Mesocosm: A Reliable Technology for Larval Rearing of Diplodus puntazzo and Diplodus sargus sargus

Species diversification is today considered as a major issue for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean aquaculture. For successful propagation of any species however, larval rearing is considered a bottleneck and therefore the development of appropriate tools is essential. Mesocosm is a semi-intensive technology that facilitates larval rearing of several species integrating principles of both intensive and extensive aquaculture, which solves biological problems and many of their technical, human and economical consequences. The extensive (and now even the semi-extensive) strategy is used in the most critical segments of the rearing process during the early developmental stages, when larvae are still extremely weak, sensitive to intensive environment, easily stressed and difficult to feed. The intensive strategy is used as soon as larvae are considered mature enough to be reared easily using classical methods. The technology was used for the rearing of two species, with potential for aquaculture, the sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) and the white seabream (Diplodus sargus sargus). Three groups of each species were monitored for a period of 50–70 days post hatching. Survival for both species was about 54% at the end of the trials. Sharpsnout seabream larvae reached 19.6 ± 0.9 mm total length and 107.2 ± 31.9 mg body weight 50 days post hatching. White seabream larvae 60 days post hatching reached 32.7 ± 2.7 mm total length and 450 ± 70 mg body weight. In order to verify the economical viability of the technology, the individual production cost for each species was estimated and reached ¢0.027 for white seabream and ¢0.043 for sharpsnout seabream. Results indicate the reliability of the technology for the larval rearing of the two species.     

The induced spawning of the grey mullet, Mugil macrolepis (Aguas) Smith and the large-scale rearing of its larvae

The grey mullet, Mugil macrolepis (Aguas) Smith could be induced to spawn by the administration of pituitary alone from the same species. The threshold dose was found to be three and four glands as the first and second injections after a 6-h interval. About 40% of the experiments were successful. The hand-stripped eggs were artificially fertilized with milt by the dry method.The embryonic development of the eggs are briefly described. The majority of the fertilized eggs hatched out about 23 h after fertilization. The salinity of the water ranged from 29 to 31‰ and temperature from 26 to 29°C.A method for the large-scale rearing of mullet larvae is outlined. “Seasoned greenwater” is produced by keeping slightly manured brackish water for about a fortnight in small tanks which can be exposed to sunlight in the afternoon. Blooms of Chlorella sp. developed and the larvae fed on the microplankton. The larvae at about 1 cm in length fed exclusively on copepods. Hence copepod cultures were maintained simultaneously in manured cisterns for feeding the mullet larvae until they accepted artificial feeds.     

Operational procedures for rearing larvae of the grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.)

Larvae of the grey mullet Mugil cephalus L. can be reared successfully using careful procedures following induced spawning of the adults with purified salmon gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotropin.Preliminary incubation of the eggs to the gastrula stage at high density for 12 h at 22°C is preferred, using stirred irradiated seawater (32‰ salinity) and the antibiotics penicillin (80 IU/ml) and streptomycin (0.05 mg/ml). The eggs are transferred before hatching to circular rearing tanks at a density of 250 eggs/l.The mouths of the larvae are open and ossified and the eyes are sufficiently pigmented for the larvae to begin feeding on the third day. The larvae are fed cultured phytoplankton and rotifers supplemented with available natural plankton. Nauplii of Artemia are provided on the seventh day.The migratory behavior of the larvae during early development and their physiology are discussed, being relevant to the procedures and the techniques applied.Mass propagation in large (over 12-ft diameter) circular tanks with total light control is recommended.     

大弹涂鱼仔鱼的摄食、生长和成活的研究

本文主要论述大弹涂鱼仔鱼阶段有关摄食和生长发育，以及不同饵料对仔鱼生长和成活的影响。结果表明，孵化后3—5日龄即仔鱼危险期，正处于内源性(包括混合性)营养转入外源性营养。颗粒有机碎屑是仔鱼的开口饵料，培育期间以底栖硅藻分解后形成的颗粒有机碎屑为饵料，其后期仔鱼成活率高达42．04％。6日龄起逐渐加投桡足类幼体和成体，其16日龄后期仔鱼平均全长可达6．15mm，平均体重1．24mg．     

Critical swimming speed and maximum sustainable swimming speed of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis

Tank wall collision is one of the major causes of mortality during the early-stage rearing of Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis (PBT). Therefore, to design a rearing environment that meets the needs of juvenile PBT, it is important to gather information about their swimming capabilities. We conducted experiments to examine the relative critical swimming speed (RCSS) and maximum sustainable swimming speed (MSSS) of early-stage PBT. The fish were kept in 3-tonne tanks and fed on artificial pellets every 2 h from dusk to dawn. We conducted two sets of experiments to measure swimming speed; the fish were introduced one at a time into a water funnel, and the water current velocity was gradually increased over time to estimate RCSS, or the water current was kept at a constant velocity to estimate MSSS. We measured the RCSS of 72 PBT juveniles (24–29 days after hatching (DAH); standard length (SL), 15.0 ± 2.3 mm) and the MSSS of 32 PBT juveniles (28–37 DAH; SL, 20.0 ± 5.1 mm) in the laboratory. The RCSS ranged from 4.7 to 20.3 SL/s (average, 12.4 ± 3.3 SL/s), and the MSSS was estimated to be approximately 4 SL/s. We speculate that introducing a water current in the rearing tank of no more than 4 SL/s could positively affect the survival of juvenile PBT.     

Larval rearing of African carp,Labeo parvus Boulenger, 1902 (Pisces: Cyprinidae), using live food and artificial diet under controlled conditions

This study aimed at (1) evaluating the efficacy of live food organisms (Artemia and natural zooplankton) and an artificial diet in the larval rearing of African carp Labeo parvus and (2) determining appropriate rearing conditions. After yolk sac resorption, the larvae were separated into five different feeding trials with two replicates. At the end of the larval rearing period (28 days post‐hatching), the highest (94.6%) and the lowest (53.7%) cumulative survival rates were found when larvae were fed with natural zooplankton for 7 days followed by Nippai food for 21 days, and when larvae were fed from the beginning of exogenous feeding with Nippai food only respectively. The significant highest body weight (351.6 mg), total length (34.4 mm) and specific growth rates (15.5%day^?1) were recorded when the larvae were fed with Artemia nauplii for 14 days followed by Nippai food for 14 days. The lowest growth performance (body weight and specific growth rates) were obtained when larvae were fed exclusively Nippai food. These results indicate that L. parvus can be successfully cultured in indoor nursery systems from hatching to the early juvenile stage.     

Applying the ontogeny of digestive enzyme activity to guide early weaning of pigfish,Orthopristis chrysoptera (L.)

Weaning marine fish larvae from live prey to a dry microdiet is an important step towards optimizing the commercial production, but early weaning is constrained by the lack of sufficient digestive enzymes at first feeding. This study quantified the activity of five digestive enzymes throughout the larval period of pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera [L.]) to assess ontogenetic changes in digestive abilities, and then trials were conducted that determined the optimal time for weaning. The activity of all digestive enzymes was low or undetectable at first feeding (3 days post hatching, dph; 2.5 mm standard length, SL). A substantial increase in activity occurred at 5.7 mm SL (17 dph), 6.9 mm SL (21 dph), 7.7 mm SL (23 dph), 8.4 mm SL (25 dph) and 11.2 mm SL (30 dph) for bile salt‐dependent lipase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and acid protease respectively. During the weaning experiment, larvae were co‐fed live prey and microdiet beginning 15 dph (4.8 mm SL). Live prey was withdrawn from the diet at 24, 28, 32 or 36 dph, with the control receiving live prey and microdiet throughout (to 43 dph). There were no significant differences in mean final SL among treatments, but survival was significantly lower when larvae were weaned at 24 dph compared to 32–43 dph. Based on the digestive enzyme activity and survival, weaning larval pigfish at 32 dph (11.7 mm SL) when reared at 24°C is recommended.     

A closed water recirculation system for ecological studies in marine fish larvae: growth and survival of sea bass larvae fed with live prey

This paper describes the suitability of a closed recirculation system to study the development of fish larvae in a strictly controlled environment, where only feeding was varied (fed, starved, delayed and late fast treatments). The system served both as an incubator and hatchery. The time variation of physical and chemical parameters together with survival and growth of reared sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax) were studied over the first month of life. The recirculation design allowed for the maintenance of levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate below those cited as responsible for mortality or decreased feeding ability in other marine fish larvae. Almost no larval mortality occurred in the fed larvae from day 9 after hatching. The starved group of larvae showed a sharp decline in survival after 16 days of food deprivation. Larvae for which feeding was delayed until day 13 ceased dying 4 days after food was supplied. Fast feeding on days 24 and 25 had no effect on larval survival. Growth in length was similar during the first 2 weeks of larval life regardless of feeding treatment. Two days of late fast had no effect on larval growth. Growth patterns of fed larvae in this study were similar to those reported for larvae reared in flow through systems. We believe that survival and growth of the reared larvae was a direct function of diet, and that the type of rearing system did not adversely affect these parameters. The rearing design and the results obtained suggest that future nutritional studies of field-collected larvae will benefit from this kind of rearing experiment.     

Induced spawning and larval rearing of the white seabream, Mylio berda

The white seabream, Mylio berda, was induced to spawn spontaneously by hormone injections of synahorin or human chorionic gonadotropin for over 3 months between December and April in Hong Kong. Fertilized eggs were also obtained during the peak spawning period between February and March through natural spawning or artificial insemination. The hatched larvae were reared in 500-1 circular tanks and fed initially on rotifers, Brachionus sp., followed by brine shrimp nauplii or copepod nauplii and finally weaned onto fish meat. Larval rearing trials for growth and survival to 60 days produced larvae of average length, 26.2 mm, at survival rates ranging from 1.32 to 11.62%.     

Morphological development and growth patterns of the leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea during larval development

At 25 °C, metamorphosis in leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea larvae took 60 days after hatching. The total length at day 1 was 1.95±0.22 mm and juveniles reached a length of 30.64±0.23 mm at day 60; the increase was approximately linear. We describe eight stages of development during this period. Larvae with the yolk sac attached occur from days 1 to 4 (Stages 1 and 2). The preflexion occurs on days 5–20 (Stages 3 and 4). Bending notochord occurred at day 25 (Stage 5). The other morphological changes that precede the juvenile phase occurred progressively until day 60 (Stages 6–8). Allometric growth in the height and length of the head, trunk length, height and length of the tail and the diameter of the eye compared with the total length showed two distinct stages of growth. Inflexion point, where growth is positive, occurred when larvae reached between 18.75 and 21.59 mm, which corresponds to larvae at days 35–40.     

Early development of the shortfin silverside Chirostoma humboldtianum (Valenciennes, 1835) (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae)

The shortfin silverside Chirostoma humboldtianum has been considered for culture in Mexico, but success has been limited by a poor knowledge of its early development. First synthesis of the early development of the shortfin silverside is presented to determine conditions suitable for rearing. Brooder maturation was induced through photothermal cycles. C. humboldtianum ova were fertilized in vitro. The eggs were incubated in reconstituted water (160-180 mg/L CaCO₃) at 18 °C and 5 gm of NaCl per litre. During the hatching day, 300 shortfin silversides were stocked and followed up until metamorphosis in order to establish the timing of exogenous feeding, changes in food type, growth and development during critical periods for survival, according to the theory of saltatory ontogeny. Free embryos hatched 12 days after fertilization at 18 °C. First critical point for survival is the beginning of exogenous feeding. Free embryos started mixed feeding on day four of post-hatching (dph), point of no-return was presented towards the end of mixed feeding on 6 dph, larval period began at six (dph) when the anus is opened, and metamorphosis to juvenile was presented at 65 dph with a SL of 19.34 ± 2.28 mm, when scales and fins were well developed. Differences in growth between periods were detected: free embryos growth slower than larvae but mouth size depicted a larger growth rate in the former. Cephalic length and mouth size were negatively related to standard length in embryos and larvae. Mouth size was positively related to cephalic length in free embryos but negative in larvae. Results suggest that during the free embryo phase, growth priorities are directed to the development of apparatuses and systems; whereas, during the larval period, energy is directed to growth in length, mouth size and development of fins, which allows them to increase their swimming velocity, grants them a greater capacity to obtain exogenous food and, in consequence, increases fitness for survival.     

Development of embryos and larvae in the common Japanese conger Conger myriaster

Development of embryos and larvae in the common Japanese conger Conger myriaster was observed after artificial fertilization. Eggs were obtained from females matured artificially by hormone injections and milt was obtained from males matured naturally. Fertilized eggs were kept in seawater at 12–14°C. The first cleavage occurred at 4 h, epiboly began at 24 h, the embryonic body was formed at 38 h and hatching occurred at 84 h after insemination. Newly hatched larvae were approximately 2.5 mm (total length) and similar to those of Anguilla japonica in terms of external features. The mouth and anus opened on the 7th day after hatching. Pigments began to appear at the tip of the tail on the 10th day. The total length of the larvae reached approximately 8 mm on the 11th day. Eye pigmentation began on the 14th day. One larva lived for 19 days without food.     

Duration of eleutheroembryonic phase of Coregonus albula (L.) larvae reared at different constant and variable temperatures

Abstract. At different temperatures (4.5, 6.0, 8.6, 10.4, 13.5, 15.9 and 19.0°C), time from hatching to exogenous feeding (DEP50) in vendace, Coregonus albula (L.), larvae decreased from 8 to 2 days when the temperature increased from 4-5 to 19 0°C. Starved larvae at 10.4°C, when offered food at successive days after acclimation to different temperatures, started external feeding on the same day, irrespective of the acclimation temperature.
Larvae started exogenous feeding after attaining a particular larval development stage (LDS 1-2), while their age (days after hatching) was of secondary significance. In the vendace population the larvae start exogenous (mixed) feeding at a total length of 9.5 mm, irrespective of their age and rearing temperature. As total length of larvae is closely related to their development stage, the length of fish can be used in a hatchery practice as a parameter indicative of the time of the first feeding of larvae or of their release into the stocked lakes.     

厦门杏林湾鲻鱼年龄和生长的研究

厦门杏林湾鲻鱼鳞片年轮可作为年龄鉴定依据。鳞片边缘增长率a的周年变化，表明鳞片年轮每年形成一次，新年轮主要在10-11月间出现。已计算出鲻鱼体长与鳞长、体长与体重的关系式。3龄鱼以前属于幼鱼生长阶段，体长和体重的相对增长率较大，生长指标较高；3龄鱼以后则进入成鱼生长阶段。其生长适合于von Bertalanffy生长方程，体重生长曲线的拐点位于2龄至2．5龄之间，其生长速度和加速度曲线能反映生长过程的变化特征，合理捕捞的生物学指标应以生长转折点较为适当，限制捕捞1龄和2龄的港养鲻鱼是提高单位面积产量的关键之一。     

Larval rearing and development of the brown spotted grouper, Epinephelus tauvina (Forskål)

Epinephelus tauvina (Forskål) has spawned naturally in captivity. The larvae were reared to metamorphosis using rotifers, Artemia nauplii, copepods and minced shrimp meat. The developmental stages from hatching through to metamorphosis are described. Larvae grew from 2.25 mm total length at hatching, to 31.40 mm by day 50. Two mortality peaks were observed: the first between days 4 and 5, and the second between days 24 and 35. The first peak corresponded to first feeding and the unsuitability of rotifers, and the second to the change from feeding Artemia nauplii to copepods, which were not available in sufficient quantities.     

Biological Performance of Red Porgy (Pagrus pagrus) Larvae under Intensive Rearing Conditions with the use of an Automated Feeding System

Pagrus pagrus is one of the promising species for the industry in the Mediterranean but its rearing is still far from satisfactory. In the present work, the conditions and results of larval rearing with the use of an automatic feeding system are presented. Eight populations were reared for 20 days with the pseudo green water methodology in two successive trials. Larvae were fed enriched rotifers during the entire rearing period, a mixed diet of rotifers and Artemia (Instar I when larvae reached 5 mm in length, replaced by Instar II after larvae reached 5.5 mm) and a formulated diet (after day 16 post hatching). A computerized system for feeding management was used. A total of 388,000 eggs were incubated and after 20 days, 237,973 larvae (TL = 6.96 ± 0.17 mm) were produced with a survival rate of 61.4 ± 6.3%. Individuals grew in terms of wet weight with an exponential rate of 0.167 ± 0.008 daily (R ²= 0.983) with no variations between replicates. Mean individual daily consumption at first feeding (day 4-post hatching), was 0.20 ± 0.06 mg of food (0.03 ± 0.01 dry weight), that is, 180–300 rotifers, while on day 20, consumption increased by 10 (2.081 ± 0.106 mg and 0.276 ± 0.014 in wet and dry weight, respectively). When compared with sea bream, consumption was higher by approximately 3–4-fold. The mean food conversion ratio of the experimental period was 4. In comparison with sea bream larviculture, food consumption of red porgy is higher, and a different feeding strategy is required to satisfy the requirements of the larvae.     

Broodstock spawning and larviculture of whiting (Merlangius merlangus L.) reared in captivity

In recent years, an increasing interest in the farming of marine ‘white’ fish, such as cod, has been observed in the aquaculture industry. One species being considered for aquaculture development is whiting (Merlangius merlangus L.). With little data being available on the domestication of this species, our study aimed to characterize spawning behaviour and rhythmicity in captive broodstock and provide original data on egg incubation, embryonic development and larval rearing. The results observed through video recording showed that spawning mainly occurred at night with active courtship behaviour. Daily egg batches were collected from two separate spawning seasons, with an average fertilization success declining from 77% to 53%. Time to hatch was inversely related to the incubation temperature and occurred after 78 degree‐days (9 days at 8 °C), with emerging larvae ranging in size from 3.3 to 3.46 mm total length and hatch success ranging from 48.3% to 99.9%. In comparison with a clear water environment, a green water regime during the first days of larval rearing significantly improved larval growth and survival. These results are the first to describe spawning activity, early development and larval performances in whiting and are promising for the potential future development of whiting aquaculture.     

Marine Aquaculture in Israel with Special Emphasis on Larval Rearing

The goal of mariculture research in Israel is the development of an industry, based on available sea and brackish water, in the Arava Desert, the Gulf of Eilat and along the Mediterranean coast. Urgent progress is needed due to the shortage of fresh water for agriculture. High priced euryhaline fish like Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax are the obvious choice for development along with the more common grey mullet Mugil cephalus. The aim of this paper is to present the research and zootechnical state of the art in Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax larval rearing at the National Center for Mariculture (NCM). Fertilized eggs are stocked in 600 L tanks and hatching success estimated from aliquot counts. Rearing continued for 32 d after which larvae are removed from these tanks with minimum mortality. Under normal rearing conditions these tanks produce 15-35 32 d old (10 mg, ww) Sparus aurata larvae/L (20-40% survival). Average seabass survival to 80 mg (40 d) is 35%. Tanks were continuously supplied with filtered (10 μm), temperature and salinity controlled seawater and freshly enriched food organisms through a special delivery system. This system was recently upscaled to 1,700 L tanks with equally good results for seabream larval rearing. Live food enrichment regimes for the two species were developed to maximize their growth and survival. A microdiet is presently being used from the age of 20 d. The problems involved with using dry diets with larvae were found to be associated with both their digestibility and attractivity. As a result of a salinity reduction from the ambient 40 to 25 ppt, swim bladders developed in 90% of seabream and 75% of seabass. In addition, growth rate of larvae improved by 15%. Finally, seabream tend to show strong aggressive behavior once size differences in the population of 32 d larvae is greater than 300%. Therefore, once seabream ended their 32 d hatchery period they are graded to three size groups of 5, 10.3 and 23 mg (ww). The graded fish are counted with a locally developed Computer Aided Fish Counter (CAFIC) and stocked separately in 5 m³ nursery tanks.     

泥鳅胚胎和幼鱼发育的研究

本文研究了用人工授精、孵化方法获得的泥鳅胚胎、幼鱼的形态特征。此项研究于1983年3—5月份在珠海市进行。卵圆球形，具弱粘性，卵径0．72-0．84毫米。在水温19．5—23℃情况下，多数受精卵经26小时40分后孵化出苗。初孵仔鱼全长1．95—2．4毫米，体节26-32对。在水温19—28℃情况下，孵化2天后，幼鱼具长条状外鳃。5天后，幼鱼卵黄囊大部分被吸收。15天后，外鳃消失，内鳃形成。45天后，幼鱼外部形态发育完全，形似成体。     

The effect of temperature on the development of yolk‐sac larvae of European hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) under laboratory conditions

The effect of temperature (10, 13, 16, 19 and 22°C) on hatching, development and survival of yolk‐sac larvae of European hake, Merluccius merluccius, was studied. At 22°C the experiment was suspended because all eggs died a few hours after incubation. Five morphological indicators of larval development (standard length – SL, yolk‐sac volume – YSV, oil globule diameter – OD, body height – BH and body wet weight – BW) were analysed. SL, YSV, OD and BW of newly hatched larvae were biggest in size and weight at low temperatures (P < 0.05). Throughout the experiments, the rates of changes in SL, YSV and OD varied with temperature (P < 0.05). By contrast, BH and BW remained constant and did not show significant relationship with the effect of temperature (P > 0.05). The potential model showed that the SL growth rate varied from 0.05 to 0.08 mm day^?1 from 10.5 to 19.5°C respectively. However, at all temperatures two growth phases were identified: a rapid growth phase followed by a slow one. Rapid growth rate in length and depletion in yolk‐sac and oil globule occurred at high temperatures. After total YSV and OD consumption (death by starvation), larvae died between 8 and 14 days at 19.5 and 10.5°C respectively, reaching a maximum length of 4.3 mm at 10.5°C. Metabolic indices such as: lowest threshold temperature (T₀); effective larval development (); cumulative thermal units (TC) to complete larval development; the temperature coefficient on growth rate in length (Q₁₀) and the condition factor (K) were also studied.