Reproductive performance in induced and spontaneous spawning of the mangrove red snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus: a potential candidate species for sustainable aquaculture

A reliable breeding technique was developed for the mangrove red snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskal 1775), to help sustain the aquaculture of this immensely popular species in Southeast Asia. Using standardized indices of female maturity (based on mean oocyte diameter of ≥0.40 mm), time of injection (1000–1130) and sex ratio (one female to two males), a single injection of 100 μg kg^?1 luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa) (n=16 fish), but not 50 μg kg^?1 (n=five fish), successfully induced egg (62.5% success rate) and larval (43.8%) production. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at 500 IU kg^?1 (n=five fish) also failed to induce spawning, but doses of 1000 (n=22 fish) and 1500 IU kg^?1 (n=15 fish) gave spawning (77.3% and 80.0% respectively) and hatching success rates (72.7% and 60.0% respectively) that were not significantly different from those of 100 μg kg^?1 LHRHa. No spawning was observed in saline‐injected controls (n=seven fish). While mean spawning latency, egg diameter, egg production per spawn, percent egg viability, hatching rate, percent of normal larvae and cumulative survival of eggs to normal larvae did not differ significantly among the effective hormones and doses, 1000 IU kg^?1 hCG had a higher percentage (76.5%) of total spawns with egg production per spawn in excess of one million than those of 1500 IU kg^?1 hCG (50.0%) and 100 μg kg^?1 LHRHa (40.0%). Mangrove red snapper spontaneously spawned from March–April to November–December with a peak of egg collection and spawning in May–June. Egg collection per spawn ranged from 0.05 to 6.35 million. Spontaneous spawning of mangrove red snapper exhibited lunar periodicity with spawns mostly occurring 3 days before or after the last quarter and new moon phases and occurred consistently between 02:00 and 04:00 hours. High fecundity and good egg quality, coupled with the ability to respond to induce spawning or natural spawning in captivity, provide a sound basis for improving the sustainability of red snapper aquaculture in Southeast Asia.     

Age,growth and maturation of the blackspot snapper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lutjanus fulviflammus</Emphasis> around Okinawa Island,Japan

ABSTRACT:   The blackspot snapper Lutjanus fulviflammus is one of the most common Lutjanus species landed and consumed on Okinawa Island, Japan. Using 901 fish (29.9–304.2 mm in standard length; SL) obtained from fish markets or caught by angling, the age, growth, maturation size and maturation age were estimated. Each opaque zone formed on the otolith every year correlated with their spawning and was thought to be an annual ring. The main spawning season was estimated to be from April to July, which peaked in May and June, with a few mature fish collected in August and September. Maximum ages were observed as 24 years for both sexes and L_∞ (mm SL), K and t₀ (years) of the von Bertalanffy growth formula were estimated to be 276, 0.144 and −5.22 for females and 247, 0.227 and −3.18 for males, respectively. First maturation size and age were estimated to be 175 mm SL and 2 years for both sexes. A faster growth rate up to 2 years will allow reproduction at a young age and provide many chances for spawning throughout their long life. Furthermore, the possibility exists that populations would easily recover if regulations were established.     

Multidecadal otolith growth histories for red and gray snapper (Lutjanus spp.) in the northern Gulf of Mexico,USA

Dendrochronology (tree‐ring analysis) techniques were applied to develop chronologies from the annual growth‐increment widths of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) otoliths sampled from the northern Gulf of Mexico, USA. Growth increment widths showed considerable synchrony within and across species, indicating that some component of environmental variability influenced growth. The final, exactly dated red snapper chronology continuously spanned 1975 through 2003, while the gray snapper chronology continuously spanned 1975 through 2006. To determine baseline climate‐growth relationships, chronologies were compared to monthly averages of sea surface temperatures, U winds (west to east), V winds (south to north), and Mississippi River discharge. The gray snapper chronology significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with winds and temperature in March and April, while the red snapper chronology correlated with winds in March. Principal components regression including springtime winds and temperature accounted for 28 and 52% of the variance in the red and gray snapper chronologies, respectively. These results indicate that snapper growth was favored by warm sea surface temperatures and onshore winds from the southeast to the northwest in March and April. Overall, this study provides preliminary, baseline information regarding the association between climate and growth for these commercially important snapper species.     

A histological study of gametogenesis in captive red snapper Lutjanus campechanus

Gametogenesis was monitored histologically in wild‐caught red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus, Poey) maintained in captivity under simulated natural photothermal conditions. Gonads were collected every 2–3 weeks (average n = 14) for histology during the pre‐spawning season (February to May, temperature increasing from 16°C to 24°C). Primary vitellogenic oocytes were first observed in one female when temperature reached 20°C. Subsequent samples revealed females in pre‐vitellogenesis or at early stages of vitellogenesis, although one female had tertiary vitellogenic (Vtg3) oocytes. The first histological signs of spermatogenesis were observed when temperature reached 17°C. Spermatozoa were observed in testicular lobules of all males sampled on 14 May (24°C) but little or no sperm was released during manual stripping. Ten males and 10 females were left in tanks and monitored for spawning. No egg release was observed during the monitoring period that encompassed the natural spawning season of wild red snapper. Ovarian biopsies taken during the late spawning season (16 July) revealed that four of eight sampled females had Vtg3 oocytes. Males were manually stripped but released no sperm. These results indicate that captive red snapper can complete gametogenesis in photothermal controlled systems. Additional research is needed to develop procedures that will achieve reliable maturation and spawning.     

Stock assessment on fishery-dependent data: Effect of data quality and parametrisation for a red snapper fishery

Data availability, and unreported and unregulated fishing are significant obstacles to evaluating stock status, especially in tropical areas. Limitations in data quantity and quality can lead to model misspecification and erroneous data treatments, potentially causing important changes in model outputs and subsequent management implications. Red snapper Lutjanus purpureus (Poey) in French Guiana provides an example of a stock with a long-time series of fishery-dependent data subject to large uncertainty. A flexible catch-at-age model (Stock Synthesis) was applied to the available data and compared to an historically applied assessment approach. Inter-model variability based on different model specifications and data treatments were compared to identify better the status of the resource. Results showed that a major source of uncertainty in the model was the inclusion of a catch-per-unit-effort abundance index with questionable ability to track abundance. The Stock Synthesis model provided a more flexible and viable method than the virtual population analysis approach. Despite large uncertainty, models depicted a similar trend with a notable stock depletion in the late 1990s but with two distinct biomass trends in more recent years depending on the treatment. To reduce uncertainty and preserve this important economic resource, new data collection programmes and management policies are needed.     

Egg and larval quality of natural and induced spawns of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus

Egg and larval quality of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus from natural spawns of domesticated brooders and hormone-induced spawns of wild fish were compared. Eggs and larvae from natural spawns were found to be more viable in terms of fertilization, hatching and survival rate. Also, eggs from natural spawns were larger, and eggs and recently hatched larvae had larger oil-globule. These findings indicate that natural spawning of red snapper can be a sustainable and reliable source of good quality eggs.     

Organogenesis of the digestive system in Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru) larvae

This study reports the ontogenetic development of the digestive system of larval Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru), an important candidate species for aquaculture on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Histological sections of larvae were cut and dyed using the haematoxylin–eosin technique. The development of the digestive tract of Pacific red snapper larvae follows a general pattern of differentiation that can be divided into three stages. Stage I lasted from 1–3 days post hatching (DPH) and included the endogenous nutrition period; it was characterized by the initial differentiation of the digestive tract in preparation for the onset of exogenous feeding (3 DPH). At this time, the digestive tract was differentiated into buccopharynx, oesophagus, stomach anlage, anterior intestine, posterior intestine and a short rectum. The liver, pancreas and kidney were also present. The mouth and anus were open. Stage II occurred after first feeding, lasted for 16 days (4–23 DPH) and included both preflexion and flexion larvae. The main changes that occurred during this stage reflected the adaptation to exogenous feeding and the concomitant growth. Stage III (24–30 DPH) included post‐flexion larvae and started with the appearance of the gastric glands and pyloric caeca. The presence of the gastric glands suggests that early weaning during culture trials of the Pacific red snapper larvae may be possible at this early age.     

Effect of the dusk photoperiod change from light to dark on the incubation period of eggs of the spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner)

Spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner), eggs were incubated under different photoperiods to examine the effect of photoperiod on incubation. The eggs from two fish were incubated under five artificial photoperiods: constant dark (D), constant light (L) from 06:00 hours and 6, 10 and 14 h of light from 06:00 hours. The eggs from seven other fish were incubated under a natural photoperiod. Different spawning times (21:00 – 01:00 hours) and different photoperiods combined to give the start of the dusk photoperiod change after 11–23 h of incubation. Constant light or applying the dusk photoperiod change after ≥20 h of incubation appeared to extend the hatching period. The mean hatching period for groups of eggs incubated in darkness or that received the dusk photoperiod change after ≤19 h of incubation (n=8 different groups) was 2 h 15±10 min, which was significantly lower (P<0.05) than the mean hatching period of 4 h±37 min for groups that did not receive the dusk photoperiod change or that received the dusk photoperiod change after ≥20 h of incubation (n=9 groups). However, despite these differences, the majority of the eggs hatched during a 2–3 h period from 17 to 20 h of incubation, and a sigmoid regression (r²=0.9) explained the relationship between percentage hatch and hours of incubation for all photoperiod groups.     

Effects of exploitation on age, growth and mortality of the blackspot snapper, Lutjanus fulviflamma, at Mafia Island, Tanzania

Abstract Estimates of the growth parameters (L_∞ and K), mortality coefficients (Z, M and F) and exploitation rate (E) for the blackspot snapper, Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forsskål) from the Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) and adjacent intensively fished areas in Tanzania were determined. Sectioned otoliths showed that L. fulviflamma in the MIMP attained a maximum age of 18 years, with a high proportion of fish between 6 and 10 years old. The maximum age was 8 years in the intensively fished areas, with a preponderance of 2‐ and 4‐year‐old fish. The size structures of the populations in the MIMP and that in the intensively fished areas were markedly different, with the MIMP fish averaging (±SE) 211.4 ± 0.38 mm TL, but 154.6 ± 0.32 mm TL in the intensively fished areas. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L_∞ = 290.3 mm TL, K = 0.15 year^?1 and t₀ = ?2.7 years. There was no significant difference in growth between the four populations (L_∞: F‐stat = 0.14, P = 1.000, and K: F‐stat = 0.26, P = 0.992). Total mortality was 0.55 and 1.64 year^?1 in the MIMP and intensively fished areas, respectively, natural mortality 0.27 year^?1 and fishing mortality 0.18 and 1.37 year^?1 in the MIMP and intensively fished areas, respectively. The exploitation rate was 0.51 and 0.84 in the MIMP and intensively fished areas, respectively. The artisanal seine net fishery is directed mainly at younger fish in the intensively fished areas resulting in growth overfishing. The protracted life span, the slow growth and natural mortality rates imply that L. fulviflamma is vulnerable to overfishing and that the protection provided by the park, although limited, is vital for sustaining the fishery at Mafia Island.     

Egg quality criteria in Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical parameters used as possible determinants of egg quality in Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru). Fertilized eggs of eight spawns were obtained by hormonal induction. Egg quality criteria, including abnormal cleavage (AC), hatching percentage (HR) and survival percentage at first feeding (SR) were recorded. Samples were taken during embryonic development and from yolk‐sac larvae. Proteins, energetic metabolite concentrations and metabolic and digestive enzyme activities were determined using colorimetric methods. Pearson's correlation, and simple and multiple regression models were performed using the biochemical parameters as the independent variables and AC, HR and SR as the dependant variables. Glucose‐6‐phosphatase activity (AC r = 0.87; HR r = ?0.65; SR r = ?0.67) and fructose concentration (AC r = ?0.64; HR r = 0.54; SR r = 0.64) were the only biochemical parameters to be strongly correlated with the three egg quality criteria. The use of multiple regression models increased the regression coefficient of the three quality criteria. Fructose, glucose and glucose‐6‐phosphatase were involved in all multiple regression models. The models proposed in this study may be used to explain egg quality for Pacific red snapper and their use as predictors of egg quality is discussed.     

The commercial exploitation of a protected anadromous species,the river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis (L.)), in the tidal River Ouse,north‐east England

• 1. Throughout Europe, populations of anadromous fish and lampreys have declined over the past centuries due to human activities. River lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis are representative of such species and are listed in international conservation agreements.
• 2. Historic (1908–09 to 1913–14) and modern (1995–96 to 2003–04) data were available on commercial catches of river lampreys in the tidal Ouse, north‐east England. During 2003–04, additional traps were operated by the University of Durham, downstream of the commercial fishery.
• 3. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the modern commercial fishery showed considerable variation between fishing seasons, ranging from a median CPUE of 0.5 lampreys per trap per day in 2000–01 to a median of 22.3 lampreys per trap per day in 2003–04.
• 4. The estimated catch of adult river lampreys each season in the historic fishery ranged between 25 500 (1913–14) and 54 500 (1910–11). Recent catches tended to be smaller, with a minimum catch of 9083 lampreys (2000–01) and a maximum of 30 992 lampreys (2003–04).
• 5. CPUE increased with discharge, up to a point above which CPUE declined with further increase in discharge. Migratory activity may be reduced at high flows and not stimulated at low flows, although the fishing efficiency of the traps themselves was probably reduced during high flows.
• 6. Samples of river lampreys caught in the university's traps were marked and released. Based upon the number of recaptures, the absolute minimum relative exploitation level of the commercial traps, over the whole fishing season, was estimated as 9.9%. The effect of such a reduction in the spawning population upon future recruitment is at present unknown.
• 7. The population of river lampreys in the tidal Ouse is potentially threatened by an unregulated increase in fishing effort. Current legislation needs to be modified to allow effective fishery management.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of incubation temperature on the embryonic development and yolk‐sac larvae of the Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru (Nichols & Murphy, 1922)

The effect of incubation temperature on embryonic development and yolk‐sac larva of the Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru were evaluated by testing the effect of 26, 28 and 30°C, as this is the natural thermal interval reported during the spawning season of Pacific red snapper in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Sixteen developmental stages were observed. The incubation temperature affected the rate of development and time to hatching, being shorter at 30 than at 26°C, but no significant effect (P < 0.05) on larval length at hatching was registered. The depletion rate of yolk sac and oil globule was affected by incubation temperature particularly during the first 12 h post hatching (hph). At the end of the experiment (48 hph), significantly (P < 0.05) larger larvae were recorded at 26°C (TL = 3.22 ± 0.01 mm) than at 28° (TL = 3.01 ± 0.02 mm) and 30°C (TL = 2.97 ± 0.05 mm). Incubation of newly fertilized eggs at 26°C produces larger larvae, which may help to improve feeding efficiency and survival during first feeding.     

溶藻弧菌鞭毛蛋白flaC基因DNA疫苗对红笛鲷的免疫保护研究

为研究溶藻弧菌鞭毛蛋白flaC基因DNA疫苗对红笛鲷的免疫保护作用,实验构建了重组真核表达质粒pcDNA-flaC并将该质粒肌肉注射红笛鲷,采用PCR、RT-PCR、ELISA和攻毒试验等方法检测了该真核表达质粒在红笛鲷组织内的分布、表达和对红笛鲷的免疫保护.PCR结果显示,免疫接种7和28 d,注射点周围肌肉、鳃、肾脏、肝脏和脾脏都存在质粒分布;RT-PCR结果显示,免疫接种后第7天、14天和28天,红笛鲷不同组织内均有目的基因表达.ELISA结果表明,鱼血清内产生了抗FlaC蛋白的抗体,表明DNA疫苗免疫后鱼体表达了目的蛋白,并诱导产生了相应抗体.攻毒实验表明,免疫后的红笛鲷能较好地抵抗致病性溶藻弧菌的感染.结果表明,质粒pcDNA-flaC可能是抵抗溶藻弧菌感染的有效的疫苗候选物.     

Effect of plant protease inhibitors on digestive proteases in two fish species, Lutjanus argentiventris and L. novemfasciatus

This work provides a comparative study of the inhibitory effect of several plant protein sources on digestive proteases of two snappers: yellow snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris) and dog snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus). Seed extracts did not affect gastric proteases whereas they significantly inhibit intestinal proteases. Inhibition of alkaline proteases showed that pancreatic proteases of L. argentiventris were more sensitive to seed protease inhibitors than those of L. novemfasciatus. Legume seeds showed the highest inhibitory capacity on alkaline proteases causing inhibition higher than 50% in total proteolytic activity. Protease inhibition on digestive extracts was assessed using different relative concentration of seed extracts and represented by constructing dose response curves. In order to reduce the inhibitory effect, seed extracts were acid-treated before the inhibition assay. Results showed that acid treatment did not affect the inhibitory capacity of seeds on alkaline proteases in both species. However, when the action of gastric enzymes was simulated on seed extracts, the inhibitory capacity was reduced significantly, mainly in the case of L. novemfasciatus. The responses of fish enzymes to heat-treated seed extracts were also tested. Only higher temperatures were capable of reducing the inhibitory capacity of seed, with the specific response to the snapper species. The use of biochemical assays allows us to quantify the action of inhibitors on total proteolytic activity. In addition, zymograms obtained by substrate-SDS-PAGE provided qualitative information about the number and type of proteases affected by each inhibitor. Each seed extract produces a characteristic profile of inhibition on alkaline protease. The results obtained are important for future formulation of feeds for these snapper species.     

Ontogenetic development of digestive enzymes in larval and juvenile crimson snapper Lutjanus erythopterus (Bloch 1790)

Ontogenetic development of digestive system in crimson snapper (Lutjanus erythopterus Bloch 1790) larvae was histologically and enzymatically (alkaline phosphatase, amylase, lipase, pepsin, trypsin) examined from hatching to 36 days post hatching (DPH). The ontogenetic development of crimson snapper larval fish ontogeny was divided into three distinct phases: phase I starting from hatch to the onset of exogenous feeding, phase II starting from first feeding (2–3 DPH) until the formation of gastric glands (13–14 DPH) and phase III beginning from the appearance of gastric glands and continuing onwards. The specific activities of amylase, lipase, trypsin showed sharp increase and reached to the maximum from hatch to 4 DPH, 10 DPH, 20 DPH, respectively, followed by a declining trend with irregular fluctuation. In contrast to other enzymes, the specific activities of alkaline phosphatase showed a gradual increase from hatch to 29 DPH, followed by a sharp increase towards 36 DPH. The specific activity of pepsin was firstly detected on 17 DPH and gradually increased towards the end of this study. The total activities of these five enzymes showed a gradual increase till 29 DPH, followed by a sharp increase towards 36 DPH except for amylase and lipase reaching maximum at 32 DPH. The present study provides better understanding of the digestive ontogeny of crimson snapper during the larval stage and a guide to feeding and weaning of this economically important fish in hatcheries.     

Augmentation of free amino acids in eggs of red snapper,Lutjanus campechanus as part of the induced spawning protocol

An attempt was made to increase free amino acids (FAA) concentrations in eggs of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus as part of an induced spawning protocol. Mature female red snapper were given intramuscular injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at a 1100 IU kg^?1 of female body weight. Immediately after the HCG injection, one set of females received an intramuscular injection of FAA in a buffered saline solution at a dose of 20 mg FAA cocktail kg^?1 of body weight. The FAA cocktail was 25% isoleucine, 25% leucine, 25% lysine and 25% valine on a molecular weight basis. A second set of fish did not receive the FAA supplement. Both sets of fish were equally successful in spawning with ovulation occurring 21–32.5 h post injection. Injection of FAA into brooders as eggs began final maturation and hydration resulted in an increase in leucine (nmoles mg egg^?1) and a slight increase in isoleucine (nmoles egg^?1) in recently ovulated eggs. FAA supplementation via brood injection altered FAA utilization rates by embryos and during larval development, resulted in a greater yolk sac and oil globule reserve in larvae as they approached the time of first feeding.     

Larger biomass of targeted reef fish in no‐take marine reserves on the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

• 1. An expansion of no‐take marine reserve zones of Australia's 348 000 km² Great Barrier Reef (GBR) Marine Park from 4.6% to 33.4% of the park area is proposed in 2004. However, limited evidence currently exists that no‐take marine reserves on the GBR have increased abundance of reef fish targeted by fisheries. This study provides such evidence for inshore reefs of the GBR.
• 2. Underwater visual surveys were used to estimate the effect of no‐take reserves on abundance of species targeted by hook‐and‐line fisheries around the Palm, Whitsunday and Keppel Islands, spanning 600 km of the length of the GBR. The reserves had been zoned ‘no fishing’ for 14 yr.
• 3. Densities of Plectropomus spp. and Lutjanus carponotatus, both targeted by fisheries, were much higher in protected zones than fished zones in two of the three island groups. Plectropomus spp. were 3.6 and 2.3 times more abundant in protected than fished zones of the Palm and Whitsunday island groups. L. carponotatus were 2.3 and 2.2 times more abundant in protected zones than fished zones of the Whitsunday and Keppel island groups.
• 4. The biomasses of Plectropomus spp. and L. carponotatus were significantly greater (3.9 and 2.6 times respectively) in the protected zones than fished zones at all three island groups.
• 5. Legal minimum sizes of Plectropomus spp. and L. carponotatus are ?38 cm and 25 cm TL respectively. There were significantly higher densities and biomasses of Plectropomus spp. >35 cm TL (density: 3.8 times; biomass: 5.1 times) and L. carponotatus >25 cm TL (density: 4.2 times; biomass: 5.3 times) in protected zones than fished zones at all three island groups.
• 6. No significant difference in abundance between protected and fished zones was found for two species not captured by fisheries (Siganus doliatus and Chaetodon aureofasciatus), and there were no significant differences in benthic characteristics between protected and fished zones.
• 7. Results suggest that no‐take marine reserves have increased stock biomass of targeted fish species on inshore GBR reefs.

Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

菲胁迫对红鳍笛鲷急、慢性毒性效应的研究

为了解海洋菲污染对海洋水产经济鱼类的毒性及致毒机理,在实验室条件下采用半静态毒性实验研究了菲对红鳍笛鲷的96 h急性毒性,同时分析和比较了不同浓度(10.0、50.0、250.0μg/L)菲胁迫96 h后红鳍笛鲷肝脏、鳃中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力,丙二醛(MDA)含量以及脑组织中乙酰胆碱脂酶(AChE)活力的变化。结果表明,菲对红鳍笛鲷幼鱼的24、48和96 h半致死浓度(LC50)分别为4.65、3.46和3.17 mg/L,安全浓度为0.317 mg/L。在整个胁迫过程中,低浓度(10.0μg/L)菲可诱导红鳍笛鲷肝脏和鳃组织SOD活力显著性升高(P<0.05);随着浓度升高,50.0和250.0μg/L浓度组肝脏SOD活力呈抑制-诱导的波动变化,鳃SOD活力的变化则呈抑制-诱导-抑制的趋势。随着菲曝露时间延长,各浓度组红鳍笛鲷肝脏和鳃组织的MDA含量明显升高;脑组织中AChE活力表现为先升高后降低的的趋势。结果提示,菲对红鳍笛鲷具有很强的毒性,可在96 h内通过氧化损伤途径对机体产生毒性作用,鉴于SOD、MDA、AChE指标对菲的高度敏感特点,可以用其作为生物标志物来指示多环芳烃类污染物对水生生物的...