Low water exchange Gracilariopsis bailiniae Zhang & B.M. Xia culture in intensive milkfish culture effluents: effects of seaweed density on seaweed production and effluent treatment

This study tested the feasibility of a low-cost seaweed biofiltration system for pond-based aquaculture through an indoor-integrated fish-seaweed culture experiment using weekly nutrient supply regime and different seaweed stocking densities. The culture experiment was conducted in glass aquaria that were stocked with Gracilariopsis bailiniae at 3 densities (low = 0.5 kg m^?2, middle = 2 kg m^?2 and high = 3.5 kg m^?2) and provided either with effluents from intensive milkfish (Chanos chanos) culture or with effluent-free seawater (control) as nutrient source. Stocking density was used as a factor in optimizing nutrient availability for growth and nutrient removal under such low water exchange conditions. Our results showed that G. bailiniae cultivated in milkfish effluents had higher growth, biomass and nitrogen yields than those cultivated in effluent-free seawater. Among the different stocking densities tested, highest growth rate (1.03 % day^?1) was obtained in the middle density. Increasing biomass and nitrogen yields were also obtained at this density until the end of the culture period. Poorer growth rates at low and high stocking densities were attributed to light limitation from phytoplankton and self-shading, respectively. Due to seaweed treatment, average outflow concentration of NH₄ ⁺ was reduced from half of its pretreated level. This study showed that a weekly effluent supply at 2 kg m^?2 seaweed stocking density can sustainably support the growth of G. bailiniae as long as the dissolved nutrients are present at high levels.     

Neural networks in climate spatialization and their application in the agricultural zoning of climate risk for sunflower in different sowing dates

ABSTRACT

Sunflower is a species that is sensitive to local climate conditions. However, studies that use artificial neural networks (ANNs) to evaluate this influence and create tools such as agricultural zoning of climate risk (ZARC) have not been conducted for this species. Due to the importance of sunflower as a human food source and for biodiesel production, and also the necessity of conducting research to evaluate the suitability of this oleaginous species under different climatic conditions. Thus, we seek to construct a ZARC for sunflower in Brazil simulating sowing on different dates and using meteorological elements spatialized by ANNs. Climate data were used: air temperature (T), rainfall (P), relative air humidity (UR), solar radiation (MJ_m^?2_d^?1) and wind velocity (U²). Climatic regions considered suitable for the cultivation of sunflower had average annual values for T between 20 and 28°C, P between 500 and 1.500 mm per cycle, and soil water deficit (DEF) below 140 mm per cycle. A neural network is an efficient tool that can be used in spatialization of climate variables quickly and accurately. Sunflower sowing in the spring and summer are the ones that provide the largest suitable areas in southeastern Brazil, with 58.13 and 64.36% of suitable areas, respectively.     

The legacy of past disturbance: Chronic angling impairs long-term recovery of marine epibenthic communities from acute date-mussel harvesting

Two major concerns affect the way we perceive impacts: first, no ecosystem can still be considered pristine and second, stressors may interact. Untangling the effects of broad-scale anthropogenic stressors is complicated as appropriate unimpacted areas at relevant scales are usually unavailable for contrast with impacted regions. Although the perfect study design in the traditions of small-scale manipulative experiments may not always be possible, many human impacts and the mechanisms associated with ecosystem responses have been highlighted in literature allowing contrasting predictions on expected patterns to be tested. We applied such an approach to the Marine Protected Area of Bergeggi (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean). Our study aimed at assessing the effects of recreational angling (a presumed chronic stress) on the recovery of epibenthic communities following historical date-mussel harvesting (an extreme disturbance) by making and testing alternative predictions on the structure of epibenthic communities that should be apparent depending on the importance of specific mechanisms. Effects of date-mussel harvesting were still visible 20 years after its cessation, mostly because recovery is hampered by persistent sea-urchin grazing. We hypothesized that fish biomass removal by angling favours high sea urchin abundance. Based on these premises, we assembled information on angling pressure, sea urchin abundance and substratum cover by different trophic guilds to test our predictions. Our study indicates that the interaction between date-mussel harvesting and angling produced a shift, from autotrophic-dominated to consumer-dominated communities as a consequence of cascading trophic effects. Such an outcome implies that chronic recreation fishing pressure is blocking recovery in locations previously impacted by date-mussel harvesting. Testing predictions proved efficient in describing the interaction among stressors when system history is known and represents a valuable approach to provide scientifically sound insight for improved conservation management.     

Bacterial Change in the Gut and Hepatopancreas of Tiger Shrimp Reared in Bioaugmented System

The study was conducted in nine 150‐L capacity glass aquaria for 192 h to determine the changes in the microflora in the gut and hepatopancreas of tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, after bioaugmenting (water treatment and probiotics). Results showed that luminous bacterial counts were significantly lower in bioaugmented than in nonbioaugmented systems (range 0–5.9 × 10³ cfu/g and 0–3.2 × 10³ cfu/g in gut and hepatopancreas, respectively). Biochemical tests of isolates showed that the bioaugmented systems were dominated by Gram‐positive Bacillus and Streptococcus and the Gram‐negative Vibrio dominated the control. In water‐treated and probiotics‐fed bioaugmented system, the change in bacterial dominance to Bacillus became evident 2 h in the gut and 24 h in the hepatopancreas. Bacterial dominance shifted to Vibrio species after 120 h. Shrimp in the control were observed to become lethargic after 72 h as Vibrio species significantly increased in number. Dissolved oxygen and unionized ammonia levels were significantly lower in bioaugmented system compared with the control.     

The first record of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in the Philippines

A new and emerging disease is threatening the shrimp industry, a bacterial disease which contains a highly pathogenic plasmid, creating a deadly toxin that causes high mortality in shrimps. The disease has been identified as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or commonly known as early mortality syndrome (EMS). To help the efforts of sustaining the shrimp industry, the study focused on detecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing AHPND/EMS affecting Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) (Pacific white shrimp) and Penaeus monodon (Fabricius 1798) (Black Tiger shrimp) in different locations in the Philippines. The presence of the disease was determined by microbiological methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was confirmed by the histopathology of the hepatopancreas of infected shrimp. Results show that the prevalence of the pathogenic strain of V. parahaemolyticus from the shrimps collected were 33% in Luzon, 21% in Visayas and 5% in Mindanao. The study presents the first record of AHPND/EMS in the country. The detection of this newly emerging disease in the shrimp industry is very crucial as it is the first step in identifying affected sites towards strategizing ways to combat the disease.     

Combining geomorphologic,biological and accessibility values for marine natural heritage evaluation and conservation

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Effects of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) leaf protein concentrate as soybean protein replacement in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) postlarvae diet

The potential of water hyacinth leaf protein concentrate (WHLPC) as an alternative protein source to soybean meal in formulated diets for the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) postlarvae, was assessed. Isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated containing 40% protein and 8% lipid. WHLPC replaced 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% of soybean meal protein in the formulated diets. Twenty postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei weighing 5.0 ± 0.00032 mg were randomly assigned to twelve 30‐L aquarium tanks and were fed experimental diets for 70 days. Results show that the overall biological performance of shrimp in terms of specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed efficiency (FE) and survival in treatment receiving the 25% WHLPC replacement is comparable to that of the control diet. Replacement levels beyond 25% exhibited significant depression in terms of growth performance of the shrimp. Collectively, these findings indicate that WHLPC can replace 25% of soybean meal protein in the formulated diets of L. vannamei.     

Water quality and phytoplankton stability in response to application frequency of bioaugmentation agent in shrimp ponds

Splitting the recommended weekly dosage of bioaugmentation agent and applied at varying frequencies were tested to determine its effects on water quality and phytoplankton stability in tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) grow-out ponds. The supplier's recommended weekly dosage was followed but at varying application frequencies namely: once per week, twice per week, and four times per week for the duration of 120 culture days. A treatment with no bioaugmentation was added as control. Results showed that ammonia and particulate organic matter levels were significantly lower and plankton die-off was greatly minimized if the product was applied four times a week application compared with twice a week and weekly applications. Significant reduction in the number of luminous Vibrio species was observed in ponds with more frequent applications than those with less. For shrimp, survival and production were significantly higher in ponds with twice and four times per week applications compared to the weekly application and the control (P < 0.05). Results of this study indicate that splitting the weekly dosage of bioaugmentation agent and applying it four times per week is highly beneficial and ideal for shrimp culture.     

Evolution of the lowest amazon basin modeled from the integration of geological and SRTM topographic data

Morphologic features obtained from SRTM data, integrated with geologic information, are emphasized in this paper in order to provide the basis for understanding the development of the lowest Amazon drainage basin, focusing on the history of one of the largest Amazonian tributaries, the Tocantins River, and on the origin of the Marajó Island, throughout the Quaternary. This approach led to the recognition of a fan morphology related to the record of a tectonically controlled N/NW–S/SE orientated paleovalley cut down into Miocene and older rocks. The incised valley was fed by a paleo Tocantins River, which deposited its sediment load continuously to the north–northwest, reaching the Marajó Island and producing a deposit with a fan-morphology during the Plio–Pleistocene/Pleistocene. As characterized in the SRTM images, this channel system became abandoned due to capture by NE–SW orientated faults and establishment of the Pará River by W–E strike slip movements. This event, which probably took place in the Mid-Holocene, was responsible for the detachment of the Marajó Island from the mainland.