Genetic linkage map of bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians (Lamarck 1819)

The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians irradians Lamarck 1819) has become one of the most important aquaculture species in China. Genetic improvement of cultured bay scallop can benefit greatly from a better understanding of its genome. In this study, we developed amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and simple sequence repeat markers from expressed sequence tags (EST‐SSRs) for linkage analysis in bay scallop. Segregation of 390 AFLP and eight SSR markers was analysed in a mapping population of 97 progeny. Of the AFLP markers analysed, 326 segregated in the expected 1:1 Mendelian ratio, while the remaining 74 (or 19.0%) showed significant deviation, with 33 (44.6%) being deficient in heterozygotes (A/a). Among the eight polymorphic EST‐SSR loci, one marker (12.5%) was found skewing from its expected Mendelian ratios. Eighteen per cent of the markers segregating from female parent were distorted compared with 21% of the markers segregating from male parent. The female map included 147 markers in 17 linkage groups (LGs) and covered 1892.4 cM of the genome. In the male map, totally 146 AFLP and SSR markers were grouped in 18 LGs spanning 1937.1 cM. The average inter‐marker spacing in female and male map was 12.9 and 13.3 cM respectively. The AFLP and SSR markers were distributed evenly throughout the genome except for a few large gaps over 20 cM. Although preliminary, the genetic maps presented here provide a starting point for the mapping of the bay scallop genome.     

Effect of parental stock size on F1 genetic structure in the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians (Lamarck, 1819)

Three F₁ families of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians, were produced from one, two and 10 individuals. The genetic changes in these populations, which suffered recent and different levels of bottleneck, were analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) techniques. In the parental stock, a total of 330 bands were detected using seven AFLP primer pairs, and 70% of the loci were polymorphic. All F₁ groups had a significantly lower proportion of polymorphic loci when compared with the initial stock, and loss of the rare loci and reduction in heterozygosity both occurred. The progeny of the larger population (i.e., N=10) exhibited a lesser amount of genetic differentiation compared with the progeny from N=2, which showed lesser differentiation than progeny from N=1. The effective population sizes (N_e) in N=1, 2 and 10 were estimated as 1.50, 1.61 and 2.49. Based on regression analysis, we recommend that at least 340 individuals be used in hatchery populations to maintain genetic variation.     

Breeding cycle of the northern scallop, Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) in southern Chile

The gametogenic cycle of the northern scallop, Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) was studied in southern Chile. This species has a high commercial value and is cultivated in northern Chile, the location of its natural habitats. It has recently been introduced into southern Chile where advantages such as suitable sheltered locations protected from wave action favour its mass culture. However, there are also potential disadvantages, such as lower water temperatures, which could affect reproduction. The results of the monthly variations of the gonadosomatic index and the frequency of maturity stages in specimens cultivated in Metri Bay (41° 36′S; 72° 43′W) and in those kept on the seabed in Quihua Channel (41° 50′S; 73° 05′W), suggest that the maturity and spawning period of this species extends from the end of spring through autumn. This pattern was more pronounced in Metri Bay, where levels of maturity were higher, due to higher summer water temperatures, than in Quihua Channel. Specimens at different maturity stages are found throughout the year, which seems to be associated with a rapid gonad recovery. The general pattern of the gametogenic cycle of specimens in the cultures does not differ from that recorded in the natural habitat of the species. The data available suggest that during reproduction temperature changes are more important than the relative values of the temperature. This evidence would support the possibility of mass culture of this species in southern Chile, outside its natural distribution area that extends from Corinto, Nicaragua (12°S) to Valparaíso, Chile (33°S).     

Effects of temperature on non-specific immune parameters in two scallop species: Argopecten irradians (Lamarck 1819) and Chlamys farreri (Jones & Preston 1904)

The effect of chronic (2 weeks) temperature (19, 22, 25, 28 and 31°C) on certain non‐specific immune parameters of two species of scallops, Argopecten irradians (Lamarck 1819) and Chlamys farreri (Jones & Preston 1904) were studied. The survival ratio of the two species of scallops at 31°C was the lowest. Haemocyte concentration of C. farreri in the 19 and 22°C treatment groups was significantly lower than that of the 25 and 28°C treatment groups but significantly higher than that of the 31°C treatment group. With elevation of seawater temperature, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities in sera of two scallop species increased and reached the peak at 25°C and then decreased. However, the specific activity of ALP and ACP of the 31°C treatment group was the highest. The results demonstrated that temperature of seawater significantly affected immunity of scallops. The concept that the stress of high environmental temperature on C. farreri may be partially responsible for the mass mortality of the organism is also introduced.     

Connectivity of the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) in Buzzards Bay,Massachusetts, U.S.A.

The harvest of bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) from Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, U.S.A. undergoes large interannual fluctuations, varying by more than an order of magnitude in successive years. To investigate the extent to which these fluctuations may be due to yearly variations in the transport of scallop larvae from spawning areas to suitable juvenile habitat (settlement zones), a high‐resolution hydrodynamic model was used to drive an individual‐based model of scallop larval transport. Model results revealed that scallop spawning in Buzzards Bay occurs during a time when nearshore bay currents were principally directed up‐bay in response to a persistent southwesterly sea breeze. This nearshore flow results in the substantial transport of larvae from lower‐bay spawning areas to settlement zones further up‐bay. Averaged over the entire bay, the spawning‐to‐settlement zone connectivity exhibits little interannual variation. However, connectivities between individual spawning and settlement zones vary by up to an order of magnitude. The model results identified spawning areas that have the greatest probability of transporting larvae to juvenile habitat. Because managers may aim to increase scallop populations either locally or broadly, the high‐connectivity spawning areas were divided into: (i) high larval retention and relatively little larval transport to adjoining settlement areas, (ii) both significant larval retention and transport to more distant settlement areas, and (iii) little larval retention but significant transport to distant settlement areas.     

Bacteria in the culture of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819)

The scallop Argopecten purpuratus is one of themajor resources of commercial importance in Chilean aquaculture. One of themajor limiting factors for the culture of this species has been mass mortalityoccurring during production of juvenile seed organisms where massmortality of veliger larvae has been attributed to the presence of pathogenicbacteria in scallops and hatchery systems. Bacteriological studies havedemonstrated that in addition to bacterial pathogens, beneficial bacterialspecies capable of improving scallop larval survival may also be isolated fromscallops and hatchery systems. Research has been carried out on thedetermination of the feasibility of implementing beneficial bacteria in thecontrol of culture pathogens, thus reducing the need for chemotherapeuticmethods. The present review analyzes bacteriological research data on thedifferent roles of bacteria associated with scallop culture and discussesrecentdata on the implementation of beneficial bacteria in biological control ofpathogens in larval mass cultures of Argopectenpurpuratus.     

海湾扇贝南部亚种闭壳肌质量的双性状选择效应

采用双性状选择方法在经群体继代大壳高选育的海湾扇贝(Argopecten irradians concentricus Say)南部亚种F₃养殖群体中进行闭壳肌定向选育, 以评价闭壳肌的选择效果和现实遗传力, 为海湾扇贝南部亚种育种提供理论依据。结果表明, 在以壳高为第一选择性状、体质量为第二选择性状、壳高选择压力为10%、体质量选择压力为1%情况下, 正、负向选择组、对照组在产卵量、受精率、孵化率、幼虫期壳长增长率、中培期存活率、成体各形态参数等方面的差异不显著(P>0.05); 在稚贝育成率、养成期存活率、成体各质量性状等方面均存在显著差异(P<0.05), 各指标值均呈现正向选择组>对照组>负向选择组; 正、负向选择组中, 体质量与闭壳肌质量均出现较高的现实遗传力, 且正向选择组高于负向选择组; 双性状选择时, 体质量与闭壳肌质量的当代遗传获得明显高于单性状选择结果。壳高和体质量对闭壳肌质量均具有密切的遗传相关, 任何一个性状的选择均可对闭壳肌质量产生显著影响, 双性状同时选择可对闭壳肌质量产生叠加效应, 使闭壳肌质量性状的遗传进展达到最大。

     

Effect of florfenicol and oxytetracycline treatments on the intensive larval culture of the Chilean scallop Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819)

The administration of antimicrobials to control bacterial pathologies in Chilean scallop hatcheries is a frequent practice, but their effects on these cultures remained unknown. This study was undertaken to obtain information on the effect of the administration of florfenicol and oxytetracycline on the growth, survival and bacterial content of scallop larvae under farming conditions. Florfenicol‐treated cultures exhibited high survival rates (44% after 17 days of culture), whereas cultures not treated or treated with oxytetracycline collapsed after 11 days of culture. Surprisingly, no significant differences in the heterotrophic (Tukey test; P = 0.226) and Vibrio (Tukey test; P = 0.666) concentrations between the oxytetracycline‐treated and untreated larval cultures were observed. Otherwise, florfenicol administered directly into rearing tanks produced significantly higher larval growth (Tukey test; P = 0.0001) and survival (Tukey test; P = 0.011) than bath treatment. When 2 and 4 mg L^?1 of florfenicol were compared, no significant differences in growth (t‐test; P = 0.4596) and survival (Tukey test; P = 0.057) were observed, suggesting that a concentration of 2 mg L^?1 is sufficient to ensure larval production. The present results demonstrate the efficacy of florfenicol‐based therapy to increase larval survival and growth at commercial scale and prompt the necessity to standardize its use in Chilean scallop hatcheries.     

Strategies for enhancement of natural bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians, populations; A case study in the Niantic River estuary, Connecticut, USA

We investigated strategies to enhance populations of bay scallops,Argopecten irradians irradians (Lamarck, 1819), in a presumablyrecruitment-limited natural habitat. At present, the Niantic Riverestuary supports only a minor bay scallop population that is harvestedrecreationally. Three enhancement strategies were evaluated; (1)collection and redistribution of natural spatfall, (2) introduction andover-wintering of hatchery-reared stock into natural habitat to providenew spawning stock, and (3) over-wintering of hatchery-reared stock insuspension culture for creation of mobile spawner sanctuaries. Anassessment of natural bay scallop recruitment in the Niantic Riverconducted in 1997 indicated that few spat were found, they were widelydispersed within the river, and peak spawning occurred in late July1997. Direct re-seeding was evaluated as an enhancement measure byplanting hatchery-reared scallops ( 38 mm shell height) insmall-scale, 100-m² plots at different times and densities.Time of planting and the inferred predation intensity were major factorsaffecting survival; whereas, planting density had no significant effect.Approximately 9,000 scallops (35–45 mm shell height), broadcastwithin an eelgrass bed in November 1997, had high over-winter survivaland underwent gametogenesis and spawning during 1998. Of 26,000 bayscallops ( 45 mm shell height) over-wintered in suspensionculture from 1998–1999, approximately 60–80%survived, and these scallops spawned in mobile sanctuaries, during thesummer of 1999. There is good potential for using aquacultural methodsfor enhancement of bay scallop populations when natural recruitment ispoor and habitat and environmental conditions are not limiting.     

Application of RAPD and cytochrome b sequences to the study of genetic variations in F1 and F2 generations of two different strains of guppy (Poecilia reticulata, Peter 1854)

The DNA of two laboratory strains of guppy (Poecilia reticulata), Black Yellow (BYS) and Red Flame (RFS), was studied with respect to their colour differences, in two generations (F₁ and F₂). Their varying morphological colours were related to their cloned fragments of cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and random‐amplified polymorphic DNA‐polymerase chain reaction (RAPD‐PCR). The F₁ generation was characterized by various forms. The male BYS could be divided into 68% having black–yellow tails and 14% having black–yellow–red tails. The other variations were found in very low percentages. The percentage of black–yellow‐tailed males increased to 85 in the F₂ generation, and the percentages of the various other forms consequently decreased. Only 63% of BYS males had black–yellow dorsal fins in the F₁ generation, but this percentage increased to 84 in F₂. Compared with the males, fewer variations were found in female colour patterns in the F₁ generation. A high percentage of BYS females (81%) colour was found with no significant increase in the F₂ generation. However, variations decreased in the F₂ females. On the other hand, a very high variation was found in female fins in the F₁ generation: only 32% were of BYS colour and 25% had no‐colour fins. However, a significant increase in BYS colour was found in the F₂ generation (61%) and 39% had no colour. The variation in RFS was lower than BYS in the F₁ generation: 81% of the F₁ males had red–yellow tails with colour, 46% of the fins were yellow and 36% were red–white. In females, a very high percentage (84%) had red–yellow tails and 76% had no‐colour dorsal fins. Mitochondria DNA markers and genomic DNA were studied in various laboratory strains. In the clone of the fragments of cytochrome b, the bands correlated to the colour phenotype. A fragment of the cDNA sequence was determined from a 268‐bp cloned with fragments of the guppy cytochrome b mtDNA gene. The genes varied for the two strains in only two base pairs, starting at the nucleotide position 171 and ending at position 174. Three primers showed good results in the RAPD‐PCR and were found suitable for the study of DNA variations in guppy. The high variation detected in BYS, in comparison with RFS, was reflected by changes in band‐sharing (BS) values ranging from 0.66 to 1, versus 0.8 to 1 in RFS.     

液相芯片“黄海芯1号”在凡纳滨对虾急性肝胰腺坏死病抗性基础群体遗传评估中的应用

为评估基因型鉴定芯片在育种群体构建中的应用价值,实验对凡纳滨对虾3个群体(EE、PP和SS)进行急性肝胰腺坏死病(AHPND)副溶血弧菌(Vp_AHPND)侵染实验,利用自主研发的40K SNP液相芯片“黄海芯1号”获得146尾个体的基因型信息,对群体遗传背景进行了系统调查并估算了AHPND抗性遗传力。Vp_AHPND浸染实验结果显示,不同群体间存在抗病差异,PP群体的存活性能比EE和SS群体分别高出12.9%和11.6%。利用质控后的38 148个SNP信息构建系统进化树,结果显示群体内同一个家系的个体首先聚在一起,进而同属一个群体的多个家系聚在一起。主成分和遗传结构分析显示,可以准确地将146尾个体划分为3个组,与系统进化树聚类结果一致。遗传多样性分析显示,3个群体的观测杂合度(H_o)平均值为0.25～0.29,多态信息含量(PIC)平均值为0.20～0.23,上述遗传参数达到极显著水平。3个群体间的遗传分化系数(F_ST)为0.11～0.21,存在中高度遗传分化。基因组近交分析表明,EE、PP和SS...     

Patterns of growth and nutrient deposition in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and their hybrid, F1 splake (Salvelinus namaycush × Salvelinus fontinalis) as a function of water temperature

Several fish species of the genus Salvelinus are used for stocking freshwaters in North and South America and much of Europe but there is little information about their growth and carcass composition. Lake trout (S. namaycush), brook trout (S. fontinalis) and their hybrid F₁ splake (S. namaycush × S. fontinalis) (initial body weight ca. 2–4 g) were raised at 6.4, 10.6 and 14.9 °C to examine growth and nutrient deposition as a function of water temperature. In all species, weight gain and feed intake increased significantly with water temperature and feed efficiency was significantly lower at 6.4 than at 10.6 and 14.9 °C. In brook trout, Thermal‐unit Growth Coefficient (TGC) growth rate was significantly lower at 6.4 than at 10.6 and 14.9 °C, while in F₁ splake TGC was only lower at 6.4 than 10.6 °C. Expressed in terms of relative composition a significant effect of temperature was observed. In all species, moisture content decreased while crude protein, lipid, ash and energy contents increased with increased temperature. Expressed in absolute terms, however, a significant effect of temperature was not observed. In all species carcass contents increased significantly with increased live body weight and were best described by simple linear equations. Gross energy concentration was significantly affected by both water temperature and body weight. These data indicate that the growth of these species is a function of water temperature and, in absolute terms, carcass composition is mainly a function of body weight and not water temperature. Also, such simple linear equations bode well for modification of existing feed requirement and waste outputs models; improving their applicability to these species.     

Effects of substitution of dietary fish oil with a blend of vegetable oils on liver and peripheral blood leucocyte fatty acid composition, plasma prostaglandin E2 and immune parameters in three strains of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Duplicate groups of three genetic strains of Atlantic salmon smolts were cultured on diets containing either fish oil (FO) or a blend of vegetable oils (VO). Fatty acid compositions of liver and peripheral blood leucocytes were compared. The effect of different strains and diets on innate immune parameters and plasma prostaglandin E₂ were also measured. Two strains were selected as being either 'fat' or 'lean' in terms of muscle adiposity. The third strain was a commercial stock (MH). Total replacement of dietary FO with VO resulted in reduced docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6 n -3) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA; 20:5 n -3) in liver, while oleic (18:1 n -9), linoleic (18:2 n -6) and α-linolenic (18:3 n -3) acids were all increased in VO-fed fish. Fatty acid compositions of blood leucocytes showed similar changes. Evaluation of innate immune function showed that in the fat strain, circulating leucocytes were significantly lower in VO fish. The lean strain also had significantly higher serum lysozyme activity than MH fish. Reduced haematocrit was seen in VO lean fish compared with FO lean fish. This study provides evidence of strain-induced differences in liver and leucocyte fatty acid compositions and innate immunity in Atlantic salmon fed either FO- or VO-based diets.