光照强度对青色系与红色系仿刺参生长与能量分配的影响

实验所用仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)红色系和青色系体质量分别为 (6.28±0.02) g和 (6.34 ± 0.04) g。实验设定5个光强处理组(50、300、1 000、2 000、3 500 lx) 和对照组(0 lx)。光照强度通过调节灯泡功率、数量以及灯源距离获得, 光照周期为12L︰12D,  养殖水温16~17℃。结果表明, 两种色系仿刺参生长速度与光强呈负相关, 弱光照时(50 lx)时生长速度最快。黑暗(0 lx)时两种色系仿刺参生长较弱光时(50 lx)略慢(P>0.05)。过强光照   (3 500 lx)抑制仿刺参的摄食率(P<0.05), 降低其食物转化效率(P<0.05)。两种色系仿刺参的耗氧率随光照强度增强而逐渐增大。各处理组两种色系间仿刺参生长速率不存在显著差异(P>0.05)。仿刺参生长能(G/C)约7%, 粪便能(F/C)和呼吸能所占比重超过90%。强光(3 500 lx)下仿刺参排便能损失的比例增至59%, 而生长能降至2%。从提高能量分配和饵料利用效率看, 两种色系仿刺参生长速度较适宜光强为弱光(50 lx)。本研究旨在通过分析光照强度对生长、摄食、耗氧率和能量分配影响, 并以青色系仿刺参作为对比, 为红色系仿刺参在中国近海养殖提供基础参数。

     

Effects of rearing temperature on growth,metabolism and thermal tolerance of juvenile sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus Selenka: critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and hsps gene expression

Effects of different rearing temperatures (16, 21 and 26°C) on growth, metabolic performance and thermal tolerance of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (initial body weight 7.72 ± 0.96 g, mean ±SD) were investigated in this study. During the 40‐day experiment, growth, metabolic performance, food intake and energy budget at different reared temperatures were determined. Sea cucumbers rearing at 16°C obtained better growth (final body weight 11.96 ± 0.35 g) than those reared at 21 (10.33 ± 0.41 g) and 26°C (8.31 ± 0.19 g) (P < 0.05), and more energy was allocated for growth at 16°C (162.73 ±11.85 J g^?1 d^?1) than those at 21(79.61 ± 6.76 J g^?1 d^?1) and 26°C (27.07 ± 4.30 J g^?1 d^?1) (P < 0.05). Critical thermal maxima (CTmax) values of juvenile sea cucumbers reared at 16, 21 and 26°C were 33.1, 34.1 and 36.6°C, respectively, and the upregulation of hsps in sea cucumbers reared at 26°C was higher than those acclimated at lower temperatures (16 and 21°C), indicating that temperature acclimation could change the thermal tolerance of the sea cucumber, and CTmax and hsps were sensitive indicators of the sea cucumber's thermal tolerance.     

Growth and oxygen consumption of the juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) at constant and fluctuating water temperatures

The effects of thermal amplitudes of diel fluctuating temperature on growth and oxygen consumption of the juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) were studied at the average temperatures of 15 and 18°C with three diel different fluctuating amplitudes of ±2, ±4 and ±6°C. The optimum thermal amplitudes for growth of the juvenile sea cucumber at the sizes of this experiment, at average temperatures of 15 and 18°C, were estimated to be ±1.38 and ±1.67°C respectively. In the constant temperature regimes, the growth rate at 15°C was higher than that at 18°C. However, the growth rate at 18±2°C was higher than that at 15±2°C. The results from this study suggested that fluctuating temperatures enhanced the optimum temperature for the growth of sea cucumbers compared with that at constant temperatures. Therefore, accurate predictions of the optimum temperature of sea cucumbers in the natural environment, in which water temperatures fluctuate daily and seasonally, should be made from data obtained at fluctuating temperatures.     

Effects of stocking density,ration and temperature on growth,survival and metamorphosis of auricularia larvae of the California sea cucumber,Parastichopus californicus

The combined effects of stocking density (0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 inds/ml) and dietary microalgal ration (20,000 and 40,000 cells/ml) and the sole effect of temperature (10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 22°C) on the specific growth rate (SGR), per cent survival and per cent metamorphosis of auricularia larvae of the California sea cucumber, Parastichopus californicus, were evaluated in two separate experiments. The SGR was not significantly affected by stocking densities in the range of 0.2 to 4 inds/ml, but was significantly reduced at 8 inds/ml. The SGR of larvae fed 20,000 cells/ml was significantly reduced in comparison to those fed 40,000 cells/ml. Larvae had significantly higher per cent survival and per cent metamorphosis when reared at densities of 0.2 and 0.5 inds/ml compared with those reared at 2–8 inds/ml. Microalgal ration level did not significantly impact survival or metamorphosis. Larvae reared at 16 and 18°C had significantly higher SGRs and per cent metamorphosis than those held at all other temperatures, while per cent survival was highest at 16°C. Based on these results, we recommend rearing auricularia larvae of P. californicus at a stocking density at or below 0.5 inds/ml, a dietary ration of 40,000 cells/ml, and a temperature of 16°C.     

Preliminary Study of the Optimum Dietary Ascorbic Acid Level in Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

A 14‐wk feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the optimum dietary ascorbic acid (AA) level in juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Sea cucumbers averaging 1.49 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 18 rectangular plastic tanks of 20 L capacity in a recirculating system (20 animals per tank). Six semipurified experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 (l ‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate [AMP]; AMP0), 30 (AMP24), 60 (AMP48), 120 (AMP100), 240 (AMP206), and 1200 (AMP1045) mg AA/kg diet in the form of AMP using casein as the main protein source. Sea cucumbers were fed each of the six experimental diets in triplicate groups. At the end of 14 wk of feeding trial, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency (FE) of sea cucumbers fed AMP100, AMP206, and AMP1045 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of animals fed AMP0, AMP24, and AMP48. However, there were no significant differences in WG, SGR, and FE among sea cucumbers fed AMP100, AMP206, and AMP1045 and among animals fed AMP0, AMP24, and AMP48. Whole‐body vitamin C concentration increased with AA content of the diets. Broken‐line analysis of WG showed an optimum dietary AA level of 105.3 mg AA/kg diet in sea cucumber. These results indicated that the optimum dietary vitamin C level in sea cucumber in the form of AMP could be greater than 100 mg AA/kg diet but less than 105.3 mg AA/kg diet.     

Effect of dietary carbohydrate levels on growth performance,non‐specific immune enzymes and acute response to low salinity and high temperature of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

This study was performed to determine the optimum dietary carbohydrate (CHO) levels of sea cucumber, based on the parameters of growth, digestive enzymes, digestibility, non‐specific immune enzymes and acute low‐salinity (20 g/L) stress and high‐temperature (30°C) stress tolerance. Diets with eight different CHO (dextrin) levels (32.9, 107.6, 192.5, 257.2, 316.8, 428.0, 482.4 and 572.8 g/kg) were fed to sea cucumber juveniles (0.49 ± 0.01 g) for 60 days. Significant higher amylase activity was observed in sea cucumbers fed diet with CHO ranging between 32.9 and 192.5 g/kg than that of other treatments (p < .05). The sea cucumbers fed with 192.5 g/kg CHO showed significantly higher acid phosphatase activity than the treatments of 482.4 and 572.8 g/kg CHO (p < .05), and significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity than other treatments (p < .05, except 257.2 g/kg). The treatments of 428.0–572.8 g/kg were found significantly lower values than other treatments in apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter and crude protein (p < .05). The sea cucumbers fed with 192.5, 257.2 and 316.8 g/kg CHO showed better tolerance to high‐temperature (30°C) and low‐salinity (20 g/L) stress than other treatments. In brief, the optimal dietary CHO level for the growth of juvenile sea cucumber is 177.96 g/kg. However, excessive CHO will inhibit amylase enzyme activity and decrease digestibility, resulting in low growth of sea cucumber.     

N and P budgets of Haliotis discus hanai,Apostichopus japonicas,and Sebastes schlegeli in a polyculture system

The viability of placing abalones (Haliotis discus hannai), sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicas) and rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) in a polyculture system, the effect of this mixed species group on the system's nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) budgets, and the growth and food intake of the organisms in the system were examined using a recirculating aquaculture system. Four replicates were set up for each of three treatment groups (abalone only (C), abalone‐sea cucumber (AS) and abalone‐sea cucumber‐rockfish (ASF)) with an experimental period of 60 d. Compared with the C group, in the AS group the abalone survival rate and specific growth rate (SGR) of body weight increased and the harvested abalones from the polyculture system became the main source of N and P output of the polyculture system. However, the N and P output in the water layer did not differ significantly from that in the C group (p > 0.05), and the N utilization rate was significantly higher than that in the C and ASF groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the AS group, in the ASF treatment the SGR of body weight as well as the protease and amylase activities of sea cucumbers were significantly higher (p < 0.05), the water layer and faeces became the main sources of N and P output in the system. These results showed that the AS polyculture mode significantly improved the N and P utilization rates in the system and led to increased aquaculture production.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus budget of a Haliotis discus hannai and Apostichopus japonicus polyculture system

The system nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) budget, N/P utilization rate and the physiological response mechanism of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai (body weight: 12.87 ± 0.82 g) and the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (body weight: 10.85 ± 1.16 g) to different co‐culture environment conditions were examined. Animals were kept in a multilayer, cubic recirculating aquaculture system at different polyculture densities (abalones at 400 ind/m²in monoculture [Group C] and abalones at 400 ind/m²with sea cucumbers at 10 ind/m² [AS1] or 20 ind/m² [AS2]). Each treatment was replicated four times, and the experimental cycle was 90 days. No significant difference in survival rate of abalones was detected when the stocking density of sea cucumbers increased from 10 to 20 ind/m², but the concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in the water were significantly higher in AS2 than in AS1. Survival rate, specific growth rate (SGR) of body weight of sea cucumbers and SGR of body weight of abalones were significantly lower in AS2 than in AS1. No significant difference in protease (PES), lipase, amylase and cellulase activities of abalones was identified between Group C and AS1, but the PES and amylase activities of abalones and sea cucumbers in AS1 were significantly higher than those in AS2. In AS1, the N/P output from harvesting of abalones and sea cucumbers and the N/P utilization rates were significantly higher than those in AS2. Although the N/P output from faeces was significantly lower in AS2 than in Group C and AS1, the N/P output from the water layer was significantly higher than that in AS1. The expression levels of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn‐SOD) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) of both abalones and sea cucumbers in AS2 were significantly higher than those in AS1. No significant difference in expression of catalase (CAT) and HSP90of abalones was identified among these groups, but the expression levels of CAT and HSP90of sea cucumbers in AS2 were significantly higher than those in AS1. These results indicate that stocking sea cucumbers at 10 ind/m² in the polyculture system will relieve the organic load on the system and improve the N/P utilization rate. It will also increase aquaculture production and improve the ecological and economic benefits of the system.     

Dietary supplement of fructooligosaccharides and Bacillus subtilis enhances the growth rate and disease resistance of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

The effects of two dietary supplements, entrapped fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and microencapsulated Bacillus subtilis, on the growth and disease resistance of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus were investigated. Sea cucumbers (a total of 810 animals, with initial weight of 3.72 ± 0.16 g each) were fed with basal diet only or basal diet supplemented with three different doses of B. subtilis (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8%), three different doses of FOS (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6%), 0.2% B. subtilis plus 0.4% or 0.8% FOS. Growth and lysozyme activity were measured after 50 days feeding. The results showed that dietary 0.2% and 0.4% B. subtilis alone or 0.2% B. subtilis plus 0.8% FOS significantly increased the specific growth rate (SGR) of sea cucumbers compared with control (P < 0.05). The addition of B. subtilis with or without FOS had no significant effect on lysozyme activity. The animals were also challenged with Vibrio splendidus to assess the level of disease resistance provided by the two dietary supplements. Sea cucumbers fed with 0.8% B. subtilis or 0.2% B. subtilis plus 0.8% FOS exhibited the highest survival (P > 0.05). Under these experimental conditions, dietary B. subtilis and FOS had no synergistic effect on enhancing SGR and disease resistance of sea cucumber.     

Influence of diet on growth,reproduction and lipid and fatty acid composition in the sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa

The suspension‐feeding sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa is widely distributed in cold waters and is commercially exploited in the North Atlantic. While the species is considered to have potential for aquaculture, its feeding and reproductive biology differs markedly from that of currently cultivated sea cucumbers. Here, for the first time, the influence of food sources on the condition of C. frondosa was experimentally tested. Individuals were fed with either diatoms or fish eggs for 3 months. Specific growth rate (SGR), organ indices, fecundity, gonad maturity and profiles of lipids and fatty acids (FA) in tissues were compared among treatments and with sea cucumbers collected from the field. Individuals fed with fish eggs showed higher SGR and organ indices than all other treatments. The highest proportion of large oocytes was also found in gonad tubules of females from the fish egg treatment, although individuals fed with diatoms were the only ones in which spontaneous spawning occurred. Moreover, gonad and muscle tissues of sea cucumbers from the fish egg treatment presented the highest levels of lipids and essential FA. In contrast, non‐fed sea cucumbers showed negative SGR, relatively low female fecundity and low concentrations of lipids and FA in tissues. While the fish egg diet presented several obvious benefits, phytoplankton remains an important source of carotenoids, which are vital for vitellogenesis in echinoderms. This indicates that mixed diets rich in lipids, essential FA and carotenoids can be further investigated to optimize growth and reproductive output of this species in captivity.