Temperature and size range for the transport of juvenile donkey's ear abalone Haliotis asinina Linne

Live transport of hatchery‐produced juvenile donkey's ear abalone Haliotis asinina Linne was examined to evaluate the effect of transportation on the survival of juvenile abalone. Simulated transport experiments were conducted to determine the appropriate temperature using 5, 10 and 20 g L^?1 of ice to air volume for 8 h and the appropriate size using two size groups (Size A, 15–20 mm, 0.5–1.3 g, and Size B, 30–35 mm, 5.3–8.5 g) up to 24‐h out‐of‐water live transport. Survival was significantly higher (P<0.001) when 10 g L^?1 of ice was used to decrease the temperature to the range of 17–23 °C. At this temperature, both size groups subjected to simulated transport for 8 and 10 h had 100% survival after 48 h, while mortality occurred in abalones subjected to 16 and 24 h of simulated transport. The Size B abalone subjected to 24 h of transport had significantly higher survival (64.4 ± 2.9%) (P<0.001) than the Size A abalone (5.5 ± 1.6%) after 48 h. Live juvenile abalone were successfully transported to the field applying the protocols developed in the lab experiment. This study serves as a guide for handling and shipping live juvenile abalone.     

Shell marking by artificial feeding of the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina Linne juveniles for sea ranching and stock enhancement

A method of marking abalone (Haliotis asinina Linne) for sea ranching and stock enhancement purposes was developed. Three‐month‐old abalone juveniles (11.8‐mm shell length, 0.28 g) were fed artificial diets for 1, 2, or 3 weeks. The width of the bluish‐green shell band produced by abalone juveniles was 1.7, 2.6, and 4.2 mm after 1, 2, or 3 weeks of feeding respectively. The growth and survival of juveniles fed artificial diets did not differ from that of juveniles fed the seaweed Gracilariopsis bailinae (control). Feeding the diet‐fed juveniles with the seaweed thereafter produced the natural brownish shell, thus forming a sandwiched bluish‐green band. An experimental release in outdoor tanks with natural growth of seaweeds and diatoms, and in a marine reserve showed that the shell band remained clear and distinct, indicating the usefulness of this shell marking method in sea ranching and stock enhancement of abalone.     

Effects of alternate starvation and refeeding cycles on food consumption and compensatory growth of abalone, Haliotis asinina (Linnaeus)

The effects of alternate starvation and refeeding on food consumption and compensatory growth of hatchery‐bred abalone, Haliotis asinina (Linnaeus), were determined. Two groups of abalone juveniles (mean shell length = 29 mm, body weight = 5 g) were alternately starved and refed a macro‐alga, Gracilariopsis bailinae at equal duration (5/5 or 10/10) over 140 days. A control group (FR) was fed the seaweed ad libitum throughout a 200‐day experimental period. Starved and refed abalone showed slower growth rates (DGR, 63 and 70 mg/day in the 5/5 and 10/10 groups respectively), as a result of reduced food intake (DFI 15% and 16% day^?1 respectively), after repeated starvation and refeeding cycles. Percentage weight gains (5/5 = 196%, 10/10 = 177%) were significantly lower than that of the control (397%). When refed continuously over 60 days, the starved groups exhibited increased DFI and fed at the rate of 24% and 25% day^?1, which were not significantly different from that of the control at 26% day^?1. At the end of the experiment, no significant differences were observed among three treatments in terms of shell length (range: 46–48 mm), body weight (range 25–28 g), % weight gain (392–465%) and per cent survival (range 87–98%). The results indicated that H. asinina had a complete compensatory growth following a return to full rations after a series of intermittent starvation and refeeding cycles.     

Larval settlement of the tropical abalone, Haliotis asinina Linnaeus, using natural and artificial chemical inducers

Many kinds of chemical and biological materials have been used as inducers of settlement of abalone larvae, as well as other species of marine gastropods, with responses being highly variable, even to the same chemical cue. The present study tested chemical inducers, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), δ-aminovaleric acid (5-AVA) and l -glutamic acid (GA) and the effects they have on larval settlement of Haliotis asinina . Additionally, a relatively inexpensive commercial substance, monosodium glutamate (MSG), was trialed. The datum provided shows all chemicals to be active inducers of settlement in this study, in order of effectiveness of 5-AVA, GABA, MSG to GA. Induction as adjudged from larval numbers settled was best at 6 h 62%, with 10⁻¹ mM 5-AVA. At 24 h, induction was the highest at 78% when exposed to 10⁻² mM 5-AVA. Larvae that were allowed to settle up to 72 h showed the highest numbers of settled larvae, and declined back to 60% when exposed to 10⁻² 5-AVA and 10⁻¹ mM GABA respectively. Monosodium glutamate, although third in settlement standings would bypass the other chemicals, with regard to cost versus yield. The assessment of settlement surface, rough or smooth proved to be irrelevant, which had no significant impact on larval settlement.     

Terrestrial leaf meals or freshwater aquatic fern as potential feed ingredients for farmed abalone Haliotis asinina (Linnaeus 1758)

Three terrestrial leaf meals, Carica papaya, Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oliefera and a freshwater aquatic fern, Azolla pinnata were evaluated as potential ingredients for farmed abalone diet. All diets were formulated to contain 27% crude protein, 13% of which was contributed by the various leaf meals. Fresh seaweed Gracilariopsis bailinae served as the control feed. Juvenile Haliotis asinina (mean body weight=13.4±1.6 g, mean shell length= 38.8±1.4 mm) were fed the diets at 2–3% of the body weight day^–1. Seaweed was given at 30% of body weight day^–1. After 120 days of feeding, abalone fed M. oliefera, A. pinnata‐based diets, and fresh G. bailinae had significantly higher (P<0.01) specific growth rates (SGR%) than abalone fed the L. leucocephala‐based diet. Abalone fed the M. oliefera‐based diet had a better growth rate in terms of shell length (P<0.05) compared with those fed the L. leucocephala‐based diet but not with those in other treatments. Furthermore, protein productive value (PPV) of H. asinina was significantly higher when fed the M. oliefera‐based diet compared with all other treatments (P<0.002). Survival was generally high (80–100%) with no significant differences among treatments. Abalone fed the M. oliefera‐based diet showed significantly higher carcass protein (70% dry weight) and lipid (5%) than the other treatments. Moringa oliefera leaf meal and freshwater aquatic fern (A. pinnata) are promising alternative feed ingredients for practical diet for farmed abalone as these are locally available year‐round in the Philippines.     

Comparative performance of juvenile red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, reared in laboratory with fresh kelp and balanced diets

Juvenile Haliotis rufescens were reared in the laboratory in order to investigate the extent to which fresh kelp and formulated feeds with 250 g kg⁻¹ (25P) and 380 g kg⁻¹ protein content (38P) affected their growth rate, gut residence time (GRT), food consumption ( C ), food conversion ratio (FCR) and digestibility. Abalone from 38P attained the highest growth rate (70.5 ± 4.2 μm day⁻¹; 98.3 ± 6.95 μg day⁻¹), followed by 25P (47.9 ± 2.79 μm day⁻¹; 67.4 ± 2.82 μg day⁻¹) and kelp (23.6 ± 3.36 μm day⁻¹; 28.2 ± 4.11 μg day⁻¹). No significant differences were observed in consumption rate among treatments (0.61–0.68% body weight per day), yet kelp-fed abalone exhibited higher FCR (2.44), protein efficiency ratio (4.42), and apparent digestibility of dry matter (69.5%), protein (69.8%) and gross energy (79.2%) than 38P organisms (59.8, 62.4 and 62.2%, respectively). They also showed longer GRT (23.1 ± 0.93 h). This study demonstrated that formulated diets with 250 g kg⁻¹ and 380 g kg⁻¹ protein inclusion can sustain higher growth rates of juvenile H. rufescens than fresh algae. These differences seem to be due to the amount of dietary protein. Kelp meal appears to improve the consumption and digestibility of balanced diets, and its inclusion in formulated diets is recommended.     

Growth and reproductive performance of triploid and diploid blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra (Leach, 1814)

Growth and reproduction of triploid and diploid blacklip abalone Haliotis rubra (Leach, 1814) were compared in a 30-month study. Triploidy was induced by inhibition of the second polar body formation using 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) or cytochalasin B (CB). There were no significant differences in growth and survivorship between triploid and diploid abalone. However, triploid abalone had a more elongated shell and greater foot muscles than diploid abalone. A slightly curvilinear growth in shell length was conformed to all treatments. While diploid abalone had reached sexual maturity and spawned during the study, gonadal development and gamete maturation were abnormal in triploids. Female triploids lacked an apparent gonad at the macroscopic level but microscopic examination revealed that they had a thin layer of oogonia development. In contrast, male triploids were able to form similar-sized gonads to diploids during most of the reproductive period, but with brown-yellow discolouration and stalled gametogenesis at spermatocyte formation. Sex ratio of triploid abalone did not deviate from 1:1. With the onset of sexual maturation, growth and gonadal maturation occurred concurrently in diploid abalone, and there was no indication that growth of (diploid) abalone was reduced.     

Effects of oxygen supersaturation and temperature on juvenile greenlip, Haliotis laevigata Donovan, and blacklip, Haliotis rubra Leach, abalone

Growth and survival of juvenile greenlip (39.03 (SD 3.80) mm (n=524)) and blacklip (31.92 (SD 4.19) mm (n=531) abalone were investigated at high dissolved oxygen levels (95–120% saturation) between 17 and 19°C. Abalone were fed the same artificial diet and each species was contained in groups of approximately 30 individuals within triplicate tanks for each of six treatments and were exposed to flow through water adjusted to give experimental conditions for up to 75 days. Blacklip abalone held at 16.9°C and 97% oxygen saturation grew in shell length significantly faster than all other treatments of blacklip abalone held at 19°C, and significantly faster than blacklip abalone maintained at 111% oxygen saturation and 17.5°C. Both temperature and oxygen saturation significantly affected the survival of this species. Blacklip abalone held at 19°C had significantly lower survival for both 96% oxygen saturation and 120% oxygen saturation, compared with blacklip abalone maintained at either 110% oxygen saturation and 19°C, or for any 17°C treatment. No significant differences were noted for greenlip abalone within the range tested in terms of growth rate, food consumption rate or survival, indicating that greenlip abalone tolerated these conditions better than did blacklip abalone.     

Evaluation of an in vitro digestibility technique for the prediction of protein digestibility in the South African abalone, Haliotis midae L.

A pH-stat multienzyme in vitro digestibility assay was investigated for its efficacy in predicting apparent protein digestibility coefficients in abalone diets. Linear regression analysis between in vitro digestibility estimates and in vivo digestibility coefficients obtained from abalone, revealed that the technique could be used to reliably predict apparent protein digestibility. Maximal predictability of the system was obtained when protein sources were analysed according to origin – animal or plant. The technique was used to assess the apparent protein digestibility of 34 potential protein sources for use in formulated feeds for Haliotis midae .     

Growth performance of weaning red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) fed with Macrocystis pyrifera plantlets and Porphyra columbina compared with a formulated diet

A feeding experiment was carried out to evaluate two natural diets versus a formulated feed on the performance of weaning red abalone Haliotis rufescens . Four treatment diets were then investigated: a formulated diet; plantlets from culture Macrocystis pyrifera, Porphyra columbina from natural beds; and a mixed diet consisting of a blend of fresh P. columbina together with the formulated diet. This study was performed in a shallow aquaculture system with a horizontal water flow. After 90 days, significant differences were observed between treatments. The highest growth was obtained with Porphyra (3.3 mm month⁻¹), followed by the mixed diet (2.6 mm month⁻¹), then Macrocystis (2.1 mm month⁻¹) and lastly the formulated diet (1.4 mm month⁻¹). Moreover, after the diets were tested for stability and remnant nutrients after a 12-h water immersion, a positive trend appeared to be related to the protein/energy (P:E). It is concluded that fronds of P. columbina resulted in the best diet for weaning H. rufescens under horizontal water flow systems, even if apparently the water stability of the formulated diet had a negative impact on abalone performance, particularly due to a poor nutrient retention capacity. Therefore, formulated diets should be improved before being recommended for weaning red abalone.     

A novel konjac glucomannan–xanthan gum binder for aquaculture feeds: the effect of binder configuration on formulated feed stability,feed palatability and growth performance of the Japanese abalone,Haliotis discus hannai

As part of a programme to develop sustainable diets for macroalgivores, a 3‐month experiment was conducted to determine the effects of konjac glucomannan–xanthan gum (KX) binder configuration on formulated feed stability, feed palatability and growth performance of juvenile, hatchery‐reared, Haliotis discus hannai. This study was conducted in a recirculation facility in which four KX binder configurations were evaluated in a series of isonitrogenous experimental feeds and freshly harvested Laminaria digitata was included as a natural feed type. Dry matter leaching of the experimental feed treatments was assessed with no significant difference in the dry matter leaching between treatments observed. No differences (P > 0.05) were found in percentage survival, daily food consumption (DFC) and linear growth rate (LGR) between treatments. Food conversion efficiency (FCE), specific growth rate (SGR) and body weight/shell length (BW/SL) ratio were significantly higher when offered L. digitata. Trends showed that the best performing KX feed in terms of FCE, LGR, SGR and BW/SL ratio was produced with the 2% KX; 1 : 1 binder.     

Growth of the abalone Haliotis diversicolor (Reeve) fed with macroalgae in floating net cage and plastic tank

The abalone Haliotis diversicolor (Reeve) or ‘tokobushi’ is being cultured in Kagoshima, southern Japan for stock enhancement of fishing grounds. However, with decreasing catches from the wild some fishermen's group may eventually resort to rearing tokobushi until of marketable size. Growth experiments of tokobushi fed macroalgae in floating net cage and plastic tanks were conducted to evaluate the influence of culture system, macroalgal food, age and water temperature on their culture. In floating net cage, marketable sizes were obtained at the age of 457–822‐day old (15–27‐month old) with highest growth rate of 2.36% g day^?1 and 0.21 mm day^?1. One advantage of the plastic tank culture system was that the tokobushi shell remained clean throughout the culture period. Macroalgal food affected the growth rate; Sargassum fusiforme (Setchell)‐ and Ulva pertusa (Kjellman)‐fed tokobushi were better than Meristotheca papulosa (Montagne)‐fed. Further, 1‐year‐old tokobushi had better growth performance and condition index than the 2‐year‐old cohort, and growth rates were higher at 17°C than at 12°C. These findings should help tokobushi farmers design their mariculture scheme considering both economic and environmental aspects.     

Comparison of taste components in cooked meats of small abalone fed different diets

ABSTRACT: Differences in taste preference and the levels of extractive components and glycogen were compared between cooked meats of small abalone Haliotis diversicolor fed either gracilar (G-small abalone) or an artificial diet (A-small abalone). Using sensory tests, taste preference of cooked meats was significantly higher for A-small abalone than for G-small abalone. Results of clustering analysis and principal component analysis of chemical data also revealed that the two cooked meats differed from each other in terms of their measured constituent compositions irrespective of sampling periods. Compared with G-small abalone, A-small abalone meats were lower in taurine and arginine, but higher in glycine (Gly), glutamic acid (Glu), alanine, serine, proline, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and glycogen. It is concluded that the discrepancy in the levels of taste-active components of abalone, such as Gly, Glu, and AMP, is likely to be responsible for the differences in taste preference between G- and A-small abalone cooked meats.     

An assessment of the efficacy of two lysine microencapsulation techniques to determine the quantitative lysine requirement of the South African abalone, Haliotis midae L.

The quantification of the essential amino acid requirements of a species is a prerequisite to the formulation of biologically optimized diets. In this study, crystalline L -lysine was used in an attempt to determine the quantitative lysine requirement of juvenile Haliotis midae . Two microencapsulation techniques [gelatine/acacia and cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP)] were used to retard leaching of crystalline L -lysine incorporated into semipurified test diets. An assessment of the efficacy of the encapsulation techniques, revealed that despite effective lysine supplementation, H. midae fed semipurified test diets containing encapsulated crystalline L -lysine failed to promote significant improvements in either growth, feed or protein efficiency ( P  > 0.05). The failure of the crystalline L -lysine to illicit growth and nutritional responses is discussed.     

Seasonal variations of chemical constituents in the muscle and viscera of small abalone fed different diets

SUMMARY: The seasonal changes in levels of chemical constituents in the muscle and viscera of small abalone Haliotis diversicolor fed gracilar and an artificial diet were investigated. Muscle yields were higher in winter and spring. In October specimens, total adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-related compounds (ARC), total free amino acids (FAA), and glycogen in both muscle and viscera decreased markedly. The artificial diet fed to small abalone had much higher glycogen in the muscle than those fed on gracilar, and showed a great seasonal change. Total amounts of ARC in the muscles were higher through March to July, while those in the viscera were maximal in January. Taurine, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, and alanine were the major FAA in both tissues, accounting for 81–94% of the total FAA. Total amounts of FAA in the muscles were higher in the samples collected from winter and early spring than in other seasons. Glycine, glutamic acid, and adenosine monophosphate might be the most important taste components related to the palatability of small abalone. Their total amounts in the muscles of the two specimens were considerably high in December to March. This finding suggested that small abalone produced in winter and early spring might be more palatable.     

Using micro particle diets to replace diatoms for feeding postlarval abalone Haliotis discus discus (Reeve.)

Feeding artificial micro diets instead of diatoms may allow a more constant and controlled form of nutrition, and thus results in lower mortality rate and increased growth. A 4-week trial was conducted to determine the growth and survival of postlarval Haliotis discus discus (Reeve.) postlarvae fed three experimental micro particle diets, and naturally occurring diatoms. A completely randomized design was adopted with each diet being replicated three times. All diets varied in terms of particle size and gross composition. Survival rate was significantly lower ( P  < 0.05) in the diatom diet (19.5 ± 2.1%) when compared with the K-1 diet (38.8 ± 8.9%), the K-2 diet (43.7 ± 5.6%) and the MD-Q diet (44.2 ± 14.8%). The size of postlarvae fed the four diets was not significantly different ( P  > 0.05). There was also little difference in the daily growth rate. Based on the results of this work for the preliminary implementation of artificial food as a replacement diet for diatoms, it seems that postlarval H . discus discus readily consumes artificial micro particle diets and has a superior survival rate when compared to that of diatoms.     

健康和患病稚黑鲍中微生物产胞外酶的分析比较

2005年初自福建漳浦鲍鱼场患病以及健康稚黑鲍中各分离到27和56株异养细菌,在此基础上研究了它们产胞外蛋白酶、淀粉酶、明胶酶、磷脂酶及溶血能力。结果表明,虽然来自健康鲍的菌株产胞外酶的数量明显大于来自病鲍的菌株,但来自病鲍的菌株具有强分泌胞外酶能力的比例明显大于来自于健康鲍的菌株。综合考虑每一种胞外酶的潜在致病作用,以及菌株分泌多种胞外酶的能力,最后确认10株菌为潜在的致病菌。     

中国海耳鲍成熟卵的超微结构

利用光学和电子显微镜对耳鲍排出体外成熟卵的形态及超微结构进行了观察。耳鲍成熟卵具有卵胶质膜、卵黄膜和细胞膜;卵质中含有线粒体、核糖体、内质网及高尔基体等细胞器;还含有高电子密度的分泌颗粒和吞饮小泡。皮层中含有皮质小泡,但未发现中心粒。耳鲍成熟卵没有明显的卵极标志,卵黄颗粒分布较均匀。