Artificial burrow preference by the Japanese crayfish Cambaroides japonicus

SUMMARY: Preference for artificial burrows by the endangered Japanese crayfish species Cambaroides japonicus was studied to improve its cultivation. The occupation of artificial burrows, which were made from straight polyvinyl chloride pipes of different internal diameters ( Y , mm), by crayfishes of different total lengths ( X , mm) was significantly ( P < 0.001, n = 56) described by a linear regression: Y = 0.49 X + 3.42 (19.0 ≤ X ≤ 70.2). Among burrows of different lengths [crayfish total length (TL) × 1, × 2, × 3, and × 4], crayfishes significantly preferred burrows that were greater than TL × 3 ( P < 0.001, n = 588).     

茭虾共作对土壤氮磷含量和茭白干物质积累及氮磷钾吸收分配的影响

为探究茭白种养模式的施肥策略,设置茭虾共作（ZC）、茭白单作（Z） 2个处理,研究茭虾共作对土壤氮磷含量、茭白产量和茭白干物质积累及氮磷钾吸收分配的影响。2021-2022年的研究结果显示,茭虾共作模式较茭白单作模式采茭期土壤中全氮、全磷、速效磷的含量分别提高了10.85%~38.89%、5.45%~13.79%、6.19%~61.79%,净茭产量提高了5.10%~19.54%,采茭期茭白茎、叶、净茭的干物质积累量分别增加14.41%~16.58%、10.28%~15.15%、10.57%~21.45%。2021年茭虾共作处理较茭白单作处理在采茭期叶的氮含量显著增加了25.74%,但在孕茭期茎中磷含量显著减少了16.76%;2022年氮肥减量、减量投喂下,茭虾共作处理较茭白单作处理在孕茭期茎的氮含量显著减少了23.75%,在分蘖期叶中磷含量显著减少了12.08%,2 a全生育期同一器官的钾含量在2个处理间差异不显著。对于养分积累,2021年茭虾共作处理在分蘖期叶的氮、磷、钾积累量较茭白单作处理分别减少26.04%、27.27%、30.11%,但在采茭期茎的氮、钾积累量和叶的氮、磷积累量较茭白单作处理分别增加18.80%、38.41%和44.77%、35.71%;2022年在氮肥减量、饲料减量投喂下,茭虾共作处理在采茭期叶的磷积累量和茎的钾积累量较茭白单作处理显著增加30.0%和30.77%。关于养分分配,2种处理的茭白在孕茭期和采茭期氮素的分配均以茎、叶为主,而磷、钾元素的分配均以茎为主,茎分配比例在42%~66%。对于养分转运,2021年2种处理茭白的根、茎、叶在氮、磷转运上大多为表现为“库”器官,而在钾转运上大多表现为“源”器官;2022年氮肥减量、减量投喂下,茭白的根、茎、叶在氮、磷、钾转运量上大多表现为“源”器官。因此,在茭虾共作模式中适当减少肥料、饲料的投入,能促进形成合理的源库关系,有利于茭白产量的形成。     

Intensive rearing of juvenile crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus,Astacidae) during the first 6 months: effects of size grading

Recent advances in crayfish feeding have enabled the development of size grading studies from the start of first‐feeding. A 180‐day experiment aimed at intensive rearing of Pacifastacus leniusculus was carried out under controlled conditions, evaluating the effects of size grading at two different periods from the onset of exogenous feeding. Stage 2 juveniles were stocked in fibreglass tanks at a density of 100 m², and fed a dry diet for salmonids combined with restricted amounts of Artemia cysts. Five groups were tested: no grading, grading at 60 days (large and small size) and grading at 100 days (large and small size). After 6 months, no significant differences were found in the survival among groups (mean: 73.06%). The highest final growth (pooled results from upper and lower classes: 17.39 mm carapace length, 1.43 g weight) was achieved by the crayfish sorted at 60 days, showing significant differences from the ungraded group. Smaller crayfish graded at 60 days grew significantly faster than smaller crayfish graded at 100 days. The food conversion ratio was lower in the graded groups (mean: 2.64), showing significant differences from the ungraded group (3.23). This study shows that size grading allows a better performance and an improved feeding efficiency.     

养殖克氏原螯虾体内白斑综合征病毒的绝对定量分析

近年来克氏原螯虾的养殖受到WSSV的威胁,病毒在宿主组织中的绝对定量对于了解病毒的致病性具有重要意义,但克氏原螯虾组织中WSSV的绝对定量分布还有待研究。实验调查了湖北省5个主养区克氏原螯虾WSSV的感染率,结果表明80%以上克氏原螯虾都携带有WSSV。采用WSSV-VP28蛋白特异性抗体对克氏原螯虾提取蛋白进行Western Blot检测,在WSSV-PCR阳性样品中可检测到VP28特异性条带,在WSSV-PCR阴性样品中没有检测到相应条带。采用实验室建立的WSSV绝对定量PCR方法,对携带病毒的克氏原螯虾6个组织(鳃、胃、肠、血淋巴细胞、肝胰腺和心脏)进行检测。结果表明,在鳃、胃和肠可检测到较多病毒量(约108拷贝/mg),其次是血淋巴细胞(107拷贝/mg)、肝胰腺(106拷贝/mg),在心脏中病毒的含量最低(103拷贝/mg),表明病毒的复制存在组织特异性。结果显示WSSV主要存在于消化系统中,预示着克氏原螯虾可能主要在摄食过程中感染WSSV;不同地区克氏原螯虾组织病毒携带量表现出一定差异,预示着WSSV感染可能受到环境因素的影响。     

Conserving indigenous crayfish: stock assessment and habitat requirements in the threatened Austropotamobius italicus

• 1. As part of the Austropotamobius pallipes species complex, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is a species of community interest whose preservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) (Annex II, EU Habitats Directive). This study aimed at (1) assessing the conservation status of this threatened indigenous species by stock assessment in central Italy and (2) identifying some aspects of its elective habitat.
• 2. Surveys were conducted in nine streams harbouring A. italicus (streams WI) and in 10 streams where crayfish populations became extinct at least 5 years before the study (streams WO).
• 3. The results confirmed that A. italicus is a K‐selected species, with a relatively slow growth rate (males: 0.34; females: 0.37) and a long life expectancy (males: 8.2 years; females: 7.8 years). The extant populations are healthy, showing balanced sex‐ratios and well structured age‐class compositions. Mortality is mainly due to fishing, which is illegal in Tuscany.
• 4. Principal Components Analyses showed that the streams WI and WO differ in the abundance of allochthonous plant detritus but not in the taxonomic composition of their macroinvertebrate communities. Age classes were found to be spatially segregated, juveniles mainly using cobbles as substrates and adults seemingly avoiding them.
• 5. The loss of the pristine riverine landscape seems to have been responsible, together with illegal fishing, for the local extinction of the species. As a consequence, retaining, enhancing, and restoring the habitat and its complexity are required for the preservation of A. italicus.
• 6. The designation of SACs might help in this endeavour if accompanied by programmes aimed at publicizing the need for conservation of this species. Unfortunately, crayfish‐focused projects supported by LIFE in Italy since 1992 (4%) and the SACs involved (1.4%) have been relatively few, despite the poor conservation status of this species and its well recognized ecological role.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of density on growth and survival of juvenile Red Swamp Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard), reared under laboratory conditions

The aim of this study was to quantify the importance of population density on the growth and survival of juvenile red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard), and to understand the effects of density on both the period between moults and the increment per moult at high densities without food limitation. A laboratory experiment was performed to determine growth and survival of juvenile crayfish at five densities (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 crayfish m^?2). Density clearly affected crayfish growth. The impact of density on final weight was higher than on total length increase, growth rate and final length (FL) (by decreasing order of effect). When comparing minimum and maximum densities, we observed that FL suffered a 34% reduction. Number of moults, mean intermoult period (IP) and survival were not significantly affected by density. Our results indicated that the IP and the percentage of increment per moult are affected by the size of crayfish before moult and we provide equations for these relations. Our findings are relevant both for crayfish aquaculture management and for the management of wild or harvested rice‐field crayfish populations.     

液相色谱-原子荧光光谱联用检测小龙虾和鱼中不同形态砷的研究

采用液相色谱-氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法联用用技术对淡水鱼、海水鱼以及小龙虾样品建立相应的形态砷分析方法并对其含量进行了测定。对色谱条件、载流、载气流速、蠕动泵速、提取条件等进行优化,明确了4种砷形态化合物的分离条件。指出了此方法具有操作简便、灵敏度高、准确度高、干扰少、简便、快捷、需要样品量少等优点,可以对小龙虾和鱼样品中的砷形态进行定量分析。     

饲料中不同磷水平对红螯螯虾幼虾生长和体组成的影响

以秘鲁鱼粉、豆粕为蛋白源,鱼油和豆油为脂肪源,通过调节饲料中不同磷酸二氢钙水平形成7种不同磷水平(0.72%、0.85%、1.00%、1.16%、1.32%、1.47%和1.74%)的等氮等能饲料,并以此饲料投喂红螯螯虾幼虾(2.25±0.12)g8周。试验结果显示:饲料中不同磷水平对红螯螯虾幼虾的增重率、特定生长率、饲料系数和成活率都有一定的影响,增重率和特定生长率均随着磷水平的升高而升高,当总磷含量为1.34%时获得最佳特定生长率,而过高(1.74%)或过低(0.72%)的磷水平会显著影响幼虾的生长;饲料系数随磷水平的升高呈下降趋势;在1.00%～1.74%的磷水平之间成活率均为100%;随着磷水平的升高,全虾和肝胰脏粗脂肪含量逐渐降低,全虾粗灰分和总磷含量均逐渐升高,并且肌肉粗蛋白含量也呈一定的增长趋势;适宜的磷水平可以提高血浆碱性磷酸酶活性,而肝胰脏碱性磷酸酶活性随磷水平的升高而降低。综合幼虾的生长性能、营养成分等分析得出,体重在(2.25±0.12)g的红螯螯虾幼虾适宜的饲料总磷含量在1.32%～1.47%之间。     

Eco-phenotypic growth in juvenile smooth marron, Cherax cainii (Decapoda: Parastacidae)

Abstract  The smooth marron, Cherax cainii Austin, now occurs in regions of Western Australia that are warmer and drier than those of the natural distribution. Animals sourced along a south to north geographical axis decrease in body mass per unit length. Juveniles reared from gravid females sourced from four sites along this axis were raised in common laboratory conditions for 14 weeks. No differences between sites were observed in body mass, standardised for length, indicating that in situ differences are a phenotypic response to local conditions.     

Incisor ridge modification of the mandibles in freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus

The differences in the ridge structure of the mandibles of different size Astacus leptodactylus (32–80 mm carapace length, CL) were investigated. The results showed that a modification occurs with an increase in size in the incisor ridge of mandibles in A. leptodactylus. The results also showed that A. leptodactylus possesses four different types of ridge structure in the mandibles. These are: (1) Incisor ridge with big teeth (dentate crenate), (2) Blade-like incisor ridge with numerous small teeth, (3) Blade-like ridge (toothless), (4) Blunt ridge. In conclusion, it is thought that the incisor ridge modification of the mandibles may cause the difference in the food choice of different size A. leptodactylus, because, crayfish possessing different ridge structures of the mandible may probably feed on different type of food.