Genetic diversity,phylogenetic position and morphometric analysis of Astacus colchicus (Decapoda,Astacidae): a new insight into Eastern European crayfish fauna

The phylogeny of European crayfish fauna, especially with respect to Eastern European species, is still far from being completely resolved. To fill this gap, we analyzed most of the European crayfish species focusing on the phylogenetic position of the endemic crayfish Astacus colchicus, inhabiting Georgia. Three mitochondrial and one nuclear marker were used to study evolutionary relationships among European crayfish species, resulting in the unique phylogenetic position of A. colchicus indicating independent species status to A. astacus. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a deep molecular divergence of A. colchicus in comparison to A. astacus (6.5–10.9% in mtDNA and 1.1% in nDNA) as well as to Pontastacus leptodactylus and P. pachypus (5.5–10.0% in mtDNA and 1.4–2.4% in nDNA). Absent ventral process on second male pleopod and abdominal somites II and III with pleura rounded lacking prominent spines clearly indicate taxonomic assignment to the genus Astacus; however, the species is distributed almost in the middle of Ponto-Caspian area typical by occurrence of the genus Pontastacus. Several morphological indices linked to head length, carapace, and total body length and width were found to demonstrate apparent differences between A. colchicus and A. astacus. Although this study provides a novel insight into European crayfish phylogeography, we also point out the gaps in comprehensive study of the P. leptodactylus species complex, which could reveal details about the potential species status of particular species and subspecies within this genus.     

Response of crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, haemocytes infected by white spot syndrome virus

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a serious pathogen of aquatic crustaceans. Little is known about its transmission in vivo and the immune reaction of its hosts. In this study, the circulating haemocytes of crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, infected by WSSV, and primary haemocyte cultures inoculated with WSSV, were collected and observed by transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy following in situ hybridization. In ultra-thin sections of infected haemocytes, the enveloped virions were seen to be phagocytosed in the cytoplasm and no viral particles were observed in the nuclei. In situ hybridization with WSSV-specific probes also demonstrated that there were no specific positive signals present in the haemocytes. Conversely, strong specific positive signals showed that WSSV replicated in the nuclei of gill cells. As a control, the lymphoid organ of shrimp, Penaeus monodon, infected by WSSV was examined by in situ hybridization which showed that WSSV did not replicate within the tubules of the lymphoid organ. In contrast to previous studies, it is concluded that neither shrimp nor crayfish haemocytes support WSSV replication.     

CHANGES IN CRAWFISH PRODUCTION COSTS AND CURRENT PRODUCTION PRACTICES USED

Louisiana State University Agricultural Center cost estimates for single-crop crawfish production costs are analyzed for the period, 1991–2010, to determine changes in the cost components of Louisiana crawfish production. Fuel costs have contributed the most and fixed expenses the least to increased production costs, with total expenses per acre increasing by an average of 3.8% per year if land is not included and by 3.6% per year if land is included. Crawfish prices have varied greatly over the period, ranging from $0.50/lb in 1993 to $1.75/lb in 2000. Production practices used by Louisiana crawfish producers are highly variable, creating challenges for estimating representative production cost estimates.     

Relative impacts of native and non‐native crayfish on shelter use by an indigenous benthic fish

• 1. The North American signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus has been widely introduced throughout Europe where it is expanding its range and in many areas replacing the native white‐clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. There is concern with regards to the impact of this species replacement on benthic fish. Interspecific behavioural interactions and competition for shelter between the benthic fish, bullhead Cottus gobio and A. pallipes and P. leniusculus were measured to assess the comparative impact of native and non‐native crayfish.
• 2. Both white‐clawed crayfish and signal crayfish were dominant over bullhead. Bullheads moved away from approaches of crayfish, left shelters on entry of crayfish and rarely entered an occupied shelter. Signal crayfish made significantly more aggressive approaches towards bullheads than white‐clawed crayfish.
• 3. Alone, bullheads spent most of their time by day under shelter (median 96%), reflecting a highly entrained behavioural response, which was relaxed by night (median 60%). Both crayfish species reduced shelter use by bullheads although the extent of shelter sharing by bullheads was higher in trials with white‐clawed crayfish than with signal crayfish.
• 4. Sampling in the River Wharfe, northern England, where signal and white‐clawed crayfish and bullhead currently exist, demonstrated a negative relationship between the densities of signal crayfish and bullhead, with high bullhead abundance where crayfish were absent or where white‐clawed crayfish were present at low density.
• 5. Assuming that shelter is sometimes limited under natural conditions, crayfish are likely to displace bullheads from shelters, which may increase predation risk for bullheads. Although the effects of signal crayfish on bullhead shelter use were more intense, the pattern was highly evident for the native white‐clawed crayfish. The higher fecundity and densities attained by signal crayfish may be more significant than differences in the behaviour of the two crayfish species in determining the impact of crayfish on bullheads.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic diversity and translocation in the marron, Cherax tenuimanus (Smith): implications for management and conservation

Approximately 440 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal ribose nucleic acid (rRNA) coding region were sequenced from 13 marron, Cherax tenuimanus (Smith), samples from six locations and samples of two additional Cherax species from Western Australia. The results indicated that, with the exception of the Margaret River, no variation was found within or between marron populations. In contrast, marron from the Margaret River were found to be polymorphic for two divergent haplotypes (2.76% divergence). These findings were consistent with allozyme data that highlight the general lack of genetic variability within and between populations of this species apart from the Margaret River stocks. The genetic polymorphisms in the Margaret River stocks contrasted with earlier studies and indicated the recent translocation and mixing of genetically differentiated stocks within this river system. The implications of these findings for the conservation and management of genetic diversity within marron are discussed.     

小龙虾扰动下水稻秸秆腐解及养分释放和表面结构变化特征

为探究持续泡水条件下小龙虾参与水稻秸秆腐解过程与特征,完善稻虾模式水稻秸秆还田技术、实现秸秆资源的高效利用及农田可持续发展,采用自制尼龙网箱法,在稻虾环沟模式的养殖沟内,以不养虾为对照,模拟研究小龙虾扰动下水稻秸秆的腐解特性、养分释放特征及其表面微观结构变化特点。结果显示,无论是否有小龙虾参与,水稻秸秆各时段平均腐解率表现出快—慢—快—慢—快的特点;150 d及以前,有虾处理与无虾处理各时段腐解量、累计腐解率和各时段平均腐解率差异均不显著,180 d及以后各指标均表现为有虾处理显著高于无虾处理,至210 d时,有虾处理水稻秸秆累计腐解率达85.67%,比无虾处理高出12.35百分点。秸秆养分累积释放率均表现为K>P>N;150 d及以后,有虾处理N累积释放率表现出高于无虾处理的趋势,180 d及以上,有虾处理P累积释放率和总养分累积释放率表现出高于无虾处理的趋势,至210 d,有虾处理K累积释放率表现出高于无虾处理的趋势。120 d及以后,有虾处理的秸秆表面结构受破坏程度明显大于无虾处理。结果表明,稻虾环沟模式下,小龙虾扰动能增加中后期水稻秸秆表面微观结构的受破坏程度,促进后期水稻秸秆腐解和养分释放。     

稻—小龙虾生态种养模式探析

稻—小龙虾生态种养模式是水产养殖业与种植业有机结合的一种生态农业生产模式,充分挖掘了稻田的生产力,提高了稻米质量,增加了经济效益,提高了农民种田的积极性,解决了农田撂荒的问题,保护了粮食安全。当前在湖南省甚至全国得到迅速推广和发展。本文介绍了稻—小龙虾模式的种类和田间种养技术流程,分析其经济效益、生态效益和社会效益,并探讨了农业监测系统在稻—小龙虾生态种养模式中的应用,以期为生态农业的现代化提供参考。     

采纳稻田综合种养模式能否提升农户效益?——以稻虾共作模式为例

为探究采纳稻田综合种养模式对农户效益的影响,基于2020年湖北省江汉平原地区调查数据,运用处理效应模型检验了采纳稻田综合种养模式对农户综合效益、经济效益、生态效益与社会效益的影响。结果表明:采纳稻田综合种养模式的农户具有较好的综合效益、经济效益和社会效益,但存在进一步拉大农户间效益差距的可能,且对农户生态效益的影响不显著;在异质性分析上,采纳稻田综合种养模式对不同规模和不同年龄农户的综合效益影响存在差异。由此提出如下建议,加强技术培训,完善绿色产品市场机制,引导农户绿色生产,有效识别不同群体农户的需求差异,在实现综合效益提升的同时,缩小农户内部效益差距。     

世界淡水螯虾的分布与产业发展

淡水螯虾有540多种,在世界各地分布广泛,除非洲、南极洲之外均有自然分布。许多淡水螯虾种类例如克氏原螯虾、红螯螯虾、麦龙螯虾、雅氏螯虾、贵族螯虾和土耳其螯虾等经济价值较高,并有着多年的开发利用历史。淡水螯虾的生产主要有粗养、半精养以及精养等生产模式。我国以及许多欧美国家的淡水螯虾市场需求量较大,生产淡水螯虾利润较高。软壳淡水螯虾市场竞争力较强,产品供不应求,市场缺口较大。我国淡水螯虾分布广泛,产量巨大,而且其生产成本较低,在我国开展淡水螯虾的养殖尤其是软壳赘虾生产具有广阔的前景。     

克氏原螯虾-水稻连作对土壤微生物功能多样性的影响

为了研究克氏原螯虾-水稻连作对系统土壤微生物功能多样性的影响。分别选择克氏原螯虾-水稻连作塘、水稻田为研究对象,采用Biolog-ECO方法检测土壤样品中微生物对31种碳源的利用能力,研究克氏原螯虾-水稻连作田和单纯水稻田中微生物代谢活性及代谢多样性差异,并分析其影响因素。结果表明,克氏原螯虾-水稻连作田土壤中氮、磷、钾和有机质的含量和微生物代谢活性均显著低于水稻田,“虾-稻”连作田和水稻田土壤微生物代谢多样性间也存在显著差异(P<0.05)。冗余分析的结果表明,这种差异和土壤有机质含量具有显著的相关性(R²=0.814,P =0.001)。克氏原螯虾-水稻连作对土壤微生物功能多样性能够产生显著影响。肥料使用量的降低、使用方式的改变,特别是其中有机质含量的降低是造成影响的重要原因。