Modelling transport of chokka squid (Loligo reynaudii) paralarvae off South Africa: reviewing,testing and extending the ‘Westward Transport Hypothesis’

Annual landings of chokka squid (Loligo reynaudii), an important fishing resource for South Africa, fluctuate greatly, and are believed to be related to recruitment success. The ‘Westward Transport Hypothesis’ (WTH) attributes recruitment strength to variability in transport of newly hatched paralarvae from spawning grounds to the ‘cold ridge’ nursery region some 100–200 km to the west, where oceanographic conditions sustain high productivity. We used an individual‐based model (IBM) coupled with a 3‐D hydrodynamic model (ROMS) to test the WTH and assessed four factors that might influence successful transport – Release Area, Month, Specific Gravity (body density) and Diel Vertical Migration (DVM) – in numerical experiments that estimated successful transport of squid paralarvae to the cold ridge. A multifactor ANOVA was used to identify the primary determinants of transport success in the various experimental simulations. Among these, release area was found to be the most important, implying that adult spawning behaviour (i.e., birth site fidelity) may be more important than paralarval behaviour in determining paralarval transport variability. However, specific gravity and DVM were found to play a role by retaining paralarvae on the shelf and optimizing early transport, respectively. Upwelling events seem to facilitate transport by moving paralarvae higher in the water column and thus exposing them to faster surface currents.     

Amazon River water in the northeastern Caribbean Sea and its effect on larval reef fish assemblages during April 2009

During April to June 2009, a large bolus of Amazon River water impacted the northeastern Caribbean Sea. Shipboard observations collected near Saba Bank, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and the Anegada Passage showed low surface salinity (35.76 ± 0.05 Practical Salinity Unit (PSU)), elevated surface temperature (26.77 ± 0.14°C), high chlorophyll‐a (1.26 ± 0.21 mg m^?3) and high dissolved oxygen (4.90 ± 0.06 mL L^?1) in a 20‐ to 30‐m thick surface layer in the riverine plume. The water was ~1°C warmer, 1 PSU fresher, 0.3 mL L^?1 higher in oxygen and 1.2 mg m^?3 higher in chlorophyll‐a than Atlantic Ocean waters to the north, with Caribbean surface waters showing intermediate values. Plankton net tows obtained in the upper 100 m of the water column revealed larval fish assemblages within the plume that were significantly different from those of the surrounding waters and from those encountered in the area in previous years. The plume waters contained higher concentrations of mesopelagic fish larvae from the families Myctophidae and Nomeidae, which as adults typically inhabit offshore, deep water habitats. Concentrations of larvae from inshore and reef‐associated families such as Scaridae, Serranidae, Labridae and Clupeidae were lower than those found outside the plume in similar shallow areas, particularly in near‐surface waters. An event like the one observed in 2009 had not been documented in at least the past 30 yr, and yet it was followed by another similarly extreme event in 2010. The ecological implications, including any long‐term consequences of such recent extreme events, are important and merit further study.     

Incubation rate and larvae size of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus Borodin 1897) in relation to sperm restripping

In this study, 11 wild male brood fish were used and their mean ages were 15.08 ± 1.66. The luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue (LH‐RH‐A₂) was used to stimulate twice in few days interval (3–7 days) and then semen samples were stripped. The results showed that there was significant difference among the percentage of motile spermatozoa, sperm density and spermatocrit during two strippings (P < 0.05). The duration of sperm motility in first and second stripping was 315/83 ± 162.16 and 212.5 ± 110.53 s respectively. Also, sperm pH was 8.41 ± 0.53 and 8.05 ± 0.33 in first and second stripping respectively. There was significant differences between hatching rate, as well as larvae size significantly changed in both hatching and initiation of active feeding (P < 0.05).     

桑叶成熟度对洞庭原蚕生命力及F_1卵质的影响

为了解不同成熟度桑叶对洞庭原蚕生命力及其F_1卵质的影响,从4龄起至5龄见熟分别用适熟叶、嫩叶和老叶对洞庭原蚕进行饲养试验.结果表明,叶质对洞庭原蚕幼虫的生长发育情况、虫蛹生命力和F_1卵质等都有较大的影响.4～5龄期小蚕发生率、蚕期发病率和蔟中死蚕率老叶区分别是对照适熟叶区的1.85倍、2.08倍和1.81倍;4龄结茧率和4龄健蛹率老叶区分别较对照适熟叶区偏低2.91百分点和6.33百分点;老叶对F_1卵质的影响较小,单蛾产卵量和良卵数与对照适熟叶区差异不显著,但不受精卵率和死卵率高于对照,分别是适熟叶区的1.40倍和1.84倍.嫩叶对洞庭原蚕幼虫生长发育的影响较小,但对产卵量和卵质的影响较大,单蛾产卵量和良卵数显著低于对照,不受精卵率和死卵率分别是对照适熟叶区的2.83倍和2.46倍.洞庭原蚕以适龄适熟桑叶饲养成绩最好.     

珠江中下游鲴亚科鱼苗发生规律与年际变化

为了解珠江鱼类补充群体发生规律及资源量状况, 2005-2011年在珠江中下游肇庆江段设置定点采样点, 通过定量弶网连续采集漂流性鱼苗样品, 对珠江中下游鲴亚科(Xenocyprininae)鱼苗补充群体进行了调查研究。结果表明: 珠江中下游鲴亚科鱼苗稳定出现在4~10月, 每年持续(183±12) d, 平均出现率为40.1%。在5~8月伴随洪水过程有多个漂流高峰期, 鲴类鱼苗密度与径流之间显著正相关(n=876, P<0.01)。2007年鲴类鱼苗密度显著高于2009年(P=0.012)和2011年(P=0.009), 而与其他各年之间不存在显著性差异。鲴类鱼苗密度峰值出现时, 白天平均密度高于早上和晚上, 采样期间内整体3个时间段之间不存在显著性差异。鲴类鱼苗资源量总体呈现减少的趋势, 长洲水利枢纽可能是最主要影响因素, 建议其通过保证鱼道正常运行和生态调度两种途径减小对珠江中下游鱼类资源的影响。

     

Effects of Reduced Carbonate Saturation State on Early Development in the Common Edible Sea Urchin Lytechinus variegatus: Implications for Land-Based Aquaculture

Land-based aquaculture facilities often utilize additional bicarbonate sources such as commercial sea salts that are designed to boost alkalinity in order to buffer seawater against reductions in pH. Despite these preventative measures, many facilities are likely to face occasional reductions in pH and corresponding reductions in carbonate saturation states due to the accumulation of metabolic waste products. We investigated the impact of reduced carbonate saturation states (Ω_Ca, Ω_Ar) on embryonic developmental rates, larval developmental rates, and echinoplutei skeletal morphometrics in the common edible sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus under high alkalinity conditions. Commercial artificial seawater was bubbled with a mixture of air and CO₂ gas to reduce the carbonate saturation state. Rates of embryonic and larval development were significantly delayed in both the low and extreme low carbonate saturation state groups relative to the control at a given time. Although symmetry of overall skeletal body lengths was not affected, allometric relationships were significantly different between treatment groups. Larvae reared under ambient conditions had significantly greater postoral arm and overall body lengths relative to body lengths than larvae grown under extreme low carbonate saturation state conditions, indicating that extreme changes in the carbonate system affected not only developmental rates but also larval skeletal shape. Reduced rates of embryonic development and delayed and altered larval skeletal growth are likely to negatively impact larval culturing of L. variegatus in land-based, intensive culture situations where calcite and aragonite saturation states are lowered by the accumulation of metabolic waste products.     

An Analytical Model for Predicting the Carrying Capacity of Submerged Biofilters Used in Aquaculture

Laboratory data and information from the literature were used to develop an equation that models ammonia removal by submerged biofilters. The equation is based on the half-order/zero-order kinetics model and fixed biofilm nitrification, which indicates that the nitrification rate is a linear function of the ammonia concentration at ammonia concentrations <2.0 mg/l. Input data for the equation include easily gathered information of flow rate, biofilter size, maximum permissible ammonia level, biofilter influent and biofilter effluent ammonia concentrations, temperature, and ammonia production rate. The equation can be used to determine the carrying capacity of the submerged biofilters, to estimate biofilter sizes needed to support various fish loads, and to investigate the effects of changes in biofilter system parameters on carrying capacity. Comparisons of the predicted and actual carrying capacities of several experimental biofilters indicated that the equation accurately predicted carrying capacity under most conditions. Studies of the sensitivity of the equation to changes in system parameters demonstrated that flow rate limits biofilter performance and suggested an approach for determining cost-effective flow rates for biofilter operation.     

Development of Aquaculture Methods for Southern Flounder,Paralichthys lethostigma

ABSTRACT

A detailed spawning and larval rearing protocol for the production of southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, is presented. The protocol is based on the results of spawning, larval culture and fingerling production trials with the southern flounder, which were completed during 1998 and 1999. Seventy-six brood fish (0.1-3.8 kg) were collected from the wild, acclimated to captivity, and stocked in matura tion tanks. Sex ratio (male:female) was 1.1:1. Males (0.1-1.0 kg; mean = 0.5 kg±0.30 SD) were significantly smaller (P > 000.1) than females (0.5-3.8 kg; mean =1.8 kg±0.75 SD). Spermatogenesis was achieved using temperature manipulation during a 3-month period. Vitellogenesis was nearly completed when most females were caught, and final ovulation was accomplished using gonadotropin releasing hormone-analogue (GnRH-a) implants and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Eggs were obtained from both tank and strip spawnings. At 24-26°C, fertilized eggs hatched within 24-28 hours. Weaning to artificial diets was completed after 5 weeks, when metamorphosis was completed. Epizootics of Vibriosis and Amyloodinium ocellatum caused massive mortalities. Average survival rate from eggs to fully metamorphosed fingerlings was 30%, ranging from 5-40%. A total of 14,562 juveniles measuring 5 cm were produced in these experimental trials. Approximately 25% of the fingerlings exhibited pigment abnormalities known as hypomelanosis or pseudo-albinism on the dark side and hypermelanosis or ambicoloration on the blind side. Reversed asymmetry was observed in 5% of the fingerlings and a few individuals (0.02%) exhibited no ocular migration at all. A large size variation was observed during early larval development stages, with larger individuals growing faster through post-larval, juvenile, and adult stages. Results suggest that hatchery production of southern flounder fingerlings should rely on early culling of runts.     

A spatiotemporal study of bacterial community profiles associated with Atlantic bluefin tuna larvae,Thunnus thynnus L., in three Mediterranean hatcheries

During the first 2 years of larval rearing trials with Atlantic bluefin tuna, survival was a challenging issue. As bacterial colonization of the gut has been shown to play a key role for other species, we studied the profiles of the microbiota associated with individual larvae at different stages in three distant hatcheries. The Bacterial Community Profile (BCP) was quantified based on PCR‐DGGE analyses of partial amplicons from 16S rDNA. Considerable individual variability in BCP was observed before onset of feeding, and the BCP did not show regular fluctuation during ontogenesis. Microalgae were added to the rearing tanks in two of the three hatcheries, but it was not possible to distinguish the effect of location from the effect of algal addition on BCP. In one hatchery, the larvae were reared either with algal addition or in mesocosm, but due to high individual variability, no significant difference in BCP was detected between the two groups. It was hypothesized that this variability was caused by differences in health, physiological status and developmental stage of the larvae. A practical conclusion from the study is the need to analyse a considerable number of individuals to reflect statistically significant differences between the microbial communities associated with rearing groups.     

Usage of electrolytic water system in the giant freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) larval hatchery system

The purpose of this study was to use an electrolytic oxidizing (EO) water system in a prawn hatchery. The results of the EO water generation efficiency showed that available chlorine in the EO water increased as the salinity and electric power increased, but was reduced as the water flow rate increased. A bactericidal activity assay showed that the growth of six aquatic pathogens was well inhibited by incubation with EO water containing 1 mg L^?1 of available chlorine. The removal of NH₃‐N and NO₂‐N by electrolysis at 15‰ and 5 W had significant effects, and the removal rate of NO₂‐N was much faster than that of NH₃‐N. Prawn zoea (Z) reared in EO water with different levels of available chlorine at 0 (control), 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mg L^?1 had mortalities of 0%, 12%, 27% and 42%, respectively, after 72 h. However, Z were able to well survive in activated carbon‐treated EO water for 1 week. For the on‐farm use of the EO water system in a prawn hatchery, larvae in the EO water group had faster development and higher survival than those in the activated carbon group. From these results, we believe that the EO water group had excellent water quality and lower bacterial counts resulting in increased larval development and survival.