Effects of light intensity on the photosynthetic responses of Sargassum fusiforme seedlings to future CO2 rising

Mariculture of the economically important seaweed will likely be affected by the combined conditions of ocean acidification that resulting from increasing CO₂ rising and decreased light levels, especially under high culture intensity and high biomass accumulation. To examine this coupling effect on the photosynthetic performance of Sargassum fusiforme seedlings, we cultured seedlings of this alga under different light and CO₂ levels. Under low light conditions, elevated CO₂ significantly decreased the photosynthesis of S. fusiforme seedlings, including a decreased photosynthetic electron transport rate. Seedlings grown under the low light intensity exhibited higher photosynthetic rates and compensation irradiance, and displayed higher photosynthetic pigment contents and light absorption than seedlings grown under high light intensity, providing strong evidence of photosynthetic acclimation to low light. However, the captured light and energy were insufficient to support photosynthesis in acidified seawater regardless of increased dissolved inorganic carbon, resulting in declined carbohydrate and biomass accumulation. This indicated that S. fusiforme photosynthesis was more sensitive to acidified seawater in its early growth stage, and strongly affected by light intensity. Future research should evaluate the practical manipulation of biomass accumulation and mariculture densities during the early culture period at the CO₂ level predicted for the end of the century.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by the seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture with the scallop Chlamys farreri in Sanggou Bay, China

The red alga Gracilaria lemaneiformis was cultivated with the scallop Chlamys farreri in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system for 42 h at Sanggou Bay, located in north China. Variation in inorganic carbon in the IMTA system was determined. The experiment included three treatments each with three replicates and three scallop monoculture systems as controls. Scallop density (399.1 ± 7.85 g per microcosm) remained the same in all treatments while seaweed density differed. The seaweed density was set at three levels (treatments 1, 2, 3) with thallus wet weights of 125.3 ± 4.72 g, 252.3 ± 7.50 g, and 378.7 ± 6.51 g per microcosm, respectively. This produced bivalve to seaweed wet weight ratios of 1:0.31, 1:0.63, and 1:0.96 for treatments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In control groups, continuous dissolution of carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced by scallops into the seawater not only caused an ongoing increase in partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂), 5.5 times higher than that of natural seawater, but also acidified seawater by 0.8 units after 42 h of culture. However, in all seaweed-scallop groups, the higher the algal density, the more CO₂ was absorbed; pCO₂ was lowest in treatment 3. The results suggest that a ratio of bivalve to seaweed less than 1:0.96 may produce an even stronger CO₂ sink. Overall, the integrated culture of seaweed and scallop could provide an efficient and environmentally friendly means to reduce CO₂ emissions from bivalve mariculture.     

The effects of elevated pCO2 on growth,shell production and metabolism of cultured juvenile abalone,Haliotis iris

Reduced seawater pH and elevated pCO₂ are important considerations in tank‐based abalone aquaculture, while sea‐based farms may be at risk to ocean acidification reductions in pH. Juvenile Haliotis iris (5–13 and 30–40 mm shell length) were reared in two, 100‐day experiments at ambient pH_nbs (~ 8.1, 450 μatm CO₂), pH 7.8 (~1000 μatm CO₂) and pH 7.6 (~1600 μatm CO₂). Seawater pH was measured and adjusted automatically by bubbling CO₂ into water in replicated flow through tanks. Two separate trials were run, in winter (8.8°C) and summer (16.5°C). Survival and growth were monitored every 30 days, and post experiment measurements of morphometrics and respiration rate undertaken. Growth of shell length and wet weight were negatively affected by reduced pH, with a 2 to 3‐fold reduction in growth of both size classes between ambient and pH 7.6 treatments in the summer experiment. For small juveniles, growth reductions were in conjunction with decreases to shell weight, while large juveniles showed greater resilience in shell production. No changes to respiration rate occurred, suggesting that juveniles may maintain physiological functioning while tolerating dissolution pressure or that they are unable to upregulate metabolism to compensate for pH effects. These data show that CO₂ driven reductions in pH can impact growth, metabolism and biomineralization of abalone, and indicate that water quality and ocean acidification are of importance in aquaculture of the species.     

Algal density alleviates the elevated CO2‐caused reduction on growth of Porphyra haitanensis (Bangiales,Rhodophyta), a species farmed in China

Growing of Pyropia haitanensis, a commercially farmed macroalga, usually increases their densities greatly during cultivation in natural habitats. To explore how the increased algal densities affect their photosynthetic responses to rising CO₂, we compared the growth, cell components and photosynthesis of the thalli of P. haitanensis under a matrix of pCO₂ levels (ambient CO₂, 400 ppm; elevated CO₂, 1,000 ppm) and biomass densities [low, 1.0 g fresh weight (FW) L^?1; medium, 2.0 g FW L^?1; high, 4.0 g FW L^?1]. Under ambient CO₂, the relative growth rate (RGR) was 5.87% d^?1, 2.32% d^?1 and 1.51% d^?1 in low, medium and high densities, and elevated CO₂ reduced the RGR by 27%, 25% and 12% respectively. Maximal photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (F_V/F_M) was higher in low than in high densities, so were the light‐utilized efficiency (α), saturation irradiance (E_K) and maximum relative electron transfer rate (rETR_max). Elevated CO₂ enhanced the F_V/F_M in low density but not in higher densities, as well as the α, E_K and rETR_max. In addition, elevated CO₂ reduced the content of chlorophyll a and enhanced that of carotenoids, but unaffected phycoerythrin, phycocyanin and soluble proteins. Our results indicate that the increased algal densities reduced both the growth and the photosynthesis of P. haitanensis and alleviated the elevated CO₂‐induced negative impact on growth and positive impact on photosynthesis. Moreover, the elevated CO₂‐induced reduction on growth and promotion on photosynthesis indicates that rising CO₂ may enhance the loss of photosynthetic products of P. haitanensis through releasing organic matters.     

Effects of dietary macroalgae meal and lipid source on growth performance and body wall fatty acid composition of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

A 70‐day experiment was conducted to examine the effects of different macroalgal meals and lipid sources on growth, body wall composition and fatty acid (FA) profile of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Two macroalgal meals including Sargassum muticum (SM) and Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL) and two lipid sources including fish oil (FO) and vegetable oil (VO) were formulated into four diets, i.e., S. muticum and fish oil (SF), S. muticum and vegetable oil (SV), G. lemaneiformis and fish oil (GF) and G. lemaneiformis and vegetable oil (GV). The results showed that the specific growth rates (SGR) of A. japonicus fed diets containing SM were significantly higher than those fed diets containing GL. No significant differences in SGR between the FO‐based and VO‐based groups were observed. Similar results were observed in the body wall lipid content. Most body wall FAs changed to resemble the dietary FA proportions because of the dietary effect. Concentrations of 20:4n‐6 of the SF and GF groups were significantly lower than the SV and GV groups, while levels of 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 were significantly higher than the SV and GV groups. The n‐3/n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratios of the SF and GF groups were significantly higher than the SV and GV groups. Moreover, the SF group had significantly higher 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 contents and n‐3/n‐6 PUFAs ratio than the GF group. These findings reveal that the SF diet can show beneficial effects on both growth performance and body wall n‐3 PUFAs content of A. japonicus.     

COMPARATIVE GROWTH OF Isochrysis galbana PARKE AND Isochrysis aff. galbana,CLONE T-ISO AT POUR TEMPERATURES AND THREE LIGHT INTENSITIES

The growth of a temperate and a tropical strain of Isochrysis was studied at four temperatures and three light intensity levels. All algal cultures were grown in an enriched artificial seawater medium under constant illumination and were bubbled with air enriched with 0.1% CO₂. Culture density (cells/ml) was measured periodically during exponential growth. Average growth rates for each combination of temperature and light intensity are presented as doublings/day. Observations of growth under the various culture conditions indicate that T-ISO (tropical strain) grows rapidly over a much broader range of temperatures than does I. galbana. Variations in growth at different light intensity levels suggest that the optimum light level increases as a function of temperature for T-ISO and that the growth of I. galbana is inhibited by high levels of light (1500 μW/cm²). The relative value of both strains as food for larval and juvenile oysters and the advantages and limitations of large scale culture are discussed.     

不同盐度低渗胁迫处理对龙须菜切段再生能力及光合生理的影响

为探究龙须菜对低渗胁迫的生理性适应，分析了龙须菜主枝切段在不同盐度低渗培养液(盐度19.500、13.000、6.500、0.000)下耐受不同胁迫时间(1、3、6、12和20 h)后，继续恢复正常盐度(盐度26.000)培养过程中的形态发生、光合生理指标和细胞器亚显微结构变化。结果显示，短于12 h的低渗(盐度0～19.500)胁迫可以促进龙须菜切段的出芽，其总出芽数均高于对照组(盐度26.000)。3 h的淡水胁迫后恢复至正常盐度培养，藻段再生过程的出芽数目较多，鲜重增加最多，表现出了明显的生长优势。龙须菜藻段经淡水胁迫3 h后恢复至正常盐度培养28 d，藻段的相对生长率(RGR)为0.91%/d，较对照组RGR提高了61.27%。1和3 h淡水胁迫对龙须菜藻段的光合生理指标无明显的负面效应，且恢复至正常盐度培养后藻段的光合生理活性增强，提示低渗胁迫可能增强了藻段的细胞代谢活力。透射电镜观察表明，经淡水胁迫3 h后，表皮细胞内的红藻淀粉颗粒、质体小球及脂质体等为藻体生长发育提供能量的物质和质体再生所需中性脂原料明显增加，适应于藻段再生过程的新生芽形成。相反，长时间的淡水胁迫对色素体...     

Mutualism between euryhaline tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii and Chlorella sp.—Implications for nano-algal production in warmwater phytoplankton-based recirculating systems

The West-African euryhaline tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii shift from visually feeding on zooplankton when juveniles to mostly filter feeding on phytoplankton when adults. When reared using an appropriate ration in intensive aquaculture systems, S. m. heudelotii also consume algal-based detritus, and contribute to sediment mineralization, clean up their environment, and ultimately stimulate and sustain algal growth. We analysed such practical advantages for phytoplankton-based recirculating systems, using S. m. heudelotii and Chlorella sp. as biological material originating from the prototype of such a system operated in Senegal. We performed a 24-h factorial design experiment in 36 tubs, cross-classifying three levels of S. m. heudelotii (fishless control, unfed fish, and fed fish) with four levels of Chlorella initial density.Chlorella overall mean density increased significantly from fishless, to unfed fish, and fed fish treatments, and with Chlorella initial density. S. m. heudelotii did not alter nitrogen nor phosphorus concentrations, only affected by algal initial densities. Most ammonia excreted by fish was probably uptaken by Chlorella. Bacteria-mediated diurnal nitrification was possibly an alternative ammonium loss mechanism at highest oxygen concentrations. Algae were not limited by nitrogen or phosphorus but most likely by low dissolved organic carbon availability. Chlorella differential responses with fed vs. unfed Sarotherodon suggest that CO₂ supplied by heterotrophic S. m. heudelotii respiration played a key role. Observed Chlorella growth rates were similar to the highest rates obtained in algal mass cultures, enriched with CO₂, nitrate and phosphate, under artificial lighting.Our results suggest the existence of a Sarotherodon-Chlorella mutualism in our systems, where S. m. heudelotii provide CO₂, the major limiting factor of Chlorella growth, whereas Chlorella oxygenate and detoxify the water media from ammonia, promoting S. m. heudelotii production. This mutualism could be used to optimize photosynthetic suspended-growth aquaculture systems, particularly in the Tropics where light is abundant and temperature is continuously high.     

汕头南澳龙须菜规模栽培对水质和浮游植物的影响

为研究大型海藻龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis)规模栽培对水质和浮游植物的影响,于2016年3―6月在南澳深澳湾选择龙须菜栽培区(G)、鱼类养殖区(F)和对照区(C)3个采样区域,每个采样区域3个采样点,进行每月1次的采样调查。对海水温度(WT)、盐度(salinity)、pH、溶氧(DO)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、无机氮(DIN)、无机磷(DIP)、叶绿素a(Chl a)和浮游植物密度进行测试分析。结果表明:(1)在龙须菜栽培期和收获期(3―5月),龙须菜栽培区的pH和DO均显著高于其余区域(P<0.05),收获后各区域无显著性差异(P>0.05);(2)在龙须菜栽培期(3―4月),栽培区的TN、TP、DIN和DIP含量均显著低于对照区和鱼类养殖区(P<0.05);(3)龙须菜栽培期间和收获期(3―5月)栽培区浮游植物密度显著低于其他区域(P<0.05),龙须菜收获后(6月),3个采样区域浮游植物的密度大幅上升;(4)2016年南澳海域共收获龙须菜49729 t,据估算,龙须菜规模栽培从海水中移除了2212 t N、174 t P和13300 t C,至少释放了34700tO_2。研究表明,龙须菜规模栽培能有效去除N、P营养盐,防治海洋富营养化;提高栽培区域的pH和DO,有利于防治海洋酸化和低氧问题;降低浮游植物密度,抑制有害藻华的发生。     

Effect of using sodium bicarbonate to adjust the pH to different levels on water quality,the growth and the immune response of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei reared in zero‐water exchange biofloc‐based culture tanks

The bioflocs technology proved to be a sustainable technique used in zero‐water exchange shrimp culture systems. However, the pH and alkalinity may decrease due to the biofloc formation process and Nitrification. A 48‐day experiment was performed to investigate the effects of different pH (7.1–7.6; 7.6–8.1) conditions on water quality, the growth and the health status of shrimp in biofloc technology (BFT) through using sodium bicarbonate to adjust pH respectively. Two pH treatments and one control were compared: T0 — control, T1 — pH 7.6 — NaHCO₃, T2 — pH 8.1 — NaHCO₃, each treatment consisted of three replicate tanks (90 L water volume) and each replicate stocked with 30 shrimp (equivalent to 333 shrimp m^?3). Significant physical, chemical and biological differences (P < 0.05) were detected among treatments. At the end of the experiment, water quality, the growth and the immune response of shrimp in control were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the other treatments. Moreover, the T2 treatment had a better performance in these three aspects. The results indicated that it was necessary to adjust the pH and alkalinity in the BFT, and a higher pH as well as alkalinity for shrimp growth and the stability of the BFT were more favourable.     

Growth parameters of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and red seaweed Gracilaria corticata in integrated culturing method under zero water exchange system

Growth parameters of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and red seaweed Gracilaria corticata were measured using integrated culturing method under zero‐water exchange system in a 45‐day period. A 2 × 3 factorial design was used with two levels of shrimp stocking densities and three levels of seaweed weight densities. G. corticata was cultured on a net tied to a round polyethylene frame. Culture tanks were filled with 750‐L filtered seawater. A 40‐W compact fluorescent lamp was hung over each tank to provide adequate and sufficient light for seaweed growth. Growth parameters of shrimp and seaweed such as specific growth rate (SGR), weight gained (WG) and average daily growth (ADG) were computed based on the initial and final weight of shrimp and seaweed. The maximum and minimum SGR of L. vannamei (1.97 and 1.69%/day) were observed in treatment S₁A₃ (25 shrimp/m² and 400 g seaweed/m²) and S₂A₁ (50 shrimp/m² without seaweed) respectively. The best survival rate (94.67 ± 1.33%), WG (129.9 ± 2.9%) and feed conversion ratio (1.67 ± 0.04) were also observed in treatment S₁A₃. The SGR of G.corticata in the treatment S₁A₃ (1.97 ± 0.00%/day) was significantly higher, compared to others. Strong positive correlations were obtained between the density of G. corticata and the growth parameters of L. vannamei. The red seaweed G. corticata could boost the growth parameters, survival rate and total production of L. vannamei under zero‐water exchange system.     

Effects of acidified seawater on early life stages of scleractinian corals (Genus Acropora)

Ocean acidification, caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations, is currently an important environmental problem. It is therefore necessary to investigate the effects of ocean acidification on all life stages of a wide range of marine organisms. However, few studies have examined the effects of increased CO₂ on early life stages of organisms, including corals. Using a range of pH values (pH 7.3, 7.6, and 8.0) in manipulative duplicate aquarium experiments, we have evaluated the effects of increased CO₂ on early life stages (larval and polyp stages) of Acropora spp. with the aim of estimating CO₂ tolerance thresholds at these stages. Larval survival rates did not differ significantly between the reduced pH and control conditions. In contrast, polyp growth and algal infection rates were significantly decreased at reduced pH levels compared to control conditions. These results suggest that future ocean acidification may lead to reduced primary polyp growth and delayed establishment of symbiosis. Stress exposure experiments using longer experimental time scales and lower levels of CO₂ concentrations than those used in this study are needed to establish the threshold of CO₂ emissions required to sustain coral reef ecosystems.     

Exterminating Sunamphitoe namhaensis using carbon dioxide in seawater for culturing brown algae Sargassum horneri seedlings

The amphipod Sunamphitoe namhaensis grazes on seedlings of Sargassum horneri in culture. To exterminate S. namhaensis, we immersed them in seawater with dissolved carbon dioxide—a treatment used previously to remove copepods in cultures of abalone and sea cucumber. Experiments were conducted under different CO₂ (aq) concentrations and for different lengths of time. Amphipod mortality was 100% following immersion in CO₂ seawater with a CO₂ (aq) concentration of 26,262 µmol/kg (pH 5.0) for 60 min. When algal seedlings were immersed in CO₂ seawater under these same conditions, their survival rate and growth were not affected.

     

The potential for utilizing fouling macroalgae as feed for abalone Haliotis discus hannai

In order to assess the potential of utilizing fouling macroalgae as feed for abalone Haliotis discus hannai, the species, biomass and total stock of fouling macroalgae attached on the aquaculture facility‐lines were investigated and assessed at Sungo Bay, China, in August 2007. The nutritional value of four fouling macroalgae (Codium fragile, Sargassum muticum, Ulva pertusa and Laminaria japonica) and one cultured macroalgae (Gracilaria lemaneiformis) as the diet of abalone was assessed by analysis of the chemical composition of the macroalgae and by measuring bioavailability and digestibility to abalone H. discus hannai under laboratory conditions in August 2007. The results showed that the biomass of fouling macroalgae at the two sites was 243.61 ± 26.23 and 1078.15 ± 50.28 g m^?1 respectively. The contents of protein of G. lemaneiformis and C. fragile were 18.30% and 17.60%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the others. The five macroalgae were accepted by the abalone, and growth energies (P) and growth efficiency (%) were positive. However, significant differences were found among the different macroalgae. The growth efficiencies of abalone show a negative relationship with the levels of dietary lipid and a positive relationship with the protein contents. These results suggest that fouling macroalgae have a great potential to be used as diets of abalone.     

Acidified seawater suppresses insulin‐like growth factor I mRNA expression and reduces growth rate of juvenile orange‐spotted groupers,Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822)

Ocean acidification, resulted from high level of carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolved in seawater, may disturb the physiology of fish in many ways. However, it is unclear how acidification may impact the growth rate and/or growth hormones of marine fish. In this study, we exposed juvenile orange‐spotted groupers (Epinephelus coioides) to seawater of different levels of acidification: a condition predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (pH 7.8–8.0), and a more extreme condition (pH 7.4–7.6) that may occur in coastal waters in the near future. After 6 weeks of exposure, the growth rates of fish in pH 7.4–7.6 were less than those raised in control water (pH 8.1–8.3). Furthermore, exposure at pH 7.4–7.6 increased blood pCO₂ and HCO₃^? significantly; exposure at pH 7.8–8.0, meanwhile, did not affect acid–base chemistry. Moreover, exposure to pH 7.4–7.6 resulted in lower levels of hepatic igf1 (insulin‐like growth factor I) mRNA, but did not affect levels of pituitary gh (growth hormone) or hypothalamus psst2 and psst3 (prepro‐somatostatin II and III). The results show that highly acidified seawater suppresses growth of juvenile grouper, which may be a consequence of reduced levels of IGF‐1, but not due to diminished growth hormone release.     

几种经济红藻中茉莉酸合成途径的关键物质

为研究几种经济红藻中茉莉酸合成途径的关键物质,实验采用液相色谱—质谱联用技术(LC-MS)对茉莉酸生物合成途径相关物质建立检测方法,并对龙须菜、坛紫菜受到机械损伤时各物质的变化情况进行检测。以100%甲醇提取茉莉酸(JA)、茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)、12-氧-植物二烯酸(12-OPDA)和13-氢过氧化亚麻酸(13-HpOTE),利用XBridge TM C18色谱柱,以甲醇/水为流动相分离4种物质。优化条件下4种物质得到良好分离,加标回收率为81.23%～90.25%,检测限为0.04～0.56 ng/mL,灵敏度高。坛紫菜、龙须菜和真江蓠3种红藻中,坛紫菜中未检测到JA和13-HpOTE,4种物质均在另外2种藻中检测到。龙须菜受机械损伤胁迫后,4种物质在短时间内得到积累,其中13-HpOTE响应迅速。研究表明,红藻中可能存在类似于植物的茉莉酸合成途径,并参与对损伤的胁迫响应。     

The administration of Lactobacillus plantarum directly to food: An effective way to improve the survival and growth of juvenile lined seahorses (Hippocampus erectus)

Previously, we found Lactobacillus plantarum had probiotic effects on lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) juveniles by the addition Lactobacillus directly into rearing seawater containing juveniles and their food (i.e. copepods). However, how the juveniles consumed Lactobacillus, directly from water or from copepods in whose guts Lactobacillus may have accumulated by ingestion, is still unclear. To clarify this, three experiments were successively carried out in this study. In the first experiment, the manner by which juveniles consumed Lactobacillus, namely, directly from food, was discovered via a 2 × 2 factorial design with two factors of water and food, and two levels with and without L. plantarum. In the second experiment, a 5 × 4 factorial design with five levels of L. plantarum doses (D: 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 × 10⁸ cfu/L) and four levels of enrichment time (T: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 hr) was conducted to analyse lactic acid bacteria (LAB) contents in the enriched copepods under different treatments. In the third experiment, six kinds of Lactobacillus‐enriched copepods chosen from the second experiment that carried significantly different LAB contents were fed to juveniles, and it was found that the copepods containing LAB greater than 5 log₁₀colonies/g had the most improved effects for survival and growth. In conclusion, the effective manner of L. plantarum administration in seahorses is by the addition to their food. Additionally, D40 * T1.0, whose LAB content was more than 5 log₁₀colonies/g, is generally the most economic copepod treatment for improving survival and growth in H. erectus rearing.     

Effects of light spectrum and intensity on growth,survival and physiology of leech (Whitmania pigra) larvae under the rearing conditions

Used as a traditional Chinese medicine, the high mortality rate and slow growth of Whitmania pigra larvae are the most serious bottlenecks for the scale development of artificial breeding. Firstly, five light colour treatments (white, blue, green, red and yellow) were tested to determine effects of light spectrum on the growth of larval W. pigra at the same intensity of 70.00 μmol m^?2 s^?1. The experiment lasted for 45 days. Under our experimental conditions, the weight gain (WG) and the specific growth rate (SGR) under blue light condition were significantly higher compared with the other treatments (P ≤ 0.05). It is reasonable to conclude that blue light can promote the leech growth. In addition, reared at five blue light intensity treatments (20.00 ± 3.84, 40.78 ± 4.18, 53.67 ± 5.98, 70.00 ± 7.26 and 87.33 ± 5.77 μmol m^?2 s^?1), the WG and SGR increased with increasing intensity. Meanwhile, they were significantly higher in the 70.00 and 87.33 μmol m^?2 s^?1 treatments (P ≤ 0.05). In the higher intensity light treatments, the digestive enzymes were higher and antioxidant enzymes were lower. These results suggest that the optimal light spectrum for the culture of W. pigra during the early life stage was blue and the optimal light intensity was higher light intensity (70.00–87.33 μmol m^?2 s^?1).     

Mutualism between euryhaline tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii and Chlorella sp.—Implications for nano-algal production in warmwater phytoplankton-based recirculating systems

The West-African euryhaline tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii shift from visually feeding on zooplankton when juveniles to mostly filter feeding on phytoplankton when adults. When reared using an appropriate ration in intensive aquaculture systems, S. m. heudelotii also consume algal-based detritus, and contribute to sediment mineralization, clean up their environment, and ultimately stimulate and sustain algal growth. We analysed such practical advantages for phytoplankton-based recirculating systems, using S. m. heudelotii and Chlorella sp. as biological material originating from the prototype of such a system operated in Senegal. We performed a 24-h factorial design experiment in 36 tubs, cross-classifying three levels of S. m. heudelotii (fishless control, unfed fish, and fed fish) with four levels of Chlorella initial density.Chlorella overall mean density increased significantly from fishless, to unfed fish, and fed fish treatments, and with Chlorella initial density. S. m. heudelotii did not alter nitrogen nor phosphorus concentrations, only affected by algal initial densities. Most ammonia excreted by fish was probably uptaken by Chlorella. Bacteria-mediated diurnal nitrification was possibly an alternative ammonium loss mechanism at highest oxygen concentrations. Algae were not limited by nitrogen or phosphorus but most likely by low dissolved organic carbon availability. Chlorella differential responses with fed vs. unfed Sarotherodon suggest that CO₂ supplied by heterotrophic S. m. heudelotii respiration played a key role. Observed Chlorella growth rates were similar to the highest rates obtained in algal mass cultures, enriched with CO₂, nitrate and phosphate, under artificial lighting.Our results suggest the existence of a Sarotherodon-Chlorella mutualism in our systems, where S. m. heudelotii provide CO₂, the major limiting factor of Chlorella growth, whereas Chlorella oxygenate and detoxify the water media from ammonia, promoting S. m. heudelotii production. This mutualism could be used to optimize photosynthetic suspended-growth aquaculture systems, particularly in the Tropics where light is abundant and temperature is continuously high.     

Dietary ascorbic acid requirement for growth of striped catfish,Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) juveniles

A sixty‐day feeding trial was conducted to determine the ascorbic acid (AA) requirement for growth of striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus juveniles. Seven iso‐nitrogenous and iso‐energetic (370 g protein per kg and 19.6 MJ/kg) purified diets were prepared with different levels of ascorbic acid such as control (0), T₁ (17.5), T₂ (35), T₃ (70), T₄ (175), T₅ (350) and T₆ (700) mg ascorbic acid (L‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate) equivalent per kg diet. Fish with a mean body weight of 3.2–3.4 g were stocked (fifteen fish per tank) in triplicates following a completely randomized design. Each group was fed to satiation twice a day for 60 days. Significant differences were observed in growth, survival, body composition and metabolic enzymes activities with different dietary ascorbic acid levels. Maximum weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were found in fishes fed with 35 mg AA per kg diet, supported by best feed conversion. Fish fed a diet containing vitamin C had the highest activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) compared to those fed with vitamin C‐depleted diets. In this study, based on using broken‐line regression analysis, the dietary vitamin C requirement for growth of P. hypophthalmus juveniles was estimated to be in the range of 46–76 mg AA per kg, depending on the criterion used, growth and liver storage. Our results will be helpful for the formulation of cost‐effective ascorbic acid incorporated diets for striped catfish, P. hypophthalmus.