Importance of the relative levels of dietary arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid for culture performance of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae

The effect of different arachidonic acid (ARA) dietary contents at several dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels on the growth, survival and biochemical composition of gilthead seabream larvae was studied to better define the importance of this fatty acid as a function of EPA. Larvae of 18 days were fed one of the five isonitrogenous and isolipidic microdiets with three different EPA (0.3%, 2% and 4%) and ARA amounts (0.1%, 0.6% and 1.2%). Although a dietary increase in either ARA or EPA alone did not improve survival significantly, the increase in both fatty acids significantly enhanced growth and survival, suggesting an optimum dietary value of EPA:ARA close to 4:1.2. Dietary ARA was more efficiently incorporated into larval tissues than EPA. Increased dietary EPA or ARA contents reduced the incorporation of ARA or EPA into larval lipids, indicating their competition as substrates for different enzymes. The possible negative effect of further elevation of dietary ARA and its competition with EPA for phospholipids synthesis deserves further studies in marine fish larvae.     

Culture possibilities of the razor clam Ensis arcuatus (Pharidae: Bivalvia)

This study investigated razor clam Ensis arcuatus culture from larval rearing to commercial size to assess it's aquaculture potential. Broodstock was spawned several times in hatchery facilities to demonstrate that larval availability is not a constraint for hatchery production. Larval culture lasted 20 days, showing an average survival of 14.35%. The razor clam seed reached a size of 28.5 mm at 4 months. Seed culture is feasible; however, it is constrained by the fact that razor clams need to be buried. Higher survival was observed when culturing razor clam seed with a substrate (82–83%), irrespective of the substrate grain size, while containers held without a substrate showed a significantly lower survival (56.5%). We showed that it is possible to rear E. arcuatus juveniles in bottles, with survival as high as 94–95% being achieved. The length increase of the hatchery‐produced E. arcuatus over 600 days was described by the equation Ln L=4.5+(?141.17/t), where L is length in mm and t is time in days. On‐growing showed adequate survival rates and it took 2–3 years to reach commercial size.     

Modelling giant red shrimp larval dispersal in the Sardinian seas: density and connectivity scenarios

The connectivity and three‐dimensional (3D) dispersion of the larvae of giant red shrimp, potentially released from known spawning areas along the Sardinia slope in the western Mediterranean Sea, were assessed using Lagrangian simulations forced by a 3D submesoscale permitting a regional ocean model. Biophysical simulations using the hydrodynamic conditions of the year 2012 were run to track propagules released from known spawning areas during the spawning period (May to September). Passive transport (PT) and vertical migration (VM) scenarios were tested, each with two possible pelagic larval durations (PLDs) of 21 or 42 days. Dispersion of propagules in the PT and VM scenarios differed in terms of travelled distance, export out of the domain (larger for VM), and depth distribution (shallower and bimodal for VM due to the larger variability of encountered currents). Connectivity patterns were investigated among eight release areas, and four predetermined Eco‐Regions, and results showed strong connectivity among the North‐Western (NW), Western (W), and Southern (S) regions of Sardinia, whereas the Eastern region was more segregated. Differences in connectivity patterns among scenarios were related mainly to the tendency of greater retention of propagules in the release area for the PT scenarios. This finding, together with existing hypotheses of vertical migration likely occurring during first egg‐larval phases, suggest that the VM scenarios are the most probable of the two hypotheses tested. Strong connectivity between the W and S sides of Sardinia and the relative isolation of the E side could have significant implications for the protection of this important resource.     

Effect of different dietary microalgae combinations on growth and survival of black‐lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) larvae and the feasibility of replacing microalgae with a dietary lipid emulsion

A 10‐day experiment was performed to examine different mono, binary and ternary dietary combinations on survival and growth of D‐shaped and umbone black‐lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, larvae. The three tropical microalgae species were the flagellate Isochrysis galbana clone T. Iso (CS‐177) and diatoms Chaetoceros calcitrans (CS‐178) and Chaetoceros muelleri (CS‐176) which were fed to D‐shaped and umbone larvae at a density of 7000 and 14 000 cells mL^?1, respectively. A second experiment was performed to investigate the feasibility of replacing T. Iso with a lipid emulsion for both D‐shaped and umbone larvae for 10 and 12 days, respectively. The treatments included only T. Iso, unfed and lipid emulsion to substitute T. Iso at levels of 10% (LIP10), 30% (LIP30) and 100% (LIP100). In the first experiment, results showed that a monospecific diet of T. Iso led to significantly higher (P < 0.05) survival and growth of D‐shaped larvae than all the other treatments. Meanwhile, D‐shaped larval survival was significantly lower when only fed C. calcitrans as well as growth for those fed C. calcitrans or in combination with C. muelleri. However, for umbone larvae, survival and growth were significantly higher when fed a binary combination of T. Iso and C. muelleri or the ternary combination of T. Iso, C. muelleri and C. calcitrans compared with all other treatments. For the second experiment, results showed that with increasing lipid emulsion replacement, survival of both D‐shaped and umbone larvae significantly decreased (P < 0.05); however, the LIP100 treatment was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the unfed treatment. For D‐shaped larvae, no significant growth difference was detected (P > 0.05) between the T. Iso and LIP10 fed treatments while for umbone larvae, the T. Iso, LIP10 and LIP30 were not significantly different (P > 005). These results indicate that microalgae combinations appear more necessary for later staged P. margaritifera larvae. In addition, the use of a lipid emulsion appeared to provide some nutrition to the larvae, although more research should be conducted to improve the use of such replacements.     

Nutritional stimuli of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae by dietary fatty acids: effects on larval performance,gene expression and neurogenesis

The concept of nutritional programming raises the interesting possibility of directing specific metabolic pathways or functions in juvenile fish, for example, to improve the use of substitutes to fishmeal and oil, and hence to promote sustainability in aquaculture. The aim of the study was to determine effects of early nutritional stimuli of gilthead seabream larvae and check if nutritional programming of gilthead sea bream is possible between 16 days post hatching (dph) and 26 dph. A trial was conducted to determine the effects of early nutritional stimuli of gilthead seabream larvae. Five experimental microdiets (pellet size <250 μm) were formulated containing five different proportions of a marine lipid source rich in long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFA) and two vegetable lipid sources rich in linolenic and linoleic acids. The results of this study demonstrate that dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFA levels increased larval growth and survival affecting Δ6 desaturase gen (fads2) expression and retinal neurons density. However, the high mortalities obtained along on‐growing in fish fed low n‐3 LC‐PUFA at 16 dph constrained the feasibility of nutritional programming of gilthead seabream during this late developmental window and needs to be further investigated.     

墨西哥湾扇贝与华贵栉孔扇贝的远缘杂交

为进一步研究扇贝属间远缘杂交的可行性,以墨西哥湾扇贝(Argopecten irradians concentricus)与华贵栉孔扇贝(Chlamys nobilis)作为亲本,建立了两种扇贝的正交组MH、反交组HM、墨西哥湾扇贝自交组MM和华贵栉孔扇贝自交组HH。对各实验组的胚胎发育速度、受精率、孵化率、D形幼虫发生率和幼虫生长速度进行比较,分析了不同温度、盐度和精子浓度对各实验组配子亲和力及合子育性的影响,并尝试运用BP神经网络模型预测杂交组浮游幼虫的生长趋势。结果表明,两种扇贝的正反杂交均可获得早期杂交子代(F_1)。从胚胎发育情况看,正反杂交组幼虫发育到D形幼虫的时间均少于两个自交对照组;其受精率、孵化率、D形幼虫发生率也低于两个自交对照组;即使在不同温度、盐度和不同精子浓度下正反交组的受精率和孵化率也均低于两个自交组。从浮游幼虫生长情况看,正反交组D形幼虫的壳长和壳高均高于两个自交组,具有显著的差异性(P0.01),表现出较明显的杂种优势。运用BP神经网络模型对正反交组的浮游幼虫进行预测,其预测值与实测值的误差率均小于4%。     

安氏高原鳅胚胎和仔鱼发育的观察

通过人工授精获得受精卵,利用显微镜进行连续观察,并用数码相机拍照记录,对安氏高原鳅胚胎及仔鱼的发育特征进行了详细描述,并确定了到达各发育期所需的时间.成熟卵直径为0.87～1.05 mm,受精卵卵膜径为1.24～1.41 mm,微粘性.水温16.3～18.1 ℃,受精卵历时119 h 44 min孵出,所需积温为2083.4 ℃·h.受精卵发育的理论起始温度为4 ℃,发育所需的理论有效积温为1610.4 ℃·h.胚胎发育过程可划分为6个阶段,35个发育期.初孵仔鱼平均全长约为4.58 mm,仔鱼期历时28 d.     

Evaluating diel, ontogenetic and environmental effects on larval fish vertical distribution using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape

Changes in ichthyoplankton vertical distributions can have important consequences with respect to larval transport and survivorship, yet determining the relative importance of environmental influences on vertical migrations in a statistically meaningful framework remains challenging. Here we use Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) and Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) to model the vertical distribution of larval Urophycis regia collected over a 108-h time series on the Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf. Depth was the response variable weighted by two measures of larval abundance: concentrations (number 100 m⁻³) and proportions at depth. Mean and variance of depth were modeled as a function of time, wind stress, current velocity, water column stratification and ontogeny. Model results indicated a large effect of stage for both concentration- and proportion-based analyses. Subsequent and separate analyses on preflexion and postflexion U. regia indicated a differential response to the environmental parameters based on ontogeny. Model results suggested preflexion U. regia do not have a diel pattern in vertical distribution, but do avoid areas of high surface turbulence related to wind stress. In contrast, postflexion larvae have a significant diel pattern of vertical distribution mediated by surface turbulence (increased variance). The statistical approaches applied here offer the potential to evaluate the effect of multiple factors on vertical distribution and have provided significant insight into the factors that influence the vertical distribution of spotted hake larvae.     

Early development of the silver catfish Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Pisces:Heptapteridae) from the São Francisco River Basin, Brazil

The silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen , is endemic to North, Central and South America with high aquaculture potential and wide acceptance in the market. Breeder fish were subjected to induced reproduction through hypophysation using a crude common carp pituitary extract. Egg characteristics, oocyte surface ultrastructure and histology of larval ontogenesis until whole yolk resorption were described for the first time for this species. Oocytes and semen were obtained by manual extrusion, and fertilization was conducted using the dry method. After fertilization, eggs were kept in incubators at 24 °C. The embryonic development was monitored using a stereomicroscope every 10 min until hatching. To analyse the larval development, larvae samples were collected from incubators daily until the fifth day, fixed in Bouin's fluid and subjected to routine histological techniques. The oocyte extrusion occurred 8 h after the second hormone dose at 26 °C. The oocytes were spherical, non-adhesive and yellow, with a diameter of 1471.75±47.63 μm. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a thin jelly coat covering the zona radiata in the animal pole around the micropyle. The blastopore closure occurred within 8 h after fertilization, and the fertilization rate was 79.9±5.2% at 24 °C. Embryonic development was completed within 25 h 30 min after fertilization. The complete resorption of the yolk and the formation of the digestive system organs and the mouth opening occurred on the fifth day, indicating a need for exogenous feeding. The results of this study provide information important for improvement in R. quelen culture and management.     

金属离子Ni2+和Co2+对卤虫孵化率和变态率的影响

在去除重金属离子的天然海水中添加不同浓度的Ni^2 和Co^2 进行养殖实验，研究了Ni^2 和Co^2 对盐卤虫（Artemia saline)孵化率及变态率的影响。在试验过程中保持温度（27℃）、盐度（30‰）以及pH(=8)恒定。结果表明：当海水中Ni^2 和Co^2 浓度分别为40μg/L和30μg/L时对旧金山湾卤虫的孵化最为有利，当Ni^2 浓度为40μg/L,Co^2 浓度为40μg/L-50μg/L时对其发育变态最为有利。从而得出结论：当海水中Ni^2 浓度在40μg/L范围左右时可促进卤虫的孵化及变态发育，当海水中Co^2 浓度为30μg/L-50μg/L范围内时可促进卤虫的生长发育。