著差异。采用一元二次方程估算,SA受精率F50值的精子浓度为58.88个/μL,孵化率F50值的精子浓度为208.93个/μL。本研究为葡萄牙牡蛎与熊本牡蛎生殖隔离机制及其种间杂交奠定了理论与实践基础。     

Summer mortality of hatchery-produced Pacific oyster spat (Crassostrea gigas). I. Estimation of genetic parameters for survival and growth

The multidisciplinary project “MOREST” aims to improve our understanding of causes of summer mortality in Crassostrea gigas juveniles in France and to reduce its impact on oyster production. As part of the MOREST project, 43 full-sib families nested within 17 half-sib families were produced, planted out and tested in 3 sites during summer 2001 to assess to what extent genetic variability exists for this trait. A strong genetic basis was found for survival as narrow-sense heritability estimates ranged from 0.47 to 1.08, with higher values in sites where summer mortality was higher. Genetic correlations across sites were positive and very high for survival, indicating no genotype by environment interaction. In contrast, lower genetic variation was observed for growth in all sites. Finally, genetic correlations between growth and survival were low, in all sites. Selective breeding in a single site should therefore be an efficient means of improving survival in oysters less than one year old along the French Atlantic and Channel coastlines with only very limited effects on growth. As yield mostly depends on survival and growth, this approach should significantly improve harvestable yield. Possible reasons why a high genetic variance for survival appears to be maintained in wild populations are discussed.     

Reproductive cycle and biochemical composition of the Zhe oyster Crassostrea plicatula Gmelin in an eastern coastal bay of China

The reproductive cycle and biochemical composition of the oyster Crassostrea plicatula in Rushan Bay, an eastern coastal bay of China, were investigated between March 2004 and February 2005 in relation to environmental factors (temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a). Histological analysis, combined with oocyte examination and measurements of protein, glycogen and lipid levels and RNA/DNA ratio from gonad, adductor muscle and mantle tissue of each sex were performed. The gametogenic cycle of C. plicatula comprised two phases: a resting phase (November-February) and reproductively active phase, including ripeness and spawning, during the rest of year. Gametogenesis in spring and summer was associated with an increase in protein and lipid contents in the ovaries, and took place at the expense of reserves (mainly glycogen) accumulated previously during winter. The RNA/DNA ratio is a good indicator of sexual maturity in the ovary; the increasing RNA/DNA ratio in the ovary appears to show the rising synthetic activity of vitellin within the ovary. Spawning occurred at the moment when water temperature and chlorophyll a levels were highest, and salinity lowest throughout the year. High variation in glycogen contents during storage and gametogenic development suggests that carbohydrates are the main respiratory substrate in this species. The results demonstrated that C. plicatula may be considered a conservative species in gametogenic pattern.     

近江牡蛎和长牡蛎的配子兼容性及合子育性

为了评估长牡蛎(GG)和近江牡蛎(AA)的配子兼容性和合子育性，本实验探究了盐度(16、20、24、28和32)、温度(18、21、24、27和30 ℃)和精子浓度(10⁰、10¹、10²、10³和10⁴个/μL)对受精率、胚胎畸形率和孵化率的影响。结果显示，随盐度的增加，GG组的受精率和孵化率逐渐上升，而AA组和AG组的受精率和孵化率先上升后下降；GA组和AG组分别在盐度28和24时具有较优的配子兼容性和合子育性，受精率、畸形率、孵化率分别为7.45%±5.05%、2.00%±0.90%、63.60%±9.88%和14.26%±9.26%、1.74%±0.93%、66.16%±9.43%。随温度上升，AA、GA和GG组的受精率和孵化率先升高后下降，而畸形率先下降后上升；GA组和AG组均在27 ℃时表现出较优的配子兼容性和合子育性，此时GA组和AG组的受精率、畸形率、孵化率分别为7.95%±4.04%、1.79%±1.04%、57.11%±9.95%和14.70%±7.27%、1.66%±0.85%、67.25%±15.19%。随精子浓度的增加，GG组的受精率逐渐上升，孵化率逐渐下降，GA组和AG组的受精率逐渐上升；GA组和AG组均在10⁴个/μL时表现出较优的配子兼容性和合子育性，此时二者的受精率、畸形率、孵化率分别为9.09%±7.53%、1.59%±0.48%、67.97%±19.96%和14.30%±6.04%、1.06%±0.68%、67.33%±12.65%。研究表明，温度、盐度和精子浓度对长牡蛎和近江牡蛎种间配子兼容性影响较小，但对合子育性影响较大。     

太平洋牡蛎与近江牡蛎的种间杂交

为了评估太平洋牡蛎与近江牡蛎能否产生远缘杂种优势,于2010年5月,以成熟的两种牡蛎亲本为材料开展了2×2远缘杂交研究,由长牡蛎自繁组GG(Crassostrea gigas♀×C.gigas♂)、近江牡蛎自繁组AA(C.ariakensis♀×C.ariakensis♂)、正交组GA(Crassostreagigas♀×C.ariakensis♂)、反交组AG(C.ariakensis♀×C.gigas♂)4个实验组组成。分析了子代早期表型性状和杂种优势,并对杂交子代进行了遗传鉴定。结果表明:GA杂交组与AG组的受精强度具有不对称性。幼虫浮游期间,表型性状的中亲杂种优势几乎为0,GA组生长与存活性状表现出积极的单亲杂种优势,而AG组则具有明显的远交衰退现象;幼虫早期表型性状受到母本效应影响,而后减弱。变态期间,GA组变态率较高,得到了大量杂交稚贝;而AG组变态率极低,仅获得了72个杂交稚贝。稚贝培育期间,稚贝表现出中亲生长劣势与存活优势;GA组具有明显的单亲生长与存活优势,而AG组则表现出生长劣势并具有一定程度的存活优势。利用复合COI及ITS2鉴定了种间杂交子结果表明:正反交组杂交子均为真正意义上的两性融合杂交子。实验获得了具有显著杂种优势的GA组杂交子,为现有牡蛎的遗传改良提供了新的方向。     

长牡蛎和福建牡蛎个体生长模型的构建及比较

长牡蛎和福建牡蛎分别是我国北方和南方沿海重要的养殖贝类。为比较分析二者的动态生长情况,实验基于动态能量收支理论（DEB）,以连续监测的水温和叶绿素a浓度为强制因子,通过现场实验、模型调试和文献查阅等方式获取模型参数,利用Python 2.7软件分别构建了桑沟湾长牡蛎、深沪湾福建牡蛎的个体生长模型,并以两种牡蛎的实测生长数据进行验证。结果显示：①所构建的DEB模型能够较好地模拟长牡蛎、福建牡蛎的个体生长情况（壳高、软组织湿重等）,模拟值与实测值之间相关性显著;②长牡蛎和福建牡蛎的温度耐受上限（T_H）、温度耐受下限（T_L）、半饱和常数（F_H）等参数存在差异,这可能与不同海域的理化环境、食物组成及牡蛎的选择性摄食有关;③在模拟周期内,受温度和食物的双重限制,长牡蛎冬季生长缓慢,而福建牡蛎处于持续增长状态,期间主要受到食物的限制。本研究结果可为后续生态系统模型构建和牡蛎养殖容量评估提供基础数据。     

Direct and indirect responses to selection on individual body weight in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)

Three experiments were performed to examine the heritability of body weight among adult Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) evaluated in Yaquina Bay, Oregon, USA, and to determine if selection on individual body weight could result in changes in offspring survival and yield. The first two experiments utilized midparent-offspring regressions to estimate the heritability (h²) of adult oyster body weight and the coheritability (h_x,y) between adult midparent body weight and offspring performance, including juvenile average body weight, survival and yield as well as adult survival and yield. In Experiment 1 both parents and offspring were evaluated in an “upriver” environment in Yaquina Bay. In Experiment 2 parents were evaluated in a “downriver” environment, while offspring were evaluated in an “upriver” environment. Experiment 3 contrasted average body weight, survival, and yield of offspring (evaluated upriver) derived from three large sires and three small sires mated to the same five females that were chosen at random (all parents evaluated downriver). In Spring 2002, 12 full-sib families from Experiment 1, 19 families from Experiment 2, and 26 families from Experiment 3 were stocked into lantern nets and suspended in Yaquina Bay. Measurements of yield (kg tier^− 1), average body weight (g), and survival (%) were recorded after one and two growing seasons in the field. Heritability estimates for adult body weight at harvest ranged from 0.313 (± 0.083) in Experiment 1 to 0.003 (± 0.073) in Experiment 2. In Experiment 3, average body weight did not differ between offspring derived from large sires and offspring derived from small sires (P = 0.47). Significant negative coheritability estimates were observed between adult midparent body weight and offspring survival in both Experiment 1 and Experiment 2. Significant negative coheritability estimates between adult midparent body weight and offspring yield were observed in Experiment 2 but not in Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, offspring derived from large sires had significantly lower survival and yield than offspring derived from small sires. These results show adult oyster body weight to be heritable but also subject to site-specific adaptation such that selection in the downriver Yaquina Bay environment was ineffective at changing average body weight in the upriver environment. Negative coheritability estimates between performance traits indicate that adult oyster body weight may be a poor indirect measure of oyster yield potential, and that selection solely for increased body weight could lead to a decrease in offspring yield.     

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.     

Effects of mass and position of artificial fouling added to the upper valve of the mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae on its growth and survival

We ran an experiment on mangrove oysters Crassostrea rhizophorae to evaluate the effects of adding different masses of artificial fouling to the upper valve, either to the umbo region or the ventral edge of the shell. Growth and survival were quantified after a 30 d period in suspended culture in the La Restinga Lagoon, Venezuela. The artificial fouling was cement weighing 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 fold the mass of the upper valve. No fouling was added to a control group. Fouling mass, but not the position of the artificial fouling, affected growth in shell length. However, only the heaviest fouling (3 times the mass of the upper valve) had a significant effect. In contrast, there was no affect of either fouling mass or position on tissue growth. Finally, our data indicated that mortality could be affected by the position where we added artificial fouling (greater mortality when fouling was added to the ventral edge of the shell), but not by fouling mass. Our study indicates it is unlikely that the levels of natural fouling that develop on oysters in suspended culture would be sufficient to affect either growth or survival.