Morphological characterization and notes on the life cycle of a newly discovered variant of Loma salmonae (Putz, Hoffman & Dunbar) from a natural infection of chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

Two variants of Loma salmonae occur in net-pen reared chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. The typical variant (OA) has a host specificity for salmonids of the genus Oncorhynchus whereas the atypical variant (SV) has a host specificity for brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, and in this study, the ultrastructure of the two are compared. In fish at 8 weeks post-exposure xenomas of the SV variant have a very high proportion of mature spores compared with other developmental stages, while in xenomas of the OA variant there are fewer spores and many other developmental stages. Spores of the SV variant had up to 20 turns of their polar tube whereas those of the OA variant only had 17. Furthermore, the spores of the SV variant were significantly larger than those of the OA variant. The sporophorous vesicle for both variants appears to form around a sporogonial plasmodia, which results in many spores developing within the vesicle.     

Haemolymph metabolic variables in relation to eyestalk ablation and gonad development of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Boone

The present study analyses some biochemical variables in haemolymph proposed as predictive indicators of the maturation capability following eyestalk ablation. Haemolymph of captive females was obtained before and 8 days after eyestalk ablation, and levels of haemocyanin, total proteins, glucose, lactate, cholesterol, triacylglycerides and vitellogenin were determined. Biochemical variables were also analysed in the hepatopancreas at the end of the experiment. Females were grouped as immature (previtellogenic stage) and mature (vitellogenic and cortical stages) based on histological analysis done 8 days after eyestalk ablation. To analyse haemolymph variables before eyestalk ablation in relation to maturation capability, immature females were classified as those with a low maturation capability and mature females as those with a high maturation capability. Females of high maturation capability had significantly higher vitellogenin levels before eyestalk ablation than females of low maturation capability. No significant differences were found for the other biochemical variables. Vitellogenin was also higher in mature than in immature females at the end of the experiment. These results indicate that vitellogenin levels in haemolymph could be used as possible predictive criteria of maturation capability, possibly because they reflect the degree of ovarian development at the time of eyestalk ablation.     

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.     

The Irish sea trout enhancement programme: a review of the broodstock and ova production programmes

The Irish sea trout, Salmo trutta L., broodstock programme was instigated in response to the collapse of sea trout stocks in the west coast of Ireland in 1989 and 1990. Wild sea trout kelts and post-smolts were successfully reconditioned and used as broodstock to produce eyed ova for distribution to affected fisheries. From 1991 to 1999, a total of 8.2 million green ova from four separate stocks were produced. The number of females stripped increased from 34 in 1991 to a peak of 1435 in 1997. Green ova survival to the eyed ova stage ranged from 65 to 96%. The eyed ova produced were distributed to 23 affected fisheries along the west coast. The average cost per eyed ova decreased from €2.02 at the start of the programme to €0.04 at the end. The growth rates recorded for broodstock held in captivity were comparable with those recorded for wild sea trout. Relationships between fish size, egg size and number of eggs produced were examined for each stock and for each stock in each year. Significant positive relationships were found between fish size and egg number and fish size and egg size, with the exception of the first year in which fish were stripped, when a negative correlation between fish size and egg size was found.     

A comparison of artificial and natural foods and their combinations in the rearing of goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.)

Intensive grow‐out of goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), larvae and juveniles in closed systems requires the control of environmental conditions and feeding. This study investigates the use of different types of live food and combinations of live food and dry food in a series of four rearing experiments. Juvenile goldfish can be weaned from Artemia onto live food at about 24 days after the onset of feeding without causing a reduction in growth and survival. The replacement of Artemia by Daphnia at day 10 appears feasible, as growth and survival were not significantly affected. Fish fed decapsulated Artemia cysts grew better than fish fed live Artemia. Within the first 14 days, goldfish juveniles should be fed at least 155 cysts per fish per day to achieve fast growth and to minimize size variation.     

Effect of salinity on natural community and production of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone), within experimental zero-water exchange culture systems

Recent efforts have been made to culture marine shrimp in systems operating under low or zero‐water exchange and with decreased water salinity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of various salinity levels on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the natural community and, more particularly, ciliated protozoa, and compare this information with shrimp growth and survival. Tanks with 9‰ salinity were characterized by a higher pH, but also by a significantly higher concentration of chlorophyll a (Chl a) per weight of suspended matter (1.93 ± 0.72 µg Chl a/mg TSS) than tanks with 18‰ (1.29 ± 0.68 µg Chl a/mg TSS) or 36‰ (1.37 ± 0.61 µg Chl a/mg TSS) salinity. Concentrations of ciliates (max 6000 cells mL^?1) showed considerable fluctuations over the sampling period, reflecting the impact of water salinity, dynamic interactions between ciliates and their diverse roles within the shrimp production system. There was no significant difference between survival rates of shrimp reared at 9‰, 18‰ or 36‰, but decreasing salinity from 36‰ to 9‰ led to a significant decrease in final shrimp body weight (from 13.40 ± 0.26 g to 10.23 ± 2.72 g). Future work should address the potential of ciliates as an indicator of aquaculture water quality, as is currently being done in the wastewater industry, and the contribution of ciliates as food sources.     

Replacement of live food with a microbound diet in feeding Litopenaeus setiferus (Burkenroad) larvae

Microbound feeds have been well accepted by shrimps and farmers in many penaeid shrimp hatcheries. The present study focused on an adequate level of replacement of Artemia nauplii and microalgae by a microbound diet for rearing Litopenaeus setiferus (Burkenroad) larvae. A microbound diet (MBD) consisting of fishmeal, squid meal, shrimp meal, yeast meal and soybean meal was used. The first experiment was designed to obtain the optimum level of MBD to complete the live feeding schedule, from Protozoea (PZ_III) to Mysis (M_III). The experimental levels of the microbound diet tested were 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg MBD L^?1 day^?1. The next step was to determine the Artemia nauplii replacement level from PZ_I to M_III by MBD. These experiments were carried out either in the presence (Experiment 2) or in the absence of algae (Experiment 3). Four replacement levels were tested: 0% (4 mg MBD L^?1 day^?1: 1 Artemia nauplii mL^?1), 40% (5.5 mg MBD L^?1 day^?1: 0.6 Artemia nauplii), 60% (6.5 mg MBD L^?1 day^?1: 0.4 Artemia nauplii) and 100% (8 mg MBD L^?1 day^?1: 0 Artemia nauplii). In all experiments growth, survival, development, quality index (QI) and performance index (PI), were used to determine the optimum concentration of microbound diet. Results showed that 6 mg MBD L^?1 day^?1 can be recommended as a complement to live food for L. setiferus larvae from PZ_III to M_III. In the presence of algae, maximum growth and survival may be obtained in 40–60% (5.5–6.5 mg MBD L^?1 day^?1) of Artemia nauplii replacement levels. In the absence of algae, the Artemia nauplii replacement resulted in slower development, less salinity resistance, lower growth and lower survival than was obtained in larvae fed with algae.     

Microcystin production during algal bloom occurrence in Laguna de Bay, the Philippines

ABSTRACT:   The amount of microcystin in Microcystis aeruginosa bloom was investigated during the rainy season of 1999 in Laguna de Bay, the Philippines. Bloom samples taken from the West Bay and East Cove stations of the lake were studied in relation to the characteristics of environmental conditions. Four types of microcystins, microcystin-LR (MC-LR), microcystin-RR (MC-RR), 6(Z)-Adda-microcystin-RR, and 3-desmethylmicrocystin-LR were identified from the natural bloom samples among which MC-LR was the most dominant type of microcystin. Production of microcystin (88.6 µg/100 mg dried cells) was highest during the first sampling week that coincided with high water transparency and high conductivity. The occurrence of a strong typhoon during the second sampling week had changed the environment drastically, which was characterized by low water transparency, high turbidity, low water temperature, and with trace amounts of MC-LR detected at the East Cove station. Thus, toxin production over time as well as the relationship between Microcystis production and toxin concentration could not be fully evaluated.