枸杞岛海藻场小型无脊椎动物的食物来源

摘 要 枸杞岛近岸海藻场生态系统内浮游动物、端足类、多毛类和棘皮动物等小型无脊椎动物是海藻场食物网的重要组成部分,承担了将初级生产者的能量产出向高级消费者传递转移的功能。为了探明桡足类、太平洋磷虾、中国毛虾、短毛海鳞虫、厚壳贻贝、角蝾螺、紫海胆、钩虾、麦秆虫、海绵和钩虾幼体等海藻场内主要小型无脊椎动物的能量来源,本研究应用稳定同位素技术分析海藻场食物网内这些小型无脊椎动物及其潜在食源浮游植物、大型海藻、底栖微藻等初级生产者的碳、氮稳定同位素组成,并用IsoSource多源线性混合模型来估算不同的初级生产者对小型无脊椎动物的食源贡献率。结果表明,初级生产者的δ13C值介于-21.7‰~-13.8‰之间,δ15N值介于2.3‰~11.6‰之间。初级生产者SOM、浮游植物、POM、铜藻的δ13C值无显著的季节差异（P>0.05）,附生生物、孔石莼和底栖微藻的δ13C值有明显的季节变化（P<0.05）。在所有的初级生产者中,仅附生生物的δ15N值有极显著的季节差异,其余种类的季节变化不显著。小型无脊椎动物的δ13C值介于-20.3‰~-15.4‰之间,δ15N值介于2.5‰~8.1‰之间。在所有的小型无脊椎动物中,仅桡足类的δ13C、δ15N值有显著的季节变化（P<0.05）,其余的小型无脊椎动物的δ13C、δ15N值都无显著的季节变化（P>0.05）。基于IsoSource模型分析发现,浮游植物和POM等是桡足类、太平洋磷虾和中国毛虾等浮游动物以及海绵的主要食源;钩虾幼体和麦秆虫等啃食性端足类主要以附着微藻为食;大型海藻和底栖微藻是钩虾、紫海胆和角蝾螺等底栖生物的主要能量来源。     

基于稳定同位素技术的天津大神堂海域人工鱼礁区食物网结构研究

本研究对2016年6月在天津大神堂3个礁区(2010年建成的鱼礁区；2012年建成的鱼礁区；2014年建成的鱼礁区)和对照区域采集的生物消费者及其食物源样品的碳、氮稳定同位素组成进行了分析，通过IsoSource模型计算不同区域生物的食物网基础，并利用氮稳定同位素数据计算消费者的营养级。结果显示，根据δ13C值可以将其食物源分为浮游植物、悬浮颗粒有机物(POM)和沉积相颗粒有机物(SOM)三类；浮游植物对消费者的碳源贡献率(67.2%~81.5%)最大，是大神堂海域的生物食物网的基础。不同区域同一食物源的δ13C和δ15N值没有显著性差异；礁区内滤食性贝类毛蚶(Arca subcrenata)、菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum)和长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)的δ13C值显著高于对照区，作为潜在碳源的浮游植物对其的贡献率显著增加。消费者的δ15N值则介于7.70‰~14.34‰之间，消费者的营养级介于2.0~3.95级之间。游泳生物食性生物的δ15N和营养级在礁区内有所提高，礁区建成的年份越长，其营养级与对照区域的差别越显著。稳定同位素研究表明，人工鱼礁建设可能导致鱼礁区内滤食性生物的食物来源组成改变，并提高游泳生物食性生物的营养级。     

柘林湾海洋牧场不同功能区食物网结构

海洋牧场是由多个功能区组成的生态系统工程,不同功能区的生态环境和食物网结构各不相同,通过研究不同功能区食物网结构有助于了解功能区之间生态系统差异。实验通过对南澳柘林湾海洋牧场渔业资源环境调查,利用碳氮稳定同位素技术对海洋牧场不同功能区食物网结构进行比较,并借助SIBER对稳定同位素数据进行分析。结果显示,海洋牧场调查共采获生物种类78种,其中,消费者的δ~(13)C比值介于–19.94‰~–13.62‰,δ~(15)N比值介于8.78‰~15.29‰,营养级范围介于1.73~3.64。不同功能区同位素数据对比表明,人工鱼礁区生物资源相对丰富,食物网结构较为复杂;海藻增殖区中生物生态位分布最广,营养冗余程度较高;贝类增殖区生物生态位较窄,营养级分布较为集中。在不同功能区生态系统稳定性对比中,人工鱼礁区生态系统稳定性最佳,海藻增殖区生态系统稳定性较差。     

基于稳定同位素的口虾蛄食性分析

为了探讨口虾蛄的食物组成,利用稳定同位素方法对2015年5月在汕尾红海湾海域采集的口虾蛄及其饵料生物的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值)进行分析,定量研究不同饵料生物在口虾蛄食物中的贡献比率。结果表明,口虾蛄的δ~(13)C值为–18.1‰~–16.3‰,δ~(15)N值为10.9‰~13.5‰,平均值分别为–17.1‰±0.5‰和12.7‰±0.7‰。δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值的变化范围均较大,表明口虾蛄的食物来源较多。口虾蛄的食物主要由鱼类、虾类、贝类、蟹类和桡足类组成。其中,贝类为口虾蛄的主要食物,平均贡献率为38.6%;其次为蟹类和桡足类,平均贡献率分别为22.9%和16.0%;虾类的平均贡献率为13.6%;鱼类的平均贡献率最低,仅为8.9%。根据δ~(15)N值及营养级的计算公式得出,口虾蛄的营养级为3.01±0.22,在其5类食物中,桡足类的营养级最低,仅为1.77±0.12;其次为贝类;蟹类和虾类的营养级分别为2.78±0.21和2.89±0.16;鱼类的最高,为2.98±0.15;它们的营养级均低于口虾蛄。此外相关分析显示,口虾蛄的δ~(15)N值与其个体体质量间存在极显著的正相关关系,说明不同大小的口虾蛄营养级有所差异。     

基于碳、氮稳定同位素的大亚湾渔业生物群落营养结构

根据2017年夏季和2018年冬季于大亚湾海域进行的底拖网渔业生物调查,该研究采用碳、氮稳定同位素(δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N)技术,分析了大亚湾渔业生物的δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N基本特征,构建了连续营养级谱,并探讨了不同季节渔业生物营养结构的差异。结果显示,大亚湾海域渔业生物的δ~(13)C介于-19.66‰～-15.19‰,均值为(-17.26±0.86)‰;δ~(15)N介于11.63‰～16.01‰,均值为(13.59±0.96)‰。以小型浮游动物的δ~(15)N平均值作为基准构建渔业生物营养级谱,发现大亚湾海域渔业生物的营养级介于2.99～4.28,鱼类的营养级跨度最广,食性较复杂。运用SIBER模型计算了渔业生物的7个营养结构量化指标,发现部分生物摄食共同的饵料,存在生态位重叠现象。此外,夏季群落营养冗余度比冬季低。     

岛礁水域海藻场食物网基准生物的选择

岛礁海域海藻场是近岸浅海重要的湿地生境之一,其所在水域的食物网往往较开阔水域复杂,而利用稳定同位素方法来揭示其独特的物质传递和能量流动规律是当前国内外研究的趋势。在利用该技术之前,往往需选择恰当的基准生物以更准确地阐释海藻场食物网各阶层的营养关系。为此,于2014年春季(5月)和秋季(10月)在浙江省枸杞岛海藻场选取4种大型底栖动物优势种[蝾螺(Turbo petholatus)、角蝾螺(Turbo cornutus)、条纹隔贻贝(Septifer virgatus)和带偏顶蛤(Modiolus comptus)]为实验对象,利用多元方差分析检验其δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值的种内(间)时空差异,并分析造成该差异的原因,评估其作为基准生物的可行性。结果显示,4种底栖动物的δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值受其食性和栖息地环境的影响,呈现不同程度的时空差异,发现带偏顶蛤和角蝾螺的δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值相对更为稳定,因此可分别作为浮游和底层营养关系的基准生物。本文结果可为我国在东海岛礁水域开展相关研究提供基础数据和重要参考。     

马来眼子菜和POM稳定同位素对污染源的指示作用

为了探究大型植物马来眼子菜(Potamogeton malaianus)和颗粒有机物质(Particulate organic matter,POM)对湖泊主要污染源的指示作用,在贡湖湾选取14个样点,采集马来眼子菜和POM样品,分析其碳、氮稳定同位素的变化。结果显示,马来眼子菜和POM有相似的δ~(15)N值趋势,都是随着离入湖口距离越远,其δ~(15)N值逐渐增加,马来眼子菜的δ~(15)N值为10.8‰～14.1‰,POM的δ~(15)N值为6.69‰～14.1‰;而马来眼子菜的δ~(13)C值随着离入湖口距离越远有下降趋势,变化范围为-17.6‰～-14.5‰;POM的δ~(13)C值则有增加趋势,变化范围为-26.9‰～-24.6‰。马来眼子菜较高的δ~(15)N值指示了人类生活污水来源的氮,表明贡湖湾的主要污染源为生活污水。相关分析表明,水中总溶解磷(TDP)与马来眼子菜的δ~(15)N值有明显的负相关关系,总氮(TN)与POM的δ~(15)N、δ~(13)C值则呈很好的正相关关系;而POM的N占比和底泥的δ~(15)N值分别与POM的δ~(15)N值有明显的正相关性。研究表明,马来眼子菜和POM的δ~(15)N、δ~(13)C值能够指示太湖贡湖湾的主要污染源。     

基于碳、氮稳定同位素技术的大亚湾紫海胆食性分析

为掌握大亚湾紫海胆(Heliocidaris crassispina)的食性特征,应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术对2015年8月所采集紫海胆样本的稳定同位素特征、营养级和食性特征进行了初步研究。结果表明,大亚湾紫海胆平均δ~(13)C值为-(13.35±1.21)‰,平均δ~(15)N值为(9.14±0.38)‰,平均营养级为2.11±0.14。不同壳径紫海胆之间的碳、氮稳定同位素比值无显著性差异(P0.05)。大亚湾海域紫海胆生活环境周围生物δ~(13)C值分布范围为-20.76‰~-9.93‰,δ~(15)N值分布范围为-0.16‰~14.99‰,营养级范围为1.34~3.77。大亚湾主要生物种类可划分为悬浮物、初级生产者和初级消费者、次级消费者、顶级消费者4个营养组群,其中紫海胆属于次级消费者。8月份调查海域珊瑚稀少,大型海藻密度低且死亡降解形成颗粒有机物(Particulate Organic Matter,POM),陆源POM随降雨大量流入大亚湾,导致紫海胆在8月份摄食偏向碎屑食物链,主要食物来源为POM,平均贡献率为67.3%;其余摄食种类为沉积物(Sediment Organic Matter,SOM)、裂叶马尾藻(Scagassum siliquastrum)、底栖硅藻、浮游动物及浮游植物,平均贡献率分别为9.7%、9.3%、6.7%、3.7%及3.3%。大亚湾紫海胆摄食种类与其栖息地底栖生物存在重叠,具有一定的食物竞争关系。研究表明,分析紫海胆食性特征对了解其所在生态系统中营养级水平具有重要意义。     

应用稳定同位素技术分析枸杞岛近岸海域褐菖鲉的食性

为获知褐菖鲉的食性,本研究应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术分析了不同季节和发育阶段褐菖鲉的摄食习性,并评估了浮游动物、端足类、虾蟹类和小型鱼类等饵料生物对褐菖鲉的营养贡献。结果显示,枸杞岛近岸海域4个季节褐菖鲉的δ~(13)C值为–18.2‰~–14.7‰,平均值为–15.6‰;δ~(15)N值为3.3‰~9.9‰,平均值为7.9‰;单因素方差分析显示,褐菖鲉的δ~(13)C值和δ~(15)N值在不同季节之间差异都不显著,说明不同季节之间褐菖鲉的食性差异不大。对褐菖鲉全长和碳、氮稳定同位素比值进行线性回归分析,显示其δ~(13)C值和δ~(15)N值随全长变化都极显著,表明不同发育阶段褐菖鲉的食性差异极显著。聚类分析将不同全长的褐菖鲉分为3组,其中0~19 mm为一组,20~79和80~109 mm为一组,110~199 mm为一组,ANOSIM分析3组之间的差异极显著。褐菖鲉的δ~(13)C值与虾蟹类和鱼类等饵料类群δ~(13)C值较接近,应用Iso Source软件分析饵料类群的营养贡献时发现,麦秆虫对褐菖鲉的的营养贡献均值最大,为22.3%,鱼类、虾蟹类等饵料类群的营养贡献均值都超过了12%。枸杞岛近岸海域褐菖鲉的平均营养级为3.18,属于低级肉食性鱼类,主要摄食麦秆虫、鱼类和虾蟹类,是底栖动物食性,而非浮游动物食性。     

海湾扇贝碳氮稳定同位素的分馏系数和转化率研究

应用稳定同位素技术检测了海湾扇贝肝胰脏、性腺、闭壳肌3种组织及其饵料的C、N稳定同位素比值,对海湾扇贝3种组织C、N稳定同位素的分馏系数和转化率进行研究。试验结果表明,海湾扇贝的体质量和壳高均未发生显著变化(P0.05),3种组织C、N稳定同位素变化主要由新陈代谢引起。相同年龄、不同规格海湾扇贝的δ~(13) C、δ~(15) N值无显著差异(P0.05)。试验前后,肝胰脏和性腺组织的δ~(13) C、δ~(15) N值均发生显著变化(P0.05),C同位素分馏系数分别为3.92‰、2.15‰,N同位素分馏系数分别为1.84‰、7.84‰,而闭壳肌组织的δ~(13) C、δ~(15) N值未发生显著变化(P0.05),未得出其有效的C、N同位素分馏系数。肝胰腺和性腺组织的N元素半衰期(20d)是C元素半衰期(10d)的两倍。该研究结果可为海湾扇贝等贝类饵料来源、基础生物学研究及海洋食物网的科学构建提供科学依据。     

Association between the interannual variation in the oceanic environment and catch rates of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic Ocean

The environmental processes associated with variability in the catch rates of bigeye tuna in the Atlantic Ocean are largely unexplored. This study used generalized additive models (GAMs) fitted to Taiwanese longline fishery data from 1990 to 2009 and investigated the association between environmental variables and catch rates to identify the processes influencing bigeye tuna distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. The present findings reveal that the year (temporal factor), latitude and longitude (spatial factors), and major regular longline target species of albacore catches are significant for the standardization of bigeye tuna catch rates in the Atlantic Ocean. The standardized catch rates and distribution of bigeye tuna were found to be related to environmental and climatic variation. The model selection processes showed that the selected GAMs explained 70% of the cumulative deviance in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Regarding environmental factors, the depth of the 20 degree isotherm (D20) substantially contributed to the explained deviance; other important factors were sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height deviation (SSHD). The potential fishing grounds were observed with SSTs of 22–28°C, a D20 shallower than 150 m and negative SSHDs in the Atlantic Ocean. The higher predicted catch rates were increased in the positive northern tropical Atlantic and negative North Atlantic Oscillation events with a higher SST and shallow D20, suggesting that climatic oscillations affect the population abundance and distribution of bigeye tuna.     

Protein and amino acid composition from the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris exposed to prolonged starvation

Protein and amino acid composition of the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) during fasting for 27 days were determined. Average protein content of octopus mantle was of 711.19 ± 46.80 g kg^?1 DW, and it decreased with increasing fasting days. The non‐essential amino acids content was higher (486.18 ± 11.08 g kg^?1 protein) than essential amino acids (425.82 ± 9.15 g kg^?1 protein) at the start of the experiment (unstarved animals). The results suggest that the amino acid profile of the mantle where the most abundant amino acids are Arg, His, Lys, Gly, Leu and Pro could indicate a prolonged fasting condition (>20 days) or poor nutrition of O . vulgaris. This study supports the idea of using mantle for metabolic needs of starved O . vulgaris suggesting that the degradation pathway of amino acids to pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates was favoured contrary to the degradation pathway of ketogenic amino acids. Special considerations should be taken concerning Thr, Ile, Ser, Ala, Asx (Asp, Asn), Glx (Glu, Gln) (because of their fast intake) and Lys and His (due to their stable contents) during a prolonged period of fasting.     

Growth performance,digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass,Lateolabrax japonicus fed with fructooligosaccharide

In this experiment, a feeding trial was performed to determine the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus juveniles (initial weight 38.3 ± 0.5 g), and the fish were examined following feeding with six levels of FOS (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g/kg) for 28 days. Significant enhancement of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) was found in fish fed 1 g/kg FOS incorporated diets (p < .05), while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 1, 2 g/kg FOS groups reduced significantly compared with the control (p < .05). Besides, the crude lipid in the 4, 6 g/kg FOS groups increased significantly compared with the control (p < .05). On the other hand, the erepsin and lipase activities significantly elevated in intestine of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS (p < .05) and the lysozyme activity in serum of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than that in the control (p < .05). Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase activities in serum of fish fed 0.5, 1, 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than in control (p < .05). Regression analysis showed that the relationships between dietary FOS levels and either SGR, FCR, erepsin or lysozyme activities were best expressed by regression equations, and the optimal inclusion levels are 1.37, 1.80, 3.06, 3.11, 1.93 and 1.80 g/kg for SGR, FCR, erepsin, lipase, lysozyme and total superoxide dismutase activities, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that FOS incorporated diets could beneficial for L. japonicus culture in terms of increasing the growth, digestion and immune activities. Under the present experimental condition, the optimal supplementary level of FOS in the diet of L. japonicus is 1–3 g/kg.     

美人鱼发光杆菌对凡纳滨对虾非特异性 免疫功能及抗病力的影响

在基础饲料中分别添加0.1%和1%美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌、0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌配制成3种免疫实验饲料,以基础饲料为空白对照组饲料,每组设3个平行样。对个体质量为(4.83±0.36)g的凡纳滨对虾进行为期20 d的饲养实验,分别在0、5、10、15和20d进行取样,以血清中的酚氧化酶(PO)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和溶菌酶(UL)活性为免疫指标,探讨了美人鱼发光杆菌作为免疫制剂对凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫效应的影响;在投喂免疫饲料后的第22天,按0.004 2 kg/kg体重的剂量,直接投喂对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)病料,并记录累积死亡率。结果表明,美人鱼发光杆菌免疫实验组对凡纳滨对虾血清中PO、ACP、AKP、UL和SOD活性影响明显高于对照组,并且在饲料中添加美人鱼发光杆菌后,明显提高了对虾抵御WSSV感染的能力。其中0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌实验组的抗病毒感染能力最强,WSSV感染14d内累计死亡率为63.3%±5.8%;而对照组为96.7%±3.3%。研究表明,美人鱼发光杆菌添加在对虾饲料中能提高凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫水平,增强抵抗疾病的能力,将其作为对虾免疫增强剂具有良好的应用前景。     

Effects of Spirulina platensis as a feed additive on growth and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii Boulunger, 1902)

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with dietary Spirulina as a feed supplement on the growth performance and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii). Five isonitrogenous (47% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.36 kJ/g digestible energy) diets were for formulated to replace FM with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% Spirulina (designated as Control, SP5, SP10, SP15 and SP20 respectively) and fed to the fish (initial body weight, 3.15 ± 0.01 g). Fish were randomly distributed into fifteen 120 L aquariums (26.5 ± 1.00°C), 15 fish per aquarium. The diets were tested in triplicate for 12 weeks. Experimental groups were fed twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) by hand to satiation. At the end of the feeding trial, significantly (p < 0.05) higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in fish fed the SP10 diet when compared to the SP20 diet. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the other groups. The skin coloration of blue dolphin cichlid fed a diet containing Spirulina meal was enhanced. The best coloration was observed in the SP15 group. These impressions were objectively validated by chemical determinations of carotenoids extracted from fish skins and passed statistical tests of significance. The study findings show that Spirulina meal does not diminish growth rates except at very high levels.     

Dietary thiamin and pyridoxine requirements of fingerling Indian major carp,Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

Two experiments were conducted to quantify the dietary thiamin (experiment I) and pyridoxine (experiment II) requirements of fingerling Cirrhinus mrigala for 16 weeks. In experiment I, dietary thiamin requirement was determined by feeding seven casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) with graded levels of thiamin (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg kg^?1 diet) to triplicate groups of fish (6.15 ± 0.37 cm; 1.89 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet with 2 mg kg^?1 thiamin had highest specific growth rate (SGR), protein retention (PR), RNA/DNA ratio, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), RBCs and best feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, highest liver thiamin concentration was recorded in fish fed 4 mg thiamin kg^?1 diet. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver thiamin concentrations exhibited the thiamin requirement in the range of 1.79–3.34 mg kg^?1 diet (0.096–0.179 μg thiamin kJ^?1 gross energy). In experiment II, six casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) containing graded levels of pyridoxine (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg kg^?1 diet) were fed to triplicate groups of fish (6.35 ± 0.37 cm; 1.97 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet containing 6 mg kg^?1 pyridoxine showed best SGR, FCR, PR, RNA/DNA ratio, Hb, Hct and RBCs, whereas maximum liver pyridoxine concentration was recorded in fish fed 8 mg kg^?1 dietary pyridoxine. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver pyridoxine concentrations reflected the pyridoxine requirement from 5.63 to 8.61 mg kg^?1 diet. Data generated during this study would be useful in formulating thiamin‐ and pyridoxine‐balanced feeds for the intensive culture of this fish.     

Sea bream culture in Egypt; status, constraints and potential

Marine fish farming in Egypt began in 1976 with the culture of gilthead sea bream, (Sparus aurata) as this fish was notably adaptable to brackish and marine pond conditions. Today, marine fish and shrimp farms amount to about 19,000 ha, out of which 42% is already in production while the rest, i.e., 58% is still under construction. In 1997, cultured gilthead sea bream production of 2,250 tons made up 3% of the 75,000 tons total aquaculture catch. In polyculture, usually with the grey mullet and sea bass, gilthead sea bream contributed 440 kg ha^–1 to the total yield of 1,700 kg ha^–1 (26%) over a period of 16 months. For the same period, the yield of monoculture ponds averaged 100 kg ha^–1, while in marine cages, yields ranged from 4–10 kg m³. In 1996–1997, fry of 0.25–1 g and fingerlings 1–10 g with a total of 3 million, were collected from the wild and 1 million fry were produced in the three marine hatcheries out of the four existing ones. The development of sea bream culture in Egypt is now severely inhibited by the shortage of seeds and adequate feeds. Exports of both sea bream and sea bass, during 1994–1996 averaged 1,300 tons per year.     

A Minchinia mercenariae‐like parasite infects cockles Cerastoderma edule in Galicia (NW Spain)

The cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery has traditionally been the most important shellfish species in terms of biomass in Galicia (NW Spain). In the course of a survey of the histopathological conditions affecting this species in the Ria of Arousa, a haplosporidan parasite that had not been observed in Galicia was detected in one of the most productive cockle beds of Galicia. Uni‐ and binucleate cells and multinucleate plasmodia were observed in the connective tissue mainly in the digestive area, gills and gonad. The parasite showed low prevalence, and it was not associated with abnormal cockle mortality. Molecular identification showed that this parasite was closely related to the haplosporidan Minchinia mercenariae that had been reported infecting hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria from the Atlantic coast of the United States. The molecular characterization of its SSU rDNA region allowed obtaining a fragment of 1,796 bp showing 98% homology with M. mercenariae parasite. Phylogenetic analysis supported this identification as this parasite was clustered in the same clade as M. mercenariae from the United States and other M. mercenariae‐like sequences from the UK, with bootstrap value of 99%. The occurrence of M. mercenariae‐like parasites infecting molluscs outside the United States is confirmed.     

Involvement of gonadal steroids in final oocyte maturation of white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops): in vivo and in vitro studies

Plasma estradiol-17 (E₂), testosterone (T), 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and 17,20,21-tri-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20-S) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops) that were induced to undergo final oocyte maturation (FOM) with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Plasma DHP levels increased in females of both species in association with oocyte germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and decreased thereafter. Plasma 20-S levels also increased with oocyte GVM in white bass, but were several-fold lower than DHP levels. Circulating E₂ and T levels were greatest during GVM and GVBD in both species and decreased to low levels during oocyte hydration and ovulation. Follicles from white perch and white bass which received a priming injection of hCG in vivo, produced both DHP and 20-S in vitro after exposure to hCG and their oocytes underwent GVBD. Ovarian incubates from unprimed fish of either species produced only E₂ and T and their oocytes did not complete GVBD. Oocytes from unprimed bass, but not perch, matured when follicles were exposed to hCG in vitro. Both trilostane and cycloheximide blocked in vitro production of DHP and 20-S and oocyte GVBD by white perch follices. DHP and 20-S were equipotent inducers of FOM in the GVBD bioassay. None of several other structurally-related steroids tested were effective within a physiological range of concentrations. These results indicate a role for DHP and 20-S in the control of FOM in white perch and white bass.