Relationships between Octopus vulgaris landings and environmental factors in the northern Alboran Sea (Southwestern Mediterranean)

The relationships between environmental factors and fluctuations in Octopus vulgaris landings in the northern Alboran Sea are studied from 1987 to 2007. Landings during this period show both a long term decrease and a strong inter-annual variability. An exploratory phase revealed that local coastal temperatures and those averaged for the whole Alboran Sea during the previous year were the main factors controlling such variability. Warm anomalies have a detrimental effect on the octopus landings on the following year and this suggests that the decreasing trend in octopus landings could be partially linked to the long term warming observed in the Western Mediterranean. It is not yet clear which are the specific mechanisms linking warm anomalies to landing decrease. Nevertheless some hypotheses are proposed and a statistical model is developed for attempting to predict octopus landings one year ahead.     

Relationship between nutritional and rearing parameters of Octopus maya juveniles fed with different rations of crab paste

To study the effect of feed ration on rearing and nutritional conditions of Octopus maya juveniles (7–10 days old), two groups of octopuses were fed on 10% and 30% rations, using a crab paste agglutinated with gelatine, when compared to another control group fed ad libitum on crab muscle tissue. The agglutinated diet was well accepted by the octopuses at this early stage. When considered together, the marginally higher survival of the 30% group and probably higher levels of the other rearing performance parameters (growth and feeding rate) indicate that this feed ration is more adequate than a 10% feed ration for rearing O. maya under these conditions. Octopuses fed 30% also generally showed higher total energy per gram of arm tissue and oxygen consumption, as well as different proteolytic activity. In addition, the mentioned nutritional differences influenced by the feed ration were found to be statistically correlated to the promoted growth and the end survival and feeding rates.     

Evaluation of two anaesthetic agents and the passive integrated transponder tagging system in Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier 1797)

Octopus vulgaris is a species of demand in the market with the potential to diversify European aquaculture. However, this species develops complex social interactions under culture conditions, which may have negative effects on its growth, survival and profitability. In order to understand its behaviour under such conditions, individual tagging systems allow a careful evaluation of biological parameters, such as growth and longevity. The present work describes a combined protocol (anaesthetic and tagging) for implanting subcutaneous passive integrated transponder tags (PIT). The effect of two anaesthetic agents in facilitating octopus handling is assessed: clove oil at 20–40–100 mg L^?1 and ethanol (96%) at 1–1.5–2%. The most suitable body location of PIT tags, its effect on growth and mortality, the addition of a stitch and the PIT retention rate after 2 months in floating cages were evaluated. It was concluded that immersion in seawater with 1.5% of ethanol at 22.3±0.5 °C is a suitable anaesthetic for this species. The results showed that the best‐selected PIT body location was the upper left arm III. No effect of the PIT tagging system was found on growth and survival when tagged and untagged octopuses were compared. It was observed after 2 months that the stitch did not induce an increase in the retention rate and 81–100% tag retention regardless of the dietary treatment.     

High feeding and growth rates in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) fed formulated feeds with an improved amino acid profile and mixture of binders

Four semi‐moist formulated feeds were supplied to Octopus vulgaris subadults (664 ± 70 g; 18.4 ± 0.7°C) in two different experiments. In the experiment #1, two diets were prepared with a new mixture of binders (gelatine 150 g kg^?1, starch 100 g kg^?1 and gum 50 g kg^?1). The GEL15‐Squid and GEL15‐Hake feeds included 100 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried squid (Todarodes sagittatus) or hake (Merluccius sp.) respectively. Both feeds showed low water disintegration rates at 24 h (13.6–15.0% dry weight). The specific feeding rate was higher in animals fed GEL15‐Hake (2.7%BW day^?1), but the growth and feed efficiency were significantly better in animals fed GEL15‐Squid (1.4%BW day^?1 and 61.2% respectively; P < 0.05). The proximate composition of the digestive gland, carcass and whole animals was similar. In the experiment #2, the GEL15‐Squid amino acid profile was improved by replacing 50 g kg^?1 gelatine by 50 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried squid (GEL10‐Squid) or freeze‐dried fish (GEL10‐Fish). These feeds showed higher water disintegration rates (31.7–36.3% dry weight). The feeding rates (2.2–2.3%BW day^?1), growth (1.5%BW day^?1) and feed efficiency were similar for both diets. Total lipids were higher in the digestive gland and whole animals fed GEL10‐Fish diet (P < 0.05). Future effort could be directed towards alternative binders that allow improve amino acid balance with a minimum gelatine content or even supplementation trials including essential amino acids.     

耗氧率及溶氧胁迫对长蛸体内酶活力的影响

采用Winkler法测定水中溶氧含量,通过比较对照呼吸室与试验呼吸室水中溶解氧含量之差,测定长蛸(Octopus variabilisSasaki)耗氧率及窒息点,并在不同程度的溶氧胁迫下测定长蛸体内多种酶的活力变化。结果表明,长蛸耗氧率在一个昼夜内呈现低-高-低-高的趋势;耗氧率与水温(10~30℃)呈正相关,与pH值(6.40~9.20)呈负相关;随着盐度的升高(14~31),长蛸耗氧率表现为两头高、中间平稳,曲线呈凹状分布;雌性长蛸耗氧率高于雄性。窒息点随长蛸体重的增加而降低,平均体重为(30.50±6.03)g的长蛸窒息点为0.4179mg/L;平均体重为(54.50±4.65)g的长蛸窒息点为0.3902mg/L;平均体重为(97.00±11.36)g的长蛸窒息点为0.2738mg/L。随着溶氧胁迫程度的增加,LDH活力呈先升后降趋势,脂肪酶活力下降,SOD、POD、CAT、ACP、AKP和蛋白酶活力均呈降-升-降的趋势。     

真蛸孵化过程的初步研究

2007年4月-2008年5月,在嵊山后头湾养殖场进行了真蛸生态育苗试验,研究发现,不同成熟度的真蛸亲体,在卵巢的形状、大小以及卵细胞形态、色泽上有明显差异,并据此可划分为发育间期、成熟期和临产期3个时期。而孵化过程则可分为卵裂初期、＂红珠＂期、＂黒珠＂期及幼蛸出膜期4个阶段。在水温23-28℃、盐度28-31下孵化,约需32 d,孵化过程中受精卵的大小变化不明显,亲体有极强的护卵习性。     

长蛸脑显微结构及视腺的超微结构

为研究长蛸神经系统结构及神经调控机制,通过解剖学和石蜡组织切片技术对长蛸的脑部结构进行观察。结果显示,以食道为参照,根据所处位置将脑分为3部分:食道上神经团、食道下神经团以及位于食道上下神经团两侧的视叶区。食道上神经团包含垂直叶、上额叶、下额叶、前基底叶和后基底叶,食道下神经团包含腕叶、足叶、巨细胞叶、色素细胞叶、内脏叶、外套内脏叶和血管舒缩叶,视叶区包含视神经、视叶、视腺、嗅叶、脑脚叶和视神经束。采用石蜡组织切片、光镜和透射电镜技术对视腺进行显微和超显微结构观察,结果发现视腺外有一层结缔组织包裹,位于视神经束区上,与嗅叶和脑脚叶相邻;内部可观察到大量分泌细胞,细胞核较大,直径范围为4～8μm;分泌细胞含有丰富的粗面内质网、高尔基体及高尔基体分泌的分泌小泡与大泡。研究表明,长蛸视腺结构特征与曼氏无针乌贼和真蛸的高度相似。     

Analysis of bacterial community and bacterial nutritional enzyme activity associated with the digestive tract of wild Chilean octopus (Octopus mimus Gould, 1852)

Information on the bacterial community associated with octopus is very scarce, unlike fish and other molluscs. This study revealed the bacterial community associated with digestive tract of wild Chilean octopus Octopus mimus using a culture‐dependent method and 16S rDNA clone library. Moreover, we analysed the bacterial nutritional enzyme activity of culturable bacteria. A culture‐dependent method showed that the composition of the culturable bacterial community was substantially different between female and male octopus. The predominant species in female octopus were Vibrionaceae and Streptococcaceae, whereas only Vibrionaceae was dominated in male octopus. Bacterial nutritional enzyme activities of culturable bacteria from male octopus were much higher than female octopus. The 16S rDNA clone library analysis showed that the bacterial community of male octopus exhibited a higher diversity than that of female octopus. The genus Mycoplasma was the predominant bacteria in the digestive tract of all octopus samples. The results obtained in this study raise the possibility that each octopus has different food consumption due to different bacterial community and nutritional enzyme activity, although Mycoplasma sp. is one of the predominant bacteria in the digestive tract. Moreover, our results are useful for the future of microbiological investigation associated with the octopus and for probiotics in the octopus aquaculture.     

真蛸染色体核型分析

以东海沿海捕获的野生真蛸(Octopus sinensis)为实验材料,用含秋水仙素终浓度为0.005%的海水活体暂养的方法,取鳃和肾脏细胞,利用热滴片法制备染色体标本,对其核型进行分析。结果显示,真蛸的二倍体染色体条数为60条,核型公式为2n=14 m+26 sm+12 st+8 t,其染色体臂数(NF)为100。未发现带有随体和次溢痕的染色体和异型染色体,推断真蛸可能为常染色体性别决定类型。本研究可为蛸属的细胞遗传学研究及真蛸种质鉴定和资源保护提供基础资料和参考依据。