Growth responses and fatty acid composition of juvenile prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) fed a prepared ration augmented with shrimp head oil

A prepared shrimp food was impregnated at 3% by weight with oil extracted from heads of Penaeus setiferus. This procedure brought about a reduction in the level of ω6 fatty acids and an increase in the percentages of ω3 fatty acids and saturated acids in the diet.The lipid-augmented ration was fed to juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii for 12 weeks in the laboratory, with the unmodified diet as a control. Prawns fed the augmented diet grew significantly larger than those given the control feed, and this difference was apparent by the sixth week of the study. Final mean biomass (g prawn/m² of tank floor) and efficiency of food utilization in the experimental group were about twice that in the control. Survival in the two groups was similar throughout the study and averaged 71 and 68%, respectively, for the experimental and control animals at the end of the experiment.Prawns fed both rations contained in their tissues about the same percentage of ω3 fatty acids as their diets, indicating conservation of these dietary acids and/or biosynthesis. In contrast, the animals contained substantially less 18:2ω6 (linoleic acid) than their diets, and the data suggested that some of this fatty acid may have been utilized as an energy source. Also, animals fed the augmented diet contained about 15 times more carotenoid pigments than those given the control ration.The study suggests that ω3 fatty acids are important in the nutrition of M. rosenbergii and that prawn diets might be made more effective by increasing the relative proportion of ω3 fatty acids in their composition. Waste shrimp heads may be one suitable source of fatty acids and pigments for use in prepared diets for aquaculture.     

Epibionts of pond-reared adult Malaysian prawns,Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), in South Carolina

During 1976, epibionts were noted on adult Malaysian prawns reared in a special ‘brood stock pond’. These epibionts have not previously been recorded on Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Dense algal growths, covering much of the carapace, were observed on 58.3% of the males (mean size, 147.1 g) and on none of the females at harvest. Species composition was primarily (about 90%) the Chlorophyte Oedogonium crassiusculum, with the Cyanophyte Lyngbya, the secondary dominant. The large infested males were sluggish and in some cases functionally blind due to the algal covering. However, once moved to indoor culture tanks the algae were lost and the prawns' behavior returned to normal.Eggs of the water boatman, Ramphocorixa acuminata, were observed on 52.5% of the females (mean size, 78.0 g) and 5.9% of the males at harvest. Egg deposition was limited to the cephalothorax and/or the first and/or second abdominal segments. This epibiont was not noted in the six adjacent rearing ponds containing approximately 84,000 smaller prawns. The insect eggs appeared to cause no injury and disappeared shortly after the infested prawns were returned to laboratory tanks.Although both epibionts exhibited apparent sex specificity in the brood stock pond, data from other rearing ponds did not support this specificity. The occurrence of these epibionts should pose no problem to the successful pond culture of M. rosenbergii in South Carolina.     

Breeding depressions in culture ponds for Malaysian prawns

Breeding depressions constructed by male Malaysian prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were observed in earthen culture ponds in South Carolina. Depressions ranged from circular to elliptical in shape and the maximum size recorded was 94 × 53 cm and 15 cm deep. Number and size of depressions appeared to be closely related to the size and density of the adult male prawns in the ponds. Night-time observations indicated that sexually ripe females oriented in and around the depressions. Although construction of breeding depressions appears to be common under pond culture conditions, such depressions are not necessary for successful reproduction.     

Mobile DNA in Old World monkeys: a glimpse through the rhesus macaque genome

The completion of the draft sequence of the rhesus macaque genome allowed us to study the genomic composition and evolution of transposable elements in this representative of the Old World monkey lineage, a group of diverse primates closely related to humans. The L1 family of long interspersed elements appears to have evolved as a single lineage, and Alu elements have evolved into four currently active lineages. We also found evidence of elevated horizontal transmissions of retroviruses and the absence of DNA transposon activity in the Old World monkey lineage. In addition, approximately 100 precursors of composite SVA (short interspersed element, variable number of tandem repeat, and Alu) elements were identified, with the majority being shared by the common ancestor of humans and rhesus macaques. Mobile elements compose roughly 50% of primate genomes, and our findings illustrate their diversity and strong influence on genome evolution between closely related species.     

Preliminary Comparisons of the Native Penaeus setiferus and Pacific P. vannamei White Shrimp for Pond Culture in South Carolina, USA

Two pond experiments were conducted at the Waddell Mariculture Center to compare production characteristics of the native Penaeus setiferus and Pacific P. vannamei white shrimp in South Carolina. In 1985, 7–9 day old postlarval P. setiferus were stocked in one 0.1 and one 0.25 ha ponds, while P. vannamei of the same age were stocked in one 0.1 and one 0.25 ha ponds, while P. vannamei of the same age were stocked in one 0.1, one 0.25, and one 0.5 ha ponds. Both species were stocked at 12 shrimp/m². The shrimp were fed a 25% protein commercial food and harvested by draining after 147 d. Sarvival in all ponds was > go%, but growth and production of the P. setiferus were considerably lower than values obtained for P. vannamei: 12.8 g and 1,555 kg/ha/crop for P. satiferus versus 19.7 g and 2,477 kg/ha/crop for P. vannamei. In 1989, duplicate 0.1 ha ponds were stocked with P. setiferus and P. vannamei at 60 shrimp/m², and two additional 0.1 ha ponds were stocked with P. setiferus at 40/m². The P. setiferus postlarvae were produced at the Waddell Center from captive-reared and wild South Carolina brood stock. Rearing procedures involved paddlewheel aeration (10 hp/ha), regular water exchange (averaging 16–21%/d in all ponds), and use of a 40% protein feed. Due to the availability of postlarvae, the various treatments were stocked at different times. Both P. setiferus treatments were reared for 145 d, while the P. vannamei were reared for 165 d. P. setiferus at the 40/m² density attained mean size, survival, and standing crop biomass at harvest of 13.5 g, 97.5% and 5,259 kg/ha/crop, respectively. The 60/m²P. setiferus treatment was stocked 2 wk earlier and yielded 15.2 g mean weight, 87.5% survival, and 7,995 kg/ha/crop at harvest. The P. vannamei 60/m² treatment, which was stocked 3 wk earlier than any of the P. setiferus, produced mean size, survival and standing crop biomass at harvest of 17.1 g, 69.5% and 7,187 kg/ha/crop. Both survival and production levels would have been higher had not one replicate experienced a partial mortality due to a feeding accident. The 1989 study yielded what is thought to be the highest production levels yet achieved with P. setiferus in pond culture. These results suggest that P. setiferus may be a viable alternative to P. vannamei for intensive cultivation in the continental U.S. when P. vannamei are unavailable. Further evaluation of this potential is needed.     

EFFECT OF POPULATION STRUCTURE AND DENSITY AT STOCKING ON PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIAL FEASIBILITY OF PRAWN (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) FARMING IN TEMPERATE CLIMATES1

During 1978–1980, 18 rearing trials were conducted in 0.25 ha ponds to examine the effects of various stocking strategies on production and economic potential. The strategies tested consisted of stocking: post-larvae only; a mixed population of postlarvae plus juveniles; small juveniles only, at densities ranging from 2.15–8.61 prawns/m². Prawns were fed Purina Marine Ration 25 once daily and seine-sampled at 4-week intervals throughout the 144–168 day rearing periods. Clear relationships between population structure of the stocked prawns and density versus crop yields and estimated revenues were demonstrated. The stocking of postlarvae resulted in lower production levels and less valuable prawns as compared to stocking a mixture of postlarvae + juveniles or juveniles only populations. Also, survival was more variable (range 59.3–84.5%) and lower (mean 69.6%) when postlarvae were stocked. Greater crop yields were achieved at higher densities, however, mean size and unit value of the crop decreased as density increased. Feed conversions were low and averaged 1.4 (range 0.8–2.2) for all trials combined. Preliminary economic feasibility analyses of the various stocking strategies were performed for situations where ponds and associated facilities were already available. The analyses suggested that positive net revenues were possible if a mixed population of postlarvae and juveniles or juveniles only were stocked at about 6.5/m² and seed costs were ∑30/1,000 and the crop was marketed as a combination of large whole.     

NET-PEN CULTURE OF STRIPED BASS X WHITE BASS HYBRIDS IN ESTUARINE WATERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA: A PILOT STUDY1

In 1978 a cooperative pilot study was initiated by the Marine Resources Research Institute and DØMSEA Farms, Inc. to examine the feasibility of rearing striped bass (Morone saxatilis) x white bass (M. chrysops) hybrids to marketable pan-size in estuarine net-pens. The first study was begun in July 1978 when a total of 1,070 hybrid fingerlings (mean weight, 1.7 g) were stocked in 3.05 × 2.44 × 1.83 m deep net-pens moored to a commercial marina dock on the Stono River near Charleston, S.C. During the first month these fish suffered a 76% mortality, apparently as a result of feeding only a dry salmon ration. Thereafter, the remaining fish were fed the dry ration mixed approximately half-and-half with ground fish. At the end of one year, these fish had attained a mean weight of 523.0 g, with 74.6% survival. A second experiment was begun in July 1979 when 900 hybrid fingerlings (mean weight, 3.0 g) were stocked in each of three 3.05 × 2.44 × 1.83 m net-pens at the marina (stocking density, ?66 fish/m³). The fish were fed a mixture of dry salmon feed and ground fish throughout. At the end of one year, survival and weight averaged 88% and 310.2 g, respectively. Biomass in the pens at this time averaged 16 kg/m³. Little growth or active feeding occurred at temperatures < 15°C. In contrast, salinity variations had no apparent effect on growth. However, a period of decreasing salinity in early spring coincided with an outbreak of a bacterial disease (cf. Vibrio anguillarum) among striped bass fingerlings reared in adjacent pens. Fish which had been treated with a vaccine solution did not succumb to the disease, while approximately 50% mortality occurred among non-vaccinated fingerlings.     

Electrical stimulation of spermatophore expulsion in marine shrimp,Penaeus spp

Electrical stimulation (4–6 V AC) applied near the male gonopores at the base of the fifth pereopods caused expulsion of the spermatophore in Penaeus setiferus, P. stylirostris, and P. vannamei. For healthy animals, some degree of spermatophore expulsion occurred in 80% of the attempts. Complete expulsion of one or both spermatophores occurred in only 47% (29–65%, depending on species). Shrimp with melanized terminal ampullae generally did not expel a spermatophore following electrical stimulation. The technique needs further refinement for routine use with penaeids.