Harvest of crayfish as an ecosystem service of wetlands compared to production systems with planted forage

ABSTRACT

Crayfish harvest as an ecosystem service of moist-soil wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) was evaluated using estimates of crayfish yield and operational costs to create enterprise budgets. The average daily yield of crayfish was 2.13 lb/acre (95% CI = 1.19–3.00) and yield did not differ between wetlands dominated with Red Swamp Crayfish or White River Crayfish. Four hypothetical scenarios of harvest operations revealed annual costs associated with harvesting crayfish to be $163.89–370.75/acre. Although these costs were lower than estimated costs currently associated with harvesting crayfish from fields with planted forage in Louisiana ($749.96/acre), a three-fold reduction in crayfish yield (lb/trap/day) from moist-soil wetlands resulted in an increase in the break-even selling price from $1.25/lb in Louisiana to $1.70–$3.86/lb in the MAV. Although this enterprise will likely not compete with the Louisiana rice-crayfish industry, harvesting crayfish from moist-soil wetlands may contribute to ecosystem services provided by wetlands and aid in the reduction of the quantity of crayfish products imported into the U.S. market.     

Use of marine yeasts as an available diet for mass cultures of Moina macrocopa

A 4‐week feeding trial was conducted to test the use of marine yeasts purified from seawater and sediments as a dietary source in cultivating a cladoceran, Moina macrocopa, a potential alternative live food for fish larvae. Optimal growth conditions of two yeast strains were obtained for NaCl concentration, pH and temperature. Moina macrocopa was cultivated using different diets: marine yeasts (Debaryomyces hansenii Yeast‐14 and Candida austromarina Yeast‐16) and a commercial diet (Erythrobacter sp. Sπ‐I). The essential amino acids of both the yeast strains were nearly as great as those in M. microcopa. Further, the yeast‐fed M. macrocopa had essential amino acid profiles similar to the documented values for rotifers and Artemia enriched in microalgae and commercial diets. Erythrobacter sp. Sπ‐I lacked n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3, which were also low but detected in both yeasts. An increase in the 20:5n‐3 [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)] and 22:6n‐3 [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] levels, compared with the levels in yeast strains themselves, was more pronounced in the 22:6n‐3 level of Moina fed the C. austromarina, resulting in a high DHA:EPA ratio. When the Moina diets were switched, their δ¹³C values shifted gradually towards the values of the switched diets. Diet switch from Erythrobacter sp. Sπ‐I to C. austromarina Yeast‐16 resulted in a more rapid turnover of Moina tissue carbon than that in the inverse case. When fed a mixed diet, the δ¹³C values of Moina tissue approached the value of marine yeasts immediately. These temporal changes in the δ¹³C values of Moina tissue indicate the preferential ingestion of marine yeasts and a selective assimilation of the carbon originated from marine yeasts. These findings suggest that marine yeasts, particularly C. austromarina Yeast‐16, are highly available to mass cultures of M. macrocopa, providing better nutritional and dietary values than the commercial diet (Erythrobacter sp. Sπ‐I).     

The relationship between stock and catch and the effect of bait on catch as determined for a UK recreational catch and release fishery

Abstract Twelve anglers fishing in a UK navigation canal for a total of 42 h caught 567 fish, mainly gudgeon, Gobio gobio (L.) ( n =306) and roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.) ( n =253) at an average catch rate of 13.4 fish angler-h⁻¹ or 128.5 g angler-h⁻¹. The species and size of fish caught were compared with the numbers determined by depletion estimates at six sections of canal using micromesh seine netting. Fifty four percent of fish caught in the net were < 60 mm FL. Gudgeon (60–99 mm) were over-represented in the anglers' catches whilst roach (60–99 mm) were under-represented. The size distribution of roach and gudgeon caught by anglers using two types of bait (small maggots and chironomid larvae) was examined and smaller fish were found to be caught using the latter.     

An improved enzyme preparation for rapid mass production of protoplasts as seed stock for aquaculture of macrophytic marine green algae

Preparation of protoplasts and their subsequent applications for both basic and applied research of marine macroalgae remains largely under developed due to lack of development of reliable methods with consistent yields of viable protoplasts. An improved enzyme preparation with a single commercial enzyme, e.g. 2% Cellulase Onozuka R-10 in 1% NaCl solution, was developed to produce protoplasts rapidly from different green algal genera of Ulva, Enteromorpha and Monostroma. The simple dissolution of enzyme powder in 1% NaCl resulted in exclusion of 2% Macerozyme R-10 from the mixture consisting of 2% Cellulase Onozuka R-10 with 3% NaCl earlier reported as superior for the same algae. Optimal conditions for the isolation of maximum yields of viable protoplasts were found to be with 2% Cellulase Onozuka R-10 incubated at 20 °C for 2 h in 1% NaCl solution with 0.8 M mannitol adjusted to pH 6.0. The protoplast yield with optimized enzyme mixture was as high as 102.8 × 10⁶ cells g^− 1 f. wt for M. oxyspermum while it was in the range of 74.4–88.6 × 10⁶ cells g^− 1 f. wt thallus for seven species of Ulva, and 82.5–95.4 × 10⁶ cells g^− 1 f. wt for three species of Enteromorpha. The regeneration rate of protoplasts isolated using this method ranged from 89 to 92% with normal morphogenesis. The seeding of nylon threads with isolated protoplasts of M. oxyspermum was successful and after 3–4 weeks the entire frame with nylon threads became thick green in color with tiny germlings in laboratory culture. Thus, the method described in the present study allow for rapid mass production of viable protoplasts that could be potentially used as a source for seed material for mariculture and for other applied phycological research.     

Initial design for a fish bioenergetics model of Pacific saury coupled to a lower trophic ecosystem model

A fish bioenergetics model coupled with an ecosystem model was developed to reproduce the growth of Pacific saury. The model spatially covers three different oceanographic spatial domains corresponding to the Kuroshio, Oyashio, and interfrontal (mixed water) regions. In this coupled model, three (small, large, and predatory) zooplankton densities which were derived from the lower trophic level ecosystem model were input to the bioenergetics model of saury as the prey densities. Although certain model parameters were imposed from other species’ bioenergetics, several model parameters were estimated from observational data specific to Pacific saury. The integrated model results reproduced appropriate growth rates of Pacific saury. Model sensitivities to water temperature and prey density are examined and observational methods to evaluate the model parameters are discussed.     

A comparative study of marine salmonid alphavirus subtypes 1-6 using an experimental cohabitation challenge model

A comparative challenge study of six marine isolates representing subtypes 1-6 of salmonid alphavirus (salmon pancreas disease virus, Genus Alphavirus, Family Togaviridae) was conducted in Atlantic salmon in a fresh water cohabitation trial. Histopathological lesions typical of pancreas disease were observed with all subtypes, and virus was re-isolated from serum of cohabitant fish in each case. Using a virus neutralization (VN) test neutralizing salmonid alphavirus (SAV) subtype 1 strain F93-125, VN antibodies were detected in all challenge groups, consistent with serological cross-reactivity between these subtypes. Using real-time RT-PCR, SAV RNA was detected in heart tissue from 2 to 3 weeks post-challenge (wpc) in all cohabitant groups excluding controls. The results obtained suggested differences in the dynamics of infection between strains of SAV and potentially between subtypes. Results for SAV subtypes 1 and 3 suggested essentially synchronous infection of cohabitant fish. These two study groups also had the highest virus load in heart tissue as measured by quantitative RT-PCR and also had the most extensive histopathological changes. In contrast, results for SAV subtypes 2 and 6 strains were consistent with asynchronous infection in the cohabitant fish and were characterized by slow spread, low virus loads and mild histopathological changes. The SAV subtype 4 and 5 strains occupied an intermediate position in this regard. Despite the use of concentration procedures, it was not possible to detect SAV RNA in water samples from selected study tanks. However, testing of faeces from the SAV subtypes 1, 3 and 6 challenge groups found positive signals in each beginning at 1-3 wpc and remaining detectable for a further 2-3 weeks. Parallel testing of mucus samples found these became positive at 2-3 wpc and remained positive for a further 1-3 weeks. These results demonstrate for the first time that shedding and transmission of virus may occur by both these routes and suggest that dispersal in these matrices should be included in any disease transmission models.     

Contributions of food web modelling to the ecosystem approach to marine resource management in the Mediterranean Sea

Ecological modelling tools are applied worldwide to support the ecosystem‐based approach of marine resources (EAM). In the last decades, numerous applications were attempted in the Mediterranean Sea, mainly using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) tool. These models were used to analyse a variety of complex environmental problems. Many applications analysed the ecosystem impacts of fishing and assessed management options. Other studies dealt with the accumulation of pollution through the food web, the impact of aquaculture or the ecosystem effects of climate change. They contributed to the scientific aspects of an ecosystem‐based approach in the region because they integrated human activities within an ecosystem context and evaluated their impact on the marine food web, including environmental factors. These studies also gathered a significant amount of information at an ecosystem level. Thus, in the second part of this review, we used this information to quantify structural and functional traits of Mediterranean marine ecosystems at regional scales as the illustration of further potentialities of EwE for an EAM. Results highlighted differential traits between ecosystem types and a few between basins, which illustrate the environmental heterogeneity of the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, our analysis evidenced the importance of top predators and small pelagic fish in Mediterranean ecosystems, in addition to the structural role of benthos and plankton organisms. The impact of fishing was high and of a similar intensity in the western, central and eastern regions and showed differences between ecosystem types. The keystone role of species was more prominent in protected environments.     

Enhancement of bivalve production capacity in a landlocked heliothermic marine basin

A landlocked heliothermic marine basin (Norwegian oyster-poll) used as a food production system for a bivalve upwelling nursery was manipulated in order to enhance bivalve production. The manipulations included artificial fertilization, reduction in brackish surface layer, increased supply of water to the bivalve nursery, increased turbulence in the poll by pumping of water and renewal of the poll water. Effects of the manipulations were investigated in a full-scale field experiment comparing data from two monitoring programmes in 1989 and 1990. Manipulations were performed in 1990, but only traditional management was carried out in 1989, which was considered as the control. The bivalve production of 6 t live weight represented a six-fold increase caused by the manipulations. The higher production was mainly a result of the enhanced availability of nutrients which increased primary production and enhanced availability of food for the cultivated bivalves. The manipulations drastically reduced hydrographical stratification and produced temperatures of 18-21^°C. Increased oxygen concentration and pH provided improved water quality for the cultured bivalves. Diatoms became dominant and the dinoflagellates were reduced. The manipulations could be a general aid to the management of polls and similar systems in their application as food production systems in aquaculture.     

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production using mannitol as a sole carbon source by Burkholderia sp. AIU M5M02 isolated from a marine environment

Fisheries Science - We isolated Burkholderia sp. AIU M5M02, which accumulates poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] homopolymer in a nitrogen-limiting mineral salt medium containing mannitol as a sole...     

灰色预测模型在青岛市淡水养殖产量预测中的应用

渔业系统是个多因素、多层次和多目标的大系统,由诸多错综复杂的关系所组成。灰色预测是建立从过去引伸到将来的灰色预测模型（grey prediction model）,从而确定所研究系统未来发展变化的趋势,为决策者提供科学依据。文章应用灰色预测模型对青岛市淡水养殖产量进行了预测。应用5、10和20年的养殖产量数据估算2010年的产量分别为9．34&#215;10^4、11．71&#215;10^4和24．1&#215;10^4t。文章讨论了这些差异不是由于模型的失败,而是由于数据的不同造成的,建议应用5年的数据的预测结果。     

Approach to biomass production of the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica (kylin) butch using common garden fertilizer and soil extract as cheap nutrient supply in batch cultures

We report the possibility of an economic cultivation of the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica, using different mixtures of a common garden fertilizer, soil extract, micronutrients and vitamins. Maximum cellular densities were obtained with a nitrogen concentration of 14 μg/ml and maximum protein concentrations were obtained with 28 μg N/ml, in all cases. The mixture of fertilizer + soil extract + micronutrients gave the best results for obtaining maximum cellular densities and protein concentrations per ml of culture. An economic evaluation showed a maximum of 2770 g of microalgal protein/dollar and 210 × 10¹² microalgal cells/dollar with the mixture of the fertilizer and soil extract.     

Assessing opportunity and relocation costs of marine protected areas using a behavioural model of longline fleet dynamics

Increasing use of spatial management tools in fisheries requires an understanding of fleet response, and in particular to where displaced fishing effort is likely to move. We develop a state‐dependent decision‐making model to address the spatial allocation of effort in an Australian tuna longline fishery. We assume that fishers have an economic objective in deciding where to fish, but that decisions in any period are also influenced by the remaining quota held at the time of the decision. Key features of the model include endogenous price dynamics, a moving stock and a competitive pool of different vessel types operating from different port locations. We utilize this model to illustrate fleet responses to marine reserves and limits on fishing effort. The results illustrate that the model framework provides advantages over statistically based models in that decisions made in response to the imposition of a reserve are not consistent with a proportional reallocation of effort. Rather, the stochastic dynamic model yielded an overall profit level of ～4% higher relative to scenarios with no reserve. Incorporating the opportunity cost of a quota into the model resulted in an optimal utilization of effort, in which effort was concentrated in time periods and locations yielding maximized profit. Under a low level of effort relative to the season length, the model indicated an overall profit level 43% greater than the highest obtained when the same level of effort was applied solely within any given quarter of the season.     

Biomass production and biochemical composition in mass cultures of the marine microalga Isochrysis galbana Parke at varying nutrient concentrations

Mass cultures of Isochrysis galbana were carried out with four nutrient concentrations ranging from 2 to 16 mM of NaNO₃ and salinity 35‰. An air flow of 15 l/min maintained a CO₂ transference rate sufficient to keep the pH below 8.4. Using these conditions, equations were calculated by a multiple non-linear least squares regression of order four, enabling predictions to be made of growth kinetics and chemical composition.Maximum cellular density of 65.5 × 10⁶ cells/ml was obtained with 4 mM NaNO₃. Cellular volume was constant in the different nutrient concentrations.Protein content reached a maximum value of 374 μg/ml at 4 mM of NaNO₃, and this concentration also presented the maximum efficiency of transformation from nitrate to protein, i.e. 114%. As a result, lowest costs for harvesting are obtained at a nutrient concentration of 4 mM NaNO₃. Efficiencies decreased to 15% as nutrient concentration increased.Maximum values of chlorophyll a (21.9 μg/ml) and carbohydrates (213 μg/ml) were also obtained with 4 mM NaNO₃. In the logarithmic phase, the contents of protein, chlorophyll a, carbohydrates, RNA and DNA per cell were constant. Chlorophyll a reached values between 0.15 and 0.33 pg/cell in the stationary phase. Carbohydrate levels reached the maximum value of 3.16 pg/cell with 4 mM NaNO₃ in the stationary phase. The levels of RNA/cell and DNA/cell were constant in all the nutrient concentrations tested and in both growth phases, and ranged from 1.15 to 1.71 pg/cell for RNA and from 0.006 to 0.014 pg/cell for DNA.Growth in mass cultures is closely coupled to changes in nutrient concentrations and variations occur in protein, chlorophyll a and carbohydrate contents, showing differences of 177%, 220% and 136%, respectively, in the stationary phase. This biochemical variability, mainly in protein content, must have a marked effect on the nutritive value of this microalga as a feed in mariculture.     

Contribution of bioflocs to the culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis> post-larvae determined using stable isotopes

The aim of this study was to use preselected quality indicators for Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae and the stable isotopes technique with δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N to determine the influence of bioflocs in shrimp feeding during the nursery phase, between PL1 and PL30. A control treatment (CT) with water renewal was compared to a biofloc treatment (BT) that received organic carbon fertilizations. Different types of commercial feed (Stresspak and Flake-INVE?, PL40-GUABI?), microalgae (Chaetoceros muelleri) and Artemia sp. nauplii were used as food sources. The physical and chemical parameters of water and ammonia were monitored daily, and nitrite, nitrate and alkalinity were measured weekly. Suspended solids and the microorganisms of bioflocs were characterized. At the end of the experiment, fifteen shrimps of each replicate were collected to evaluate nine larvae quality indicators. Isotopic values of ¹³C and ¹⁵N of food sources and shrimp tissues were collected on days 10, 20 and 30, and a Bayesian model of isotopic mixture measured the contributions of these sources to the shrimp biomass. Salinity, alkalinity and nitrite differed significantly between the treatments but were appropriate for post-larvae production. The larvae quality conditions in the CT treatment were ranked as “good,” whereas the BT conditions were considered “excellent” according to the analysis of larval quality parameters. The stable isotopes analysis showed that the PL40 GUABI? feed was the most important food source throughout the experimental period in the CT. In the BT (10th and 20th days), the bioflocs and commercial feeds (Flake-INVE?, PL40-GUABI?) did not present significant variations in their contribution ratios; however, on the 30th day, the contribution of the PL40-GUABI? feed was higher when compared to bioflocs. In general, the commercial feed played a more important role as a food source for Litopenaeus vannamei larvae during the nursery phase, although the consumption of bioflocs led to a better larvae quality.     

Vibrio harveyi as a causative agent of mass mortalities of megalopa in the seed production of swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

Outbreaks of mass mortalities among cultured megalopa of swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus) occurred in a commercial hatchery during the spring of 2012 in Jiangsu province, P. R. China. Dominant bacteria were isolated and characterized by biochemical reactions, enzyme production, and sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA, gyrB (DNA gyrase B subunit) genes, and two strains (DY1 and DY2) were selected as representative strains for virulence tests by immersion. The results showed that the characteristics of identified strains consist with Vibrio harveyi; the 16S rRNA and gyrB genes of the tested strains exhibited high similarity with V. harveyi; and the phylogenetic trees constructed using the neighbor-joining method based on 16S rRNA and gyrB genes. Two strains (DY1 and DY2) clustered with the V. harveyi and were supported by a higher bootstrap value, and two strains (DY1 and DY2) were found lethal to the healthy megalopa and juvenile crab. LD ₅₀ of DY1 and DY2 to megalopa and juvenile crab were 2.4 × 10⁶, 3.0 × 10⁶, 1.9 × 10⁶ and 2.5 × 10⁶ CFU/ml, respectively. The results confirmed that the diseased megalopa were infected by V. harveyi. In addition, we analyzed the tested strains (DY1 and DY2) by PCR for the presence of virulence genes that were known in V. harveyi, and the results showed that five virulence genes (luxR, toxR, vhhA, vhhB and pap6) were detected by a specific PCR assay, further supporting the assignment of isolates to V. harveyi and its pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of V. harveyi as pathogenic bacteria of megalopa of swimming crab.     

室内模拟条件下的胃含物法测定玉筋鱼摄食与生态转换效率

研究在室内大型玻璃钢水槽中进行 ,在流水条件下 ,以卤虫幼体为饵料 ,应用Eggers模型研究了黄、东海主要小型经济鱼类玉筋鱼(Ammodytespersonatus)的摄食、生长和生态转换效率等生态能量学特征。结果表明 ,玉筋鱼体重与空消化道重量的关系可用指数函数W =0 .2 71e79.984·ESW加以定量描述 ,通过这一定量关系 ,可推导出其瞬时全消化道内含物量计算公式为St=1 0 0× [SW -(LnW +1 .30 5) / 79.984] /W ;全消化道内含物随时间变化的拟合曲线为St=1 .784e 0 .2 1 4t,公式两边取负对数可求得瞬时排空率为 0 .2 1 4g/ 1 0 0 g·h (W .W .) ;按Eggers模型可求得日摄食量为 2 2 .53g/ 1 0 0g·d (W .W .)或 60 .1 4kJ/ 1 0 0 g·d ;从玉筋鱼的平均日生长量实测值为 3.45g/ 1 0 0 g·d (W .W .)或 2 2 .94kJ/ 1 0 0 g·d,可求得其生态转换效率为 1 5.34 % (W .W .)或 38 1 4 %kJ。     

Observations of flow patterns in a model of a marine fish larvae rearing tank

There are few studies on flow fields generated by aerators in fish larvae rearing tanks. The flow varies with aeration rates and tank proportions resulting in different larvae survival rates. The effects of aeration rate and aspect ratio AR (the ratio of liquid depth to tank radius) on overall flow patterns were investigated experimentally using flow visualization techniques. Two distinct types of flow patterns, a single-pair vortex system and a two-pair vortex system, were observed as the value of tank aspect ratio varied from about 1.0 to 2.0. In addition, corner vortex structures were observed in both the region between the free surface and the upper sidewall, and between the bottom wall and the lower sidewall of the tank. On the sidewall, reattachment and separation points were found, which were closely related with these vortex structures.