Pathology of shell disease in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, (Decapoda: Portunidae)

Blue crabs affected with shell disease displayed a wide array of pathologies in response to this very common affliction. Grossly, shell disease lesions most commonly presented as variably sized brown to black foci. Such lesions ranged from very small (1 mm2) to locally extensive (up to 200 mm2 in area). The larger of the melanized lesions sometimes appeared ulcerated. The most severe lesions observed (Pamlico River shell disease-PRSD) resulted in loss of up to 25% of the entire carapace. A diverse bacterial flora consisting of aeromonads, vibrios and five other genera were isolated as the predominant organisms from shell disease lesions. Fungi were rarely observed in larger lesions. Protozoa and algae were also rarely observed on the surface of some lesions. Histologically, lesions ranged from mild erosion of the epicuticle and outermost layers of the calcified endocuticle to more extensive endocuticle erosion with accompanying inflammation. In the most severe cases, there was total loss of the endocuticle and epidermis, with pseudomembrane formation, intense haemocyte infiltration, and involvement of adjacent viscera. There was no apparent relationship between the size of gross lesions and their histological severity (as defined by the extent of tissue damage), suggesting that gross examination of shell disease lesions is not a reliable method for assessing the damage to affected blue crabs.     

Ovarian development and induced oviposition of the overwintering swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus (Brachyura: Portunidae) reared in the laboratory

ABSTRACT:   Females of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus were cultured under natural temperature and high temperature (21°C) conditions to examine ovarian development and oviposition from autumn (October) to the beginning of breeding season in the following spring (May). Ovaries developed because of vitellogenesis of oocytes from October to December and their developmental state did not change during the overwintering period from December to March. In spring, from late March to mid May, some ovaries reached prematuration and maturation stages and ovipositions began from mid–late April under natural temperature conditions. Females reared in tanks of high temperature regimes oviposited earlier than those reared in tanks of natural temperatures. The number of days to oviposition tended to decrease with advancement of the beginning times (early February to late April) of culture of females under high temperature regimes; induced ovipositions were achieved more easily with increasing photoperiod from c . 12 h in early February to c . 14 h in late April. Therefore, it is inferred that the temperature and photoperiod are important environmental factors controlling ovarian development and oviposition.     

The larval rearing of the marine ornamental crab, Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards, 1875) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae)

The goal of this study is to develop a larviculture protocol for Mithraculus forceps, a popular marine aquarium species. Different temperatures (25±0.5°C and 28±0.5°C), stocking densities (10, 20, 40 and 80 larvae L^?1), prey densities (newly hatched Artemia of 1, 4, 7 and 12 nauplii mL^?1) and metamorphosis to crab conditions (Systems A and B) were tested. The best survivorship and faster development were obtained when the larvae were reared at a density of 40 larvae L^?1 for 7 days post hatching (DPH) in System A, at 28°C and fed with 7 mL^?1 of newly hatched Artemia nauplii. After 7 DPH all the megalopa were moved to System B and the same temperature and prey density were maintained. At the end of the experiment, 12 DPH, survivorship of 74.1±4.8% was obtained.     

底质对小褐虾生长和存活率影响的实验研究

本研究的目的在于通过小褐虾(Crangon uritai)的人工饲养,以观察栖息底质对其存活率和生长的影响。实验小褐虾样本来自韩国釜山Dadaepo(35°02′N,128°57′E)附近4 m水深海域的桁杆拖网渔获,共选取80尾样本进行实验,其中雌性40尾、雄性40尾,并分别被独立饲养在40个有沙和40个无沙的2 L容器中。为便于分析,将实验样本设为每组20尾,分别为无沙饲养的雌性组NSF和雄性组NSM,以及有沙饲养的雌性组SAF和雄性组SAM。实验环境条件为水温14℃、盐度32.5、光周期L∶D为12∶12。饲养期间,每天投喂新鲜的冷冻虾肉,投喂24 h后将残饵虹吸排除,海水每3天更换1次,整个实验持续100 d。实验前测定每尾实验小褐虾样本的体长和性别。实验中每天检查每个容器中的小褐虾蜕皮、死亡和残饵情况,并记录蜕皮时间以便计算其蜕皮间隔。结果表明,在各组最初样本的甲长分布之间没有显著性差异(P>0.05)的情况下,经过整个实验周期,小褐虾NSF和NSM的存活率分别为28%和10%,而SAF和SAM分别为38%和25%。各对照组个体平均甲长的增长量NSF为1.22 mm、SAF为1.43 mm、NSM为0.6 mm、SAM为0.9 mm。有沙饲养条件下,雌性和雄性的蜕皮间隔分别为15.0 d和15.3 d,而无沙饲养的雌雄的蜕皮间隔分别为16.0 d和16.0 d。无论雌性还是雄性在有沙饲养条件的蜕皮间隔均比无沙饲养的短。有沙饲养的雌、雄个体蜕皮增长率分别为5.2%和4.8%,无沙饲养的蜕皮增长率分别为3.7%和3.2%,在有沙饲养条件下雌、雄的蜕皮增长率均较无沙饲养的要大。有沙饲养的雌雄个体生长速度均较无沙饲养的要快,有沙饲养的雌性个体绝对增长率相对于雄性个体要更高。在提供沙质底质的条件下,小褐虾的存活率提高,蜕皮间隔明显缩短,蜕皮增长率增大,更有利于小褐虾的生长。[中国水产科学,2007,14(1):90-98]     

Effects of temperature, stocking density and diet on the growth and survival of juvenile Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards, 1875) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae)

Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards) has demonstrated a great potential for ornamental aquaculture and the present study tests the effects of temperature, stocking density and diet on the survival and growth of M. forceps juveniles. For 28 days post metamorphosis (DPM), the newly metamorphosed juveniles were reared at two temperatures (25±0.5 or 28±0.5°C), stocked at five densities (1, 5, 15, 30 or 60 crabs ring⁻¹; approximately 226, 1132, 3395, 6791 or 13 581 crabs m² respectively) and fed with commercial pellets (CP), microalgae (Amphora spp.), live newly hatched Artemia nauplii (NHA), frozen Artemia nauplii (FNHA), or combinations of each of these diets with NHA. At the end of the temperature experiment, carapace width of the crabs cultured at 28°C was significantly larger than the crabs reared at 25°C and average intermolt period was significantly shorter. Increased stocking density had a negative effect on survivorship and growth. Survivorship at the end of the diet experiment was significantly different between the crabs not fed, fed with CP and Amphora and the crabs fed with the other diets. Between the diet treatments, the crabs fed with NHA+Amphora were significantly larger than the ones fed with NHA+FNHA, NHA, FNHA and NHA+CP, and these in turn larger than ones fed with Amphora.     

Larval cannibalism rates in the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ocypodidae) under laboratory conditions

Predation of zoeas by megalopae of Ucides cordatus is frequently observed in the laboratory during larval rearing, a phenomenon that could considerably reduce the output of larviculture. Experiments were carried out in the present study to assess how the survivorship of larvae at the end of the larviculture is influenced by cannibalism by megalopae on the larvae of earlier stages, as well as on other megalopae. In addition, tests were performed to assess whether the adoption of different feeding protocols can decrease cannibalism rates. Experiments were carried out in plastic vials containing ocean water (salinity 25 g L^?1) under controlled environmental conditions (26 °C and 16:8 h LD photoperiod). An ensemble analysis of all the developmental stages indicated that zoeal mortality rates were significantly higher in the presence of megalopae, a result that is consistent with cannibalism by megalopae. However, separate analysis for each developmental stage indicated that only zoea IV, V and VI show reduced survivorship. No cannibalism was detected among megalopae. Food supplementation using Artemia sp. at a density of 6 nauplii mL^?1 proved to be successful in reducing cannibalism rates, whereas supplementation at a lower density (0.3 nauplii mL^?1) failed to show such an effect. The implications of these results for the larviculture of U. cordatus are discussed.     

Feeding experiments on the larvae of the fiddler crab Uca pugilator (Brachyura,Ocypodidae), reared in the laboratory

Larvae of Uca pugilator (Bosc) were reared in the laboratory from hatching to the megalopa stage on three different diets: (1) newly hatched Artemia salina nauplii (diet A), (2) the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis (O.F. Müller) and a ciliate Euplotes sp. (diet RC), and (3) a combination of the above two diets (diet ARC). The survival rate of zoeae fed diet A (90.0%) and diet ARC (93.8%) was much higher than that of the larvae fed diet RC (22.5%). The duration of the zoeal stages was significantly shorter for the larvae fed diet ARC than for those fed diets A and RC. The survival rate of megalopa larvae (reared on diets A and ARC in the zoeal stages) was high (above 90%) for megalopa fed Artemia nauplii only, as well as for those fed a combination of Artemia nauplii and shrimp. No significant differences in duration of the megalopa stage were found between the latter diet groups.     

Larval survival,development and growth in the horsehair crab,Erimacrus isenbeckii,cultured under different photoperiod conditions

Larval sinking causes larval mass mortality during seed production in the horsehair crab, Erimacrus isenbeckii. Under normal light conditions, horsehair crab larvae generally show negative phototactic behaviour and sink in their rearing seawater. It has been proposed that culturing larvae in the dark may prevent larval sinking. Herein, we examined the effect of photoperiods on horsehair crab larval survival and development to facilitate the development of larval rearing techniques that prevent sinking. Newly hatched larvae were reared with Artemia to the first crab stage in 2‐L beakers under five photoperiods: 0L:24D, 6L:18D, 12L:12D, 18L:6D and 24L:0D. Larvae survived and molted to the first crab stage under all tested photoperiod conditions. The survival rate improved with increasing light period, whereas the developmental period for each larval stage decreased with increasing light period. Longer light periods increased the carapace length at the first crab stage. Our results suggest that larvae could be cultured to the first crab stage in large‐scale tanks under constant darkness. However, significantly improved larval performance under longer photoperiodic conditions indicates a need for developing alternative culture techniques to control larval behaviour in the seed production tank.     

Maturity and reproduction of goneplacid crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcinoplax vestita</Emphasis> (Decapoda,Brachyura) in Tokyo Bay

ABSTRACT:     Sexual maturity, morphological sexual dimorphism, and reproduction of the goneplacid crab Carcinoplax vestita were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, from November 2002 to October 2003. The puberty molt in males was evidenced by changes in the relative size of the chelipeds and merus of the walking legs, and was estimated to occur at a size range of 13.20–18.85 mm carapace length. Post-pubertal females were identified by the relative size of the abdomen and puberty was estimated to occur at a size range of 12.81–15.46 mm carapace length. Sexual dimorphism in C. vestita was observed in all features that showed secondary sexual characteristics. Monthly changes of gonad index in males, and of seminal receptacle index and occurrence of sperm plugs in females were synchronized, and indicated that mating was intense in spring. Ovaries began developing in March. Ovigerous females were found in all months except December, but were clearly more abundant between August and October. Fecundity ranged from 7800 to 57 000 mature oocytes per female per batch and was highly correlated with body size. The results suggest that some females may spawn more than one batch per year.     

Lethal doses of ammonia on the late-stage larvae of Chinese mitten-handed crab, Eriocheir sinensis (H. Milne-Edwards), (Decapoda: Grapsidae) reared in the laboratory

Four successive life stages (zoea-III, zoea-IV, zoea-V and megalopa) of the Chinese mitten-handed crab, Eriocheir sinensis (H. Milne-Edwards), were exposed to ammonia in a series of short-term bioassays with the static-renewal method at 22°C, pH 8.0 and 25%o salinity. The greatest sensitivity was observed in the zoea-III stage. The 24-h LC₅₀ values for zoea-III, zoea-IV, zoea-V and megalopa were 32.8, 73.1, 84.0 and 90.1 mg L^?1 for NH₃+ NH₄⁺, and 1.11, 2.36, 2.77 and 3.18 mg L^?1 for NH₃, respectively. The 72-h LC₅₀ values for zoea-III, zoea-IV and zoea-V were 11.9, 23.6 and 38.2 mg L^?1 for NH₃+ NH₄⁺, and 0.40, 0.76 and 1.26 mg L^?1 for NH₃, respectively. The 96-h LC₅₀ values for megalopa were 37.3 mg L^?1 for NH₃+ NH₄⁺ and 1.31 mg L^?1 for NH₃. It was found that ammonia tolerance increased with larval development from zoea-III to megalopa, especially from zoea-III to zoea-IV and from zoea-IV to zoea-V. A comparison of safe levels of ammonia among the different life stages indicated that all stages were significantly different with respect to safe levels of ammonia (P < 0.05) except zoea-V and megalopa, which had the highest safe levels. In general, both the larvae and juveniles of E. sinensis are less resistant to ammonia than those of other crustacean species studied so far.     

饲料中添加维生素A、C和E对克氏原螯虾生长和免疫力的影响

维生素在甲壳动物的存活、生长、繁殖过程中起重要作用。本研究采用正交设计实验,研究了维生素A、维生素C和维生素E的添加量对克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)幼虾生存、生长和免疫的影响。研究设立三个因子A、B、C,分别为维生素A、维生素C、维生素E的添加量。每个因子设3个水平,维生素A添加量的3个水平为:0.0048、0.0054、0.006%;维生素C添加量的3个水平为:0.02、0.05、0.08%;维生素E添加量的3个水平为:0.02、0.04、0.06%。极差分析结果表明,克氏原螯虾幼虾成活率最高时的因子水平组合为:A3B1/B3C2;增重率最大时的因子水平组合为:A3B2C2;丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物气化酶(SOD)活性和SOD基因表达水平最低时的因子组合水平都为:A2B1C1;酚氧化酶(PO)活性最高时的因子水平组合为:A3B2C1;谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因GPx表达水平最低时的因子水平组合为:A3B1C1。将克氏原螯虾幼虾的成活率和增重率作为主要考虑因素,综合考虑免疫指标及成本因素,我们建议在本次实验设计的条件中,选择A3B1C2作为最佳组合方案,即维生素A添加量为0.006%、维生素C添加量为0.02%、维生素E添加量为0.04%时,最有利于克氏原螯虾幼虾的存活、生长,提高其免疫力。     

Effects of ammonia and nitrite on survival, growth and moulting in juvenile tiger crab, Orithyia sinica (Linnaeus)

The effects of ammonia and nitrite on survival, growth and moulting were investigated in juvenile tiger crab, Orithyia sinica (carapace length 3.91±0.15 mm, carapace width 3.84±0.23 mm, n=440), after 30 days exposure to ammonia‐N (0, 20, 50, 100 and 150 mg L^?1) and nitrite‐N (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg L^?1) using a continuous flow system. Survival rates of tiger crab exposed to ammonia and nitrite decreased linearly with the exposure time and concentration. The growth rate of tiger crab exposed to 50, 100 and 150 mg L^?1 ammonia was significantly lower than that of control crabs. The growth rate of tiger crab exposed to nitrite decreased at 150, 200 and 250 mg L^?1 nitrite. During the ammonia and nitrite exposure, the intermoult period of the juveniles of tiger crab O. sinica was shortened between the first and second moult, and the number of moulting of crabs exposed to a higher concentration were significantly higher than that of control crabs.     

Comparison of different frozen natural foods on survival and growth of juvenile Chinese horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus (Leach, 1819): implications on laboratory culture

The Chinese horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus (Leach, 1819) is facing a dramatic population decline in Asia. Evaluating their survival and growth under laboratory conditions is essential to optimize their indoor culture system, particularly for future re‐stocking trials in the wild. In this study, three types of frozen natural foods (brine shrimp Artemia salina, opossum shrimp Mysis relicta and chironomus larva Chironomous plumosus) were offered to juvenile Chinese horseshoe crabs T. tridentatus for 100 days in the laboratory. While feed efficiency ratio in C. plumosus treatment was significantly higher than that in A. salina and M. relicta treatments, survival rate, final body weight, thermal‐unit growth coefficient and feeding rate of T. tridentatus fed with A. salina were significantly higher than those in other diet treatments. Results showed that A. salina is a more suitable food diet than M. relicta and C. plumosus for juvenile T. tridentatus under laboratory culture conditions.     

海水养殖对近岸生态环境的影响

文章研究了从硝化菌群中分离的菌株NB5在不同培养条件下的生长情况及其对氨氮 (NH₄ ⁺-N) 和亚硝氮 (NO₂ ⁻-N) 的去除效果,并对菌株NB5进行了鉴定。结果发现,菌株NB5在盐度25~45、pH 6.0~9.0、15~35 ℃和通气量1~2 L·min⁻¹的条件下生长良好 (P>0.05)。在盐度45、35和25条件下对NH₄ ⁺-N的最大去除率分别为96.24%、88.93%和75.08%;pH 7.5和9.0条件下分别为99.53%和99.37%;温度30、25、15和35 ℃条件下分别为99.53%、97.22%、97.29%和71.26%;通气量为2和1 L·min⁻¹时分别为99.87%和99.82%。在上述培养条件下菌株NB5对NH₄ ⁺-N的最大去除率均显著高于对照组和其他条件组 (P<0.05)。菌株NB5在不同培养条件下对NO₂ ⁻-N浓度变化无显著作用 (P>0.05)。经16S rDNA序列分析,菌株NB5鉴定为海水硝酸盐还原菌 (Nitratireductor aquimarinus)。研究表明,菌株NB5具有较好的环境适应性和氨氮去除效果,尤其适合中高盐度 (25~45) 养殖池塘环境。

     

Larval growth, survival and development of Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius) cultured in different salinities

Larvae of Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius) at protozoea 1 (PZ1) stage were stocked in 2‐L glass flasks to investigate the effects of various salinities (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 ppt) on growth and survival until the post‐larval (PL) stages. The PZ larvae were not able to tolerate a sudden salinity drop of over 10 ppt. Yet, an abrupt salinity increase of over 10 or even 15 ppt did not cause mortality. The PZ larvae were successfully acclimated to different test salinities at a rate of 4 ppt h^?1. The larvae displayed better tolerance to high rather than low salinities. The lowest and highest critical salinities appeared to be 22 and 55 ppt respectively. Taking into account survival, growth and development results, the optimal salinity for the larval culture of M. monoceros inhabiting the Eastern Mediterranean was 40 ppt. At this salinity, the PZ1 larvae were successfully cultured until PL1 stage within 11 days with 68% survival on a feeding regime of Tetraselmis chuii Kylin (Butcher) (20 cells μ L^?1), Chaetoceros calcitrans Paulsen (50 cells μ L^?1), Isochrysis galbana Parke (30 cells μL^?1) and five newly hatched Artemia nauplii mL^?1 from M1 onwards at 28 °C.     

东海日本蟳的数量分布和生物学特性

该研究对江苏南通近海的57只日本蟳 (Charybdis japonica) 眼柄微结构进行了观察,并对其年龄与生长进行了初步探索,建立了相应的生长模型。结果显示,日本蟳的眼柄结构由表层、色素层、钙化层和膜层4个部分构成,能够用于研究的生长纹主要存在于钙化层内。通过分析日本蟳生物学数据及生长纹读数并结合AIC法后发现,在7种常用生长函数中日本蟳甲长和甲宽间呈线性函数关系,甲长、甲宽与体质量间呈幂函数关系,但其生长纹与甲长、甲宽和体质量的关系则适用逻辑斯蒂函数关系来表示。

     

Growth, survival and biochemical composition of spider crab Maja brachydactyla (Balss, 1922) (Decapoda: Majidae) larvae reared under different stocking densities, prey:larva ratios and diets

The spider crab Maja brachydactyla is overexploited on the NW coast of Spain. Aquaculture of this species can be the solution to the problem, and consequently, several attempts of intensive larval rearing have been conducted. However, most of the studies already published do not provide enough zoo technical data, especially in terms of larval and prey densities or the nutritional quality of diets used for rearing.Three experiments were carried out to evaluate the conditions for intensive larval rearing of M. brachydactyla. Larval stocking density (10, 50 and 100 larvae L^− 1), prey:larva ratio (15, 30 and 60 enriched Artemia larva^− 1) and diet (enriched Artemia, non-enriched Artemia and polychaete supplement) effects on growth and survival of this species were studied. For larval culture nine, 35 L, 150 μm mesh-bottomed PVC cylinders (triplicates for each treatment and larval stage) connected to a recirculation unit, were used. Temperature and salinity were kept constant at 18 °C and 36‰ respectively. A 12 to 18 day trial was conducted for each experiment and samples of larvae were collected at each larval stage (zoea I, zoea II, megalopa) in the inter-molt phase and at first juvenile. Survival, carapace length and width, dry weight (DW), and proximate biochemical content (protein, carbohydrates and total lipid) as well as lipid class composition were determined.Stocking densities of 100 larvae L^− 1 resulted in higher growth in DW and higher content in lipids and protein for zoea I (ZI) and zoea II (ZII) than 10 larvae L^− 1. However, survival decreased with increasing stocking density.The use of 60 preys larva^− 1 produced larvae with significantly higher DW and protein content, especially at ZII stage, than lower prey densities. Survival rate obtained feeding 60 preys larva^− 1 up to the megalopa stage was almost two-fold (42.2%) the rate obtained using 15 preys larva^− 1 (24.8%).Larvae fed on enriched Artemia (EA) showed an increase in weight up to megalopa (518.9 ± 26.5 μg) in contrast to larvae fed on non-enriched prey (A) (467.9 ± 6.9 μg). Variation in DW correlated with the total lipid content (L) of the larvae (L_EA = 70.1 ± 37.5 μg ind^− 1; L_A = 28.9 ± 3.2 μg ind^− 1) especially in terms of neutral lipids. The use of an initial density of at least 50 larvae L^− 1 and 60 enriched Artemia larva^− 1 can be considered the most adequate rearing parameters in order to obtain good results in growth and survival of M. brachydactyla.     

饲料中蛋白水平对三疣梭子蟹雌体生长、卵巢发育和生化组成的影响

本研究配制蛋白水平分别为32.16％、36.13％、39.59％和41.24％的等脂等能配合饲料(分别记为饲料1～4),对初始体重为(10.98±0.28)g的三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)雌体进行池塘养殖120 d,以探究饲料蛋白水平对三疣梭子蟹雌体生长、卵巢发育和生化组成的影响.结果...     

Eco-phenotypic growth in juvenile smooth marron, Cherax cainii (Decapoda: Parastacidae)

Abstract  The smooth marron, Cherax cainii Austin, now occurs in regions of Western Australia that are warmer and drier than those of the natural distribution. Animals sourced along a south to north geographical axis decrease in body mass per unit length. Juveniles reared from gravid females sourced from four sites along this axis were raised in common laboratory conditions for 14 weeks. No differences between sites were observed in body mass, standardised for length, indicating that in situ differences are a phenotypic response to local conditions.