Estimation of genetic parameters for growth traits in cultured clam Meretrix meretrix (Bivalvia: Veneridae) using the Bayesian method based on Gibbs sampling

The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters of the growth performance of clam Meretrix meretrix. As part of the breeding programme, 25 full‐sib families nested within eight half‐sib families were produced, planted out and tested to assess the heritability of the total body weight (TW), shell length (SL), shell height (SH) and shell width (SW) at different growth stages. Method of analysis was implemented using the Bayesian method based on the Multiple Trait using Gibbs Sampling under Animal Model program, which was used to estimate the (co)variance components of the traits and conduct genetic analysis. A total of 25 full‐sib families, each with 30–35 individuals within family, were used for the analysis. Significant positive genetic and phenotypic correlations between SL, SW, SH and TW with each other were observed. The growth traits showed high‐magnitude heritabilities, with values ranging from 0.64 to 0.85, which indicates that these traits should respond to selection and therefore should be included in genetic improvement programmes.     

Genetic parameters for growth‐related traits and survival with age in the Kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus

Genetic parameters were estimated for growth‐related traits and survival of the Kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus based on 66 families, including 30 paternal half‐sib families, which were obtained using artificial insemination of two females by each male. The variance components for growth‐related trait and survival were estimated using a single‐trait animal model and a sir‐dam model, respectively, and genetic parameters were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method. The coefficients of variation for growth‐related traits such as body length (BL), abdominal length (AL), and body weight (BW) were 9.36%–22.44%, 10.61%–21.92%, and 26.47%–58.33%, respectively, at different ages (45, 75, 105, 135, and 165 days). The corresponding heritability estimates for each growth trait were 0.1545–0.1951, 0.1672–0.1905, and 0.1596–0.1934, respectively, all of which were found to be at moderate levels and increased with age. The heritability of survival on day 165 was low (0.003). The genetic correlations among growth traits were positive and high (0.7316–0.9896) at the different ages, suggesting that selection to improve any single growth trait will cause positive responses in other growth traits examined in M. japonicus. The genetic correlations between growth traits and survival were also positive but low (0.005–0.087), which indicated that only selecting for growth traits may not cause a positive correlated response in the survival of the core population. According to the above results, we suggested that growth and survival traits should be taken as improving targets of breeding in M. japonicus. These results provided reference data for selective breeding and multitrait selection of M. japonicus.     

长牡蛎生长性状遗传力、遗传相关和表型相关分析

为了查清乳山(RS)和崆峒岛(KTD)海域长牡蛎生长性状各指标的遗传力、遗传相关和表型相关,本实验通过部分因子交配设计和人工授精的方法建立家系,并在乳山和崆峒岛海域进行养殖。用混合线性模型分别计算RS和KTD海域188日龄、338日龄和474日龄长牡蛎生长性状各指标的遗传参数。结果发现:不同日龄长牡蛎生长性状各指标,在乳山海域的遗传力是0.28~0.55,为中高遗传力,在崆峒岛海域的遗传力是0.34~0.63,为高遗传力;与乳山海域相比,崆峒岛海域各指标的遗传力偏高。运用亲本模型,将日龄和地点作为固定效应,计算得到壳高、壳长、壳宽和湿重的遗传力分别为0.25±0.08、0.29±0.09、0.14±0.05和0.26±0.09。不同海域、不同日龄的遗传相关和表型相关结果各不相同,但各指标间均呈现正相关;总体来讲,性状间的遗传相关大于表型相关。实验结果有助于掌握山东半岛南北两侧长牡蛎生长性状的数量遗传学参数,为制定长牡蛎在该海域的选育技术路线提供数据支持。     

Breeding for improved resistance to Edwardsiella ictaluri in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus): Quantitative genetic parameters

Bacillary necrosis of Pangasius (BNP), caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri, is one of the most devastating diseases in striped catfish farming. To date, quantitative genetic inheritance of BNP resistance is not known in striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The main aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for BNP resistance in a breeding population of striped catfish undergoing four generations of selection for high growth. Specifically, the study examined whether BNP resistance is heritable to enable family selection and whether genetic improvement for enhanced BNP resistance may have detrimental effects on growth and survival rate. To test these hypotheses, 720 full‐ and half‐sib families were challenged with E. ictaluri pathogen using injection and cohabitation methods over four years, from 2010 to 2012 and 2015. In total, the data included 398,234 animals in the pedigree, from which 18,849 animals had disease challenge test records and 39,103 siblings had growth performance. Both univariate and bivariate sire–dam linear and threshold mixed models were used to estimate (co)variance components for BNP resistance, survivals and growth traits. The estimates of heritability for the BNP resistance recorded as death or survival were low regardless of models used (0.10–0.16), whereas survival time (days post‐challenge test) showed moderate heritability (0.35). The survival rate during hapa rearing had medium heritability (0.33–0.52). The genetic correlations of BNP resistance with body weight and survival were all positive (0.03–0.53), suggesting that selection of increased BNP resistance may have positive impacts on growth and survival traits, and these traits could be easily improved simultaneously in the selective breeding programme for striped catfish.     

Selection response and realized heritability for growth in three stocks of the Pacific oyster <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassostrea gigas</Emphasis>

To estimate response to selection and realized heritability for shell height, a one-generation selection was performed in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas using three stocks from China (stock C), Japan (stock J), and Korea (stock K). Applying about the same intensity of selection in the upward direction, three selected and three control lines were created, which were reared under the same environmental conditions at larvae, spat, and grow-out stages. Stock C and stock J showed significantly higher response to selection and realized heritability than stock K at spat and grow-out stages (P < 0.05). At harvest on day 360, the selected lines of stocks C, J, and K were 12.2, 12.2, and 7.9% larger than their control lines, respectively, for shell height. When averaged across the grow-out period, the genetic gain for stocks C, J, and K was 13.2 ± 1.2, 13.2 ± 1.0, and 7.2 ± 0.7%, respectively, and realized heritability was 0.334 ± 0.028, 0.402 ± 0.024 and 0.149 ± 0.027, respectively. The relatively high realized heritability estimate obtained for stock C and stock J indicates that there is genetic variation in the two stocks and that selective breeding by mass selection is very promising.     

Estimates of heritability and genetic correlations for growth‐related traits in the tiger prawn Penaeus monodon

Heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated for body weight (BW), body length (BL), carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW) and carapace height (CH) of the Penaeus monodon from measurements on progeny at 6 months of age resulting from a nested mating design. Estimation was made on data from 41 full‐sib and 10 half‐sib families. The estimated heritabilities for these traits were 0.13–0.24, and the significantly phenotypic and genetic correlations were 0.81–0.94 and 0.88–1.00, respectively. The present results indicate that genetic improvement through selective breeding conducted on P. monodon might be feasible and would be an efficient method to obtain a positive response to selection.     

Phenotypic trait of Crassostrea hongkongensis♀× C. angulata♂ hybrids in southern China

The Hong Kong oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis) and the Portuguese oyster (Crassostrea angulata) are important aquaculture species in southern China. To understand the potential feasibility of hybridization between the two species, two‐by‐two factorial cross‐experiments were conducted in Shenzhen (Guangdong province). An asymmetry in fertilization was revealed: C. hongkongensis eggs could be fertilized by C. angulata sperm, but the reciprocal cross was not possible. The fertilization and hatching success in the C. hongkongensis females × C. angulata males (HA) cross was lower than the two intraspecific crosses. Moreover, hybrid larvae had a slower growth rate than those from parental progenies due to genome incompatibility. However, the size of the spat and adult growth were greater than those of the two parental progeny, with obvious heterosis during the grow‐out stage. The survival advantage of hybrids was examined at all times. The surprising finding was that all hybrids were completely fertile, meaning they could produce normal and functional gametes. Genetic analysis by molecular markers was applied to confirm that the HA spat were true hybrids. Our results revealed that the interspecific hybridization between C. hongkongensis and C. angulata is completely successful in one direction. Furthermore, hybrids are viable, fast growing and completely fertile, which provides a promising method for the genetic improvement of oysters as a new aquaculture stock in southern China.     

Heritability estimates for nutritional quality‐related traits of the Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas

Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, are the most abundantly harvested shellfish in the world and are ecologically significant. The content of nutrients, including protein, glycogen, lipid, zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se), is important for oyster meat quality, but heritability estimates of such traits have rarely been reported. In this study, 64 full‐sib families were generated using a nested mating design. Finally, 18 full‐sib families, of which there were nine half‐sib families, with each containing 2 full‐sib families, were sampled for heritability estimates. The narrow‐sense heritabilities of glycogen, protein, lipid, Zn, and Se contents were 0.29 ± 0.02, 0.38 ± 0.02, 0.58 ± 0.08, 0.02 ± 0.02, and 0, respectively. Negative genetic correlations existed between both glycogen and protein content (?0.95 ± 0.004) and between lipid and protein content (?0.59 ± 0.05), whereas a positive correlation was observed between lipid and glycogen content (0.16 ± 0.06). Weak genetic and phenotypical correlations (r = 0–0.2) were observed between shell height and nutritional quality traits. These data demonstrated that glycogen, protein, and lipid content can be chosen in a selective breeding program, but glycogen and lipids cannot be selected together with protein. Furthermore, performing indirect selective breeding for quality traits by selecting traits related to growth is impossible. This study provides information for the development of breeding strategies for oyster quality traits.     

Phenotypic and genetic parameters for body traits in the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in India

Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated for three body traits (harvest weight, carapace length and standard length) and for adult male morphotypes of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in a fully pedigreed synthetic population in India. The data set included 9,173 progeny produced over four generations from 162 sires and 234 dams. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated fitting an animal model using the residual maximum‐likelihood methodology. The heritabilities for harvest body weight (HW), carapace length (CL) and standard length (SL) were moderate (0.22 ± 0.056, 0.22 ± 0.055 and 0.25 ± 0.059 respectively). The common environmental effects for HW, CL and SL were 0.10 ± 0.020, 0.08 ± 0.018 and 0.10 ± 0.021 respectively. As M. rosenbergii is sexually dimorphic, we estimated heritabilities within each sex. Heritability of HW in females (0.27 ± 0.068) was greater than that in males (0.15 ± 0.057). CL and SL followed the same pattern. The occurrence of male morphotypes is a unique characteristic of adult populations of M. rosenbergii. Populations from culture ponds exhibit a wide range of sizes. To examine whether there was a heritable component in male morphotype frequencies, we treated male morphotypes as traits. The additive genetic variance (and hence the heritability) was zero for male morphotype, indicating that selective breeding to increase the proportion of desirable male morphotypes would not be effective. The genetic correlations among body traits were all positive, high and approaching unity. The results are discussed in relation to selection plans for the giant freshwater prawn.     

Heritability estimates of larval and spat shell height in the Chilean blue mussel (Mytilus chilensis Hupe 1854) produced under controlled laboratory conditions

The heritability of larval size is estimated in Mytilus chilensis, based on a nested design, involving 95 full‐sib and 19 half‐sib families (19 males each mated to 5 separated females) grown under controlled laboratory conditions. The half‐sib heritability estimates at 10, 25 and 40 days for larval and spat shell height ranged between 0.38±0.33 and 0.84±0.45, suggesting that selection for shell size would be effective.     

Resistance to Streptococcus iniae and its genetic associations with traits of economic importance in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

Streptococcus iniae is one of the most serious aquatic pathogens, causing significant economic losses in marine and freshwater species, including Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Controlling this gram‐positive bacterial pathogen has been an issue in aquaculture systems, due to the combined effects of aquaculture intensification and climatic impacts. To date, there have not been any genetic parameter estimates for S. iniae resistance in Asian seabass. The main aim of this study was to examine genetic variation in S. iniae resistance and its genetic correlations with growth and cannibalism in Asian seabass families produced from a breeding programme for high growth in 2016 and 2017. The study included a total of 5,835 individual fish that were offspring of 41 sires and 60 dams (31 half‐sib and 34 full‐sib families). The experimental fish were challenged by intraperitoneal injection with a volume containing 10⁵ CFU (colony‐forming unit)/fish. Resistance to S. iniae was measured as survival rate at 6 hr, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 days post‐challenge test. There were significant variations in S. iniae resistance among families at different observation periods (ranging from 24.4% to 80%). Restricted maximum‐likelihood method and mixed model analysis were applied to estimate heritability for S. iniae resistance. The heritability for S. iniae resistance ranged from 7% to 18% across different statistical models used. The common full‐sib effects accounted for 0.1%–2% of the total variation in resistance to S. iniae. Genetic correlations of the S. iniae resistance at 6 hr and 3 days with later post‐challenge test periods were low to moderate. However, these estimates for S. iniae resistance between successive measurement times (5, 7, 10 and 15 days) were high and close to 1. The genetic correlations of resistance with body weights at 180, 270 and 360 days post‐hatch were not significant as well with cannibalism. It is concluded that there is substantial additive genetic variation in resistance to S. iniae, suggesting there is potential for genetic improvement of Asian seabass for resistance to S. iniae through selective breeding.     

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。     

草鱼生长性状的遗传参数和育种值估计

利用草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)生长性状选育核心群亲本,采用人工授精方式构建21个全同胞家系,并选用动物模型对16月龄草鱼生长性状进行遗传参数和育种值估计。结果显示,草鱼选育种群的生长性状存在丰富变异。采用约束极大似然法估计方差组分,发现草鱼体重、体长和体高性状的遗传力分别为0.39,0.47,0.21,属于中高遗传力;肥满度性状遗传力为0.11,属于低遗传力;4个性状的共同环境效应值相近且较小,范围为0.07~0.17。采用两性状动物模型分析相关性,发现体重、体长和体高性状间表型和遗传相关系数均达到高度正相关(r=0.88~0.97),而肥满度性状与三者间相关系数接近零,只与体高性状存在一定遗传正相关(r=0.43)。结合各性状遗传变异系数和相对遗传进度,分析表明,以体重为目标性状可便捷有效地改良草鱼生长性能。采用最佳线性无偏估计法预测个体育种值,发现4个性状育种值与表型值的相关系数范围为0.77~0.93。基于单性状育种值和表型值分别进行个体选择,按10%留种率,各性状选留个体相同率为68.75%~81.82%,秩相关系数范围为0.19~0.81,两种选择方式显示出较大差异,且差异大小与性状遗传力成反比例。本研究为草鱼生长性状选择育种提供了理论依据和技术支撑。     

Heritability and genotype by environment interactions for growth and survival in Litopenaeus vannamei at low and high densities

Genetic parameters and genotype by rearing density interactions for growth traits and survival were investigated in Litopenaeus vannamei. A total of 3626 shrimps from 40 families in two densities (low density, 80 shrimps m^?2; high density, 160 shrimps m^?2) were measured for four growth traits, body length, body weight, cephalothorax length and abdominal segment length. Variance components and genetic parameters for growth and survival were estimated using a two‐trait animal model or a threshold (probit) sire and dam model. The common environment effect was excluded because it could not be partitioned effectively, likely because of high heritability. The heritability for growth traits varied from 0.21 to 0.44, indicating a moderate level. For survival, the back‐transformed heritability () was 0.36 ± 0.06 and 0.22 ± 0.04 for the low and high densities respectively. There were no significant differences in heritability for growth traits and survival between the two densities (P > 0.05). High genetic correlations (0.94–0.98) between the two densities for growth traits indicated a low genotype by density interaction and ranking effect across the environments, which suggested that these traits were controlled mostly by the same genes over the two densities. Therefore, selection in a low‐density environment should produce desired correlated responses for growth at a high density. Genetic correlation (0.77 ± 0.09) between the two densities for survival was moderate and significant, which indicated that the genotype by density interaction effect was moderate and low for survival under the two densities. Our results provide crucial information for use in L. vannamei breeding programmes in China.     

Changes of heritability and genetic correlations in production traits over time in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) under culture

Red abalone Haliotis rufescens is one of the most valuable mollusks in the international market, but it has a low growth rate. A breeding program is being developed to increase its growth rate in Chile. We estimated the changes in direct heritability (h²), maternal/common environments heritability (m²) and genetic correlations (r_G) of growth traits (shell length and width, total mass, flesh mass and foot protein as an indicator of meat quality) measured during 2 years (every 4 months) from the juvenile stage (27 months) to the adult harvesting age (51 months), in 60 full‐sib red abalone families. Heritabilities for growth traits measured in juveniles and young adults (27–35 months of age), were low (0.07–0.17) and not significant. Initial low h² were associated with significant amounts of maternal/common environmental effects (m² = 0.4). In young adults and abalone near the harvest age (39–51 months of age) h² were much higher (0.32–0.75). These results emphasize the importance of multiple estimations of h² over time. Among meat quality traits, only the h² for the flesh mass for adults at harvesting age was significant (0.15). We observed strong positive r_G (>0.9) between shell sizes (easy to measure) and total and flesh masses (trait more related to market value than shell sizes but harder to measure) for adults at harvesting age. Thus, if the 5% largest 51 month old abalone were selected from the population as broodstock we expect a positively correlated response on flesh mass of 23.4%.     

Heritability of larval and juvenile growth for two stocks of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

The heritability of larval and juvenile growth in natural and cultured populations of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum was estimated using an unbalanced nested design and an artificial fertilization technique. A total of 33 full‐sib families and 10 half‐sib families were obtained from the natural population in Shihe (Dalian, Liaoning Province in the north‐eastern part of China), whereas 11 half‐sib families and 33 full‐sib families were generated from the cultured population in Putian (Fujian Province in the south‐eastern part of China). The offspring from each family were reared under the same hatchery and nursery conditions. Results from these studies led to estimates indicating a significantly greater influence due to the dam component compared with the sire component for both natural and cultured populations, which was mainly due to maternal effect. We found that the heritability estimates obtained from the intra‐group correlation of sire half‐sib were precise and unbiased. The narrow‐sense heritabilities of shell length for the Manila clam in the natural population (NP) at larval (at the age of 9 days) and juvenile (at the age of 30 days) stages were 0.22 ± 0.11 and 0.39 ± 0.14, respectively, whereas those in the cultured population (CP) were 0.17 ± 0.09 and 0.87 ± 0.24 respectively. The heritabilities of both NP and CP at 3 days were not significantly different from zero, and were ?0.03 for NP and ?0.14 for CP. These results suggest that selection should be highly effective in Manila clam, and that selecting either a natural or a cultured population for producing faster growing larvae and juveniles should be successful. Selective breeding could thus be used to develop high‐quality seed that would facilitate the development of a shorter culture cycle and higher yields.     

Genetic parameters for resistance against Vibrio anguillarum in turbot Scophthalmus maximus

Genetic parameters for resistance to Vibrio anguillarum in Scophthalmus maximus were estimated using three different statistical models. Data were recorded from an experimental infection performed on 2,400 individuals from 30 full‐sib groups. Cross‐sectional linear model and cross‐sectional threshold probit model were used to analyse the test‐period survival; the cross‐sectional threshold logit models were used to analyse the test‐day survival. The heritability values estimated by cross‐sectional linear model (CSL), cross‐sectional threshold (probit) model (THRp) and cross‐sectional threshold (logit) model (THRl) were 0.202 ± 0.101, 0.296 ± 0.168 and 0.110 ± 0.023, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the full‐sib families’ estimated breeding values (EBVs) based on these three models were over 0.993. An almost identical ranking of families was generated using any of these models. Accuracy of selection using CSL, THRp and THRl models was 0.783, 0.789 and 0.801, respectively. Accuracy of selection based on the THRl model was higher than that based on CSL and THRp models.     

Heritabilities and genetic correlation of shell thickness and shell length growth in a mussel,Mytilus chilensis (Bivalvia:Mytilidae)

Shell thickness in mollusks is generally considered adaptive because of their effects on fitness. However, little is known about the genetic basis of shell thickness. This is important, because the response to selection and the subsequent adaptive microevolution of a trait, such as thickness is only possible when that trait exhibits additive genetic variation. Here, we estimated the narrow‐sense heritability (h²: ratio between additive genetic variance and phenotypic variance) for the traits ‘shell thickness’ and ‘shell length growth’ in a 34‐month‐old cohort of the mussel Mytilus chilensis obtained by using a half‐full sib design and grown in the field. Also, phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated between both traits. We found that h² showed significant values for shell thickness (0.294 ± 0.194) and length (0.731 ± 0.379). The phenotypic correlation between both traits was positive and significant; however, the genetic correlation between these traits was not. These results suggest both traits can evolve adaptively by selection, but because these traits did not show genetic correlation, it is possible that selection pressure affecting one trait may not affect the other.     

Heterosis analysis at early generations for complete diallel crosses in three different geographical culture populations of Sinonovacula constricta (Lamarck 1818) in Zhejiang,China

The paper reports a study focused on breeding new rapidly growing and heat‐tolerant strains in a commercially important Asian bivalve, Sinonovacula constricta. To breed a new strain of S. constricta with fast growth and high temperature tolerance, complete diallel crosses were carried out using three different geographical culture populations from Zhejiang (Z), Fujian (F) and Guangdong (G) provinces, China. Larval and spat growth and the survival and heat tolerance of spats were compared in detail. The experimental serial growth traits extracted from larval and spat measurements (shell length and shell height) indicated that there was no difference between six hybrid crosses and parental crosses at the larval stage; while at the spat stage, some differences were observed. The hybrid crosses ZF (Z♀ × F♂), ZG (Z♀ × G♂) and FG (F♀ × G♂) outperformed the parental groups in shell length at the end of intermediate culture, with lengths of 21.77 ± 0.28 mm, 21.55 ± 0.29 mm and 21.44 ± 0.20 mm respectively. For spat survival rate, the hybrid cross ZF (Z♀ × F♂) had a significantly larger value (88.89 ± 4.16%) than all the other groups, and the hybrid cross ZG (Z♀ × G♂) had a significantly larger rate than the cross GZ (G♀ × Z♂) and parental crosses ZZ (Z♀ × Z♂) and GG (G♀ × G♂). The hybrid crosses ZF (Z♀ × F♂), ZG (Z♀ × G♂) and FG (F♀ × G♂) exceeded the parental groups in heat tolerance, but there was no significant difference. The growth, survival and heat tolerance results showed that the crosses ZF, ZG and FG in this study were the best hybridization combinations for genetic improvement, which could have significant implications for the development of razor clam aquaculture. This work provides a theoretical basis for breeding new varieties (strains) that grow rapidly and are heat tolerant.     

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.