Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (Southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities

• 1. Razor clams are found in different habitats ranging from sheltered systems (e.g. lagoons and estuaries) to open coasts. They are distributed worldwide and comprise a small number of species of high economic value. Depending on the specific habitat and species exploited, different mechanical and hand‐harvesting techniques are employed. While the environmental effects resulting from mechanized methods have been described by several authors, the impacts caused by traditional hand‐harvesting methods remain unknown. Therefore, a study was undertaken in Ria Formosa lagoon (South of Portugal) addressing the environmental effects resulting from harvesting Solen marginatus with salt.
• 2. No significant impact on the sediment was found; the main effect was an increase in salinity after covering the area with salt, which decreased rapidly with the flood tide and after a few hours had returned to pre‐harvesting levels.
• 3. No effects on benthic communities were observed, with similar fluctuation patterns recorded in control and experimental areas, the observed differences being attributed to the natural variability of benthic populations.
• 4. Based on the results obtained in the present study, a razor clam fishery using salt in intertidal areas can be considered environmentally ‘friendly’.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

泥蚶促熟技术

将泥蚶放在对虾池中蓄养，其性成熟比放养在自然海区的提前3个月，此法提早并延长了泥蚶的繁殖期，是提高泥蚶苗种产量和经济效益的重要手段之一。     

Cryopreservation of trochophore larvae from the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria: Evaluation of the cryoprotectant toxicity,cooling rate and thawing temperature

Aquaculture of hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria is a $65 million industry along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico coast in the United States. The goal of this study was to develop a preliminary protocol to cryopreserve trochophore larvae of hard clams. The objectives were to evaluate the: 1) toxicity of cryoprotectants, including dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and glycerol, at 5, 10, 15 and 20% for exposure time of 1, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 min; 2) effects of cooling rates (5, 10, 20 and 30°C/min for the first trial; and 1, 3 and 5°C/min for second trial from 4 to ?80°C), thawing temperature (30, 40 and 50°C) and their interactions on post‐thaw viability. A basic protocol was concluded as: 15‐hr trochophore larvae mixed with DMSO or propylene glycol (5, 10%), equilibrated for 15 min, cooled in a programmable freezer from 4 to ?80°C at a cooling rate of 5°C/min and thawed at 50°C for 6 s. With this protocol, the immediate post‐thaw trochophore survival was 23 ± 14%, and survival to D‐stage was 27 ± 14%. This is the first report on larval cryopreservation in the hard clam and would have application for genetic breeding and seed production.     

电子束和γ射线辐照对象拔蚌品质影响的异同性研究

为探明电子束和γ射线辐照对象拔蚌理化指标和微生物影响的异同性,采用不同剂量的电子束(0、2.1、3.9、6.1、8.0 k Gy)和γ射线(0、2.1、4.2、6.3、8.4 k Gy)辐照真空包装象拔蚌,对其贮藏期内营养成分、p H值、生物胺、菌落总数进行测定。结果表明,利用一定剂量电子束和γ射线辐照均能有效降低象拔蚌的菌落总数,在12 d贮藏期内,2种辐照处理之间菌落总数随辐照剂量的变化趋势以及随贮藏天数的变化趋势无显著差异,其中γ射线的D10=3.2 k Gy,电子束的D10=3.1 k Gy;较之对照,电子束和γ射线辐照对象拔蚌蛋白质、灰分、脂肪和水分含量无显著影响;电子束辐照处理组的p H值在贮藏期内维持在6.80~6.94,而γ射线辐照处理组的p H值维持在6.68~6.92,较之对照组,2种射线辐照处理均可抑制贮藏期内象拔蚌p H值的下降;辐照处理组能够抑制生物胺总量的增长,但电子束和γ射线辐照处理之间,象拔蚌生物胺总量随辐照剂量的变化趋势以及随贮藏天数的变化趋势无显著差别。由此可知,电子束与γ射线辐照均具有应用于象拔蚌鲜食食品加工的潜力,这为辐照应用于象拔蚌提供了科学依据。     

Quantifying the impact of temperature variation on birnavirus transmission dynamics in hard clams Meretrix lusoria

Susceptibility of hard clams Meretrix lusoria to birnavirus (BV) infections caused by temperature variations, from a mechanistic perspective, has rarely been explored. We used a deterministic susceptible–infectious–mortality (SIM) model to derive temperature-dependent key epidemiologic parameters based on data sets of viral infections in hard clams subjected to acute temperature changes. To parameterize seasonal pattern dependence, we estimated monthly based cumulative mortality and basic reproduction numbers (R₀) between 1997 and 2017 by way of statistical analysis. Two alternative disease control models were also proposed to assess status of controlled temperature-mediated BV infection by using, respectively, control reproduction number (R_C)-control line criterion and removal strategy-based control measure. We showed that based on R_C-control strategy, when temperatures ranged from 15 to 26.8°C, proportion of susceptible hard clams removed should be at least 0.22%. Based on removal-control strategy, we found that by limiting pond water temperature to 25–30°C, together with increased removal rates and periods to remove hard clams, it is better to remove hard clams from June and August to reduce both mortality rate and spread of BV. Our results can be used to monitor BV transmission potential in hard clams that will contribute to government control strategy to eradicate future BV epidemics.     

3种壳色花纹文蛤常规营养成分分析与评价

本试验对红壳、黑斑、白壳3种壳色花纹文蛤的常规营养成分进行了检测,旨在分析和评价不同壳色花纹文蛤在营养价值上的差异。解剖取软体部,采用国家标准方法测定组织中水分、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪含量以及氨基酸、脂肪酸组成。结果表明:文蛤软体部鲜样中水分含量为81.15%~81.89%,粗蛋白质含量为9.23%~9.71%,粗脂肪含量为1.31%~1.91%,其上述常规营养成分的含量在3种文蛤中均不存在显著差异(P>0.10)。采用酸水解法,在3种文蛤软体部干样中均检测到17种氨基酸,其中总氨基酸(TAA)含量为42.95%~48.45%,鲜味氨基酸(DAA)含量为17.44%~20.88%,且DAA含量红壳文蛤有高于白壳文蛤的趋势(P<0.10);3种文蛤软体部中第一限制性氨基酸均为缬氨酸。在3种文蛤软体部干样中检测到22~23种脂肪酸,其中多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)含量为36.07%~39.55%,C20∶5(n-3)(EPA)含量为11.37%~12.87%,C22∶6(n-3)(DHA)含量为9.82%~12.44%,其中EPA含量红壳文蛤有高于白壳文蛤的趋势(P<0.10),DHA含量红壳文蛤有高于白壳文蛤和黑斑文蛤的趋势(P<0.10)。由此可见,本试验检测的3种文蛤营养价值均较高,其中以红壳文蛤最高,且其鲜味度最优。     

波纹巴非蛤活性肽的酶法提取及其抗氧化性研究

[目的]为波纹巴非蛤活性成分的提取分离及利用提供理论依据。[方法]以波纹巴非蛤为原料,采用木瓜蛋白酶水解法制备波纹巴非蛤活性肽复合物,并对所制备的活性肽复合物进行分离纯化,采用铁氰化钾法测定不同分子量区间的波纹巴非蛤活性肽复合物的抗氧化性。[结果]波纹巴非蛤活性肽复合物具有一定的还原能力,说明其具有一定的抗氧化活性;经2步葡聚糖凝胶色谱法结合双缩脲法和茚三酮法定性鉴定所得到的波纹巴非蛤活性肽的分子量多集中在2000～10000U之间,洗脱体积为30～50ml;波纹巴非蛤活性肽的抗氧化能力与其分子量大小有关,分子量为2065.4U的活性肽复合物抗氧化性最强。[结论]确定了抗氧化能力最强的波纹巴非蛤可溶性活性肽的分子量。     

Fatty acid composition of female and male clams (Ruditapes philippinarum): energy intake and temperature reliance

We analysed the effect of temperature, coupled with food ingestion rate (IR), on the fatty acid (FA) profile of female and male clams conditioned in two groups: L (low IR at 14 and 18 °C) and H (high IR at 18 and 22 °C). Significant differences for group L, both 18L and 14L with low IR and slow gonadal development, owed to differences in energy balance between 18L clams (negative energy balance) and 14L clams (positive energy balance). Plasmalogens (DMA 18:0) and non‐methylene‐interrupted FAs might protect against reactive oxygen species and preserve the integrity of the cell membranes during food stress in 18L clams. Differences in composition for group H, both 18H and 22H with high food intake, positive energetic balance and complete and similar gonadal occupation index (GOI), probably owed to the greater energy levels at 18 °C than at 22 °C. Clams at 22 °C H increased the oxidation of short‐chained PUFA 18:3ω3 and 18:3ω6 to maintain the same GOI as 18H clams. Regarding the sexual differences, the greater accumulation of 20:5ω3 and 20:4ω6 in females might be related with oocyte maturation and release during spawning, while the greatest levels of 22:6ω3 in males might be involved in spermatocyte membranes synthesis.     

Effect of neuroactive compounds on larval metamorphosis of New Zealand geoduck (Panopea zelandica)

We present here the first laboratory study on the effects of pharmacologically active compounds on the larval metamorphosis of the New Zealand geoduck, Panopea zelandica (Quoy and Gaimard, 1835). Two batches of competent hatchery‐reared larvae were exposed to acetylcholine chloride, epinephrine hydrochloride and excess potassium ions in the form of KCl and K₂SO₄. None of the tested chemicals increased the proportion of metamorphosed geoducks, and in some cases, the chemical caused significant mortality, despite having been used extensively with other species, such as mussels and oysters. This might indicate that geoduck larval physiology and development differs from other bivalves. Geoducks may have evolved distinct chemoreceptor patterns that facilitate metamorphosis under environmentally favourable conditions for subtidal soft sediment habitats suitable for burrowing. Thus, further research is needed to identify alternative cues (e.g. conspecific adults, sediment characteristics and surface biofilm) and understand their role in settlement and metamorphosis. This information will aid the design of reseeding methods and contribute to the development of reliable hatchery production of geoduck spat.     

Landscape Position, Local Environmental Factors, and the Structure of Molluscan Assemblages of Lakes

Biotic communities are structured by both regional processes (e.g., dispersal) and local environmental conditions (e.g., stress). We examined the relative importance of landscape position (position within the hydrologic flow system and distance from other lakes) and local environmental factors in determining the assemblage structure of lake-dwelling snails and fingernail clams in a boreal landscape. Both landscape position and local environmental factors were highly influential in structuring the molluscan assemblages. In canonical correspondence analysis, 53.6% of snail and 48.2% of fingernail clam assemblage composition were accounted for by both sets of variables. The pure effects of landscape position were higher than those of environmental variables, and a considerable amount of variability was shared by the two sets of variables. In regression analysis, 95.5% of snail and 62.2% of fingernail clam species richness was accounted for by the explanatory variable groups, with most of the variability being related to shared effects, followed by landscape position. The effects of landscape position on species composition suggest that passive dispersal increases the similarity of molluscan assemblages in adjacent lakes. This process does not lead to an overall homogenisation of assemblage composition across the landscape, however, because local conditions set a strong environmental filter, excluding species that arrive at an unsuitable lake. These environmental filters may reflect either extinction probability (area, productivity) or species niche differences (calcium levels, abiotic stress). Landscape position may also be important in maintaining the species richness of lake-dwelling molluscan assemblages. By providing potential colonists, nearby source lakes are likely to be important in countering local extinctions. Our test of the relative importance of landscape position and local drivers of assemblage structure was partly confounded by their co-variation. Nevertheless, studying the relationship between landscape position and local variables is useful because it can tell us about the importance of local and regional processes in shaping lake communities.