Reproductive biology of the female Japanese mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria (Stomatopoda) in relation to changes in the seasonal pattern of larval occurrence in Tokyo Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The reproductive traits and the monthly larval abundance of the mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, in 2002. The goal of the study was to elucidate the cause of changes in the monthly pattern of larval abundance from the 1980s to the 1990s as these changes relate to variation in the stock size of the adult shrimp. Oogenesis was divided into 10 stages by histological observation. The developmental stage of oocytes in an individual's ovary was synchronous, suggesting that almost all the oocytes in an ovary are spawned at the same time. The size at first maturity was estimated to be 7 ≤ body length ( BL ) < 8 cm. Fecundity was expressed as a function of BL , ranging from 19 300 eggs for 8 cm BL to 92 100 eggs for 14 cm BL . Small female shrimps (<10 cm BL ) spawned around August. Most large female shrimps (≥10 cm BL ) spawned around May, and some large female shrimps also spawned until September. Although most large female shrimps spawned in spring, the larval abundance was low before July and high from August onwards. The results suggest that a substantial decrease in the stock size of large individuals causes the low larval abundance before July.     

Demonstration of alternative feeds for the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, reared in low salinity waters of west Alabama

The replacement of marine proteins with vegetable proteins or terrestrial animal byproducts in aquaculture diets has been gaining momentum. This study examines the viability of replacing fish meal in shrimp production diets with alternative protein sources (combinations of vegetable proteins) in inland low salinity waters of west Alabama. The test diets were formulated to contain 36% protein and 8% lipid. The basal diet contained 10% fish meal. The fish meal was then replaced (on a weight to weight basis) with poultry meal (PM), pea meal or distiller's dried grain with solubles (DDGS). Two separate experiments (laboratory trial and farm trial) were devised to test the efficacy of the diets for Litopenaeus vannamei reared in low salinity waters. The laboratory trial was conducted at the E. W. Shell Fisheries Research Station in Auburn, Alabama, USA, whereas the farm trial examined the same diets in an outdoor flow-through system at a low salinity shrimp farm in west Alabama. Results indicate no significant differences in shrimp growth, weight gain, survival or feed conversion ratio among dietary treatments, suggesting that PM, pea meal and DDGS can serve as alternatives to fish meal as a protein source for shrimp reared in low salinity environments.     

Pigment deficiency correction in shrimp broodstock using Spirulina as a carotenoid source

In this study, an effort was made to cure the pigment deficiency syndrome (PDS) exhibited by pond‐reared Fenneropenaeus indicus (H.Milne Edwards) broodstock, using the blue‐green algae Spirulina as a carotenoid source in diet. The PDS symptoms included bleaching of ovary and reduced early larval performance. Biochemical analysis indicated reduced quantity of total carotenoids in egg and nauplii from the females with PDS. When PDS females were fed 30 g kg^?1Spirulina‐supplemented diet immediately after the appearance of symptoms, the egg and nauplii carotenoid values improved gradually and attained the pre‐PDS values after a minimum of 4 week period. Spirulina supplementation also improved significantly (P < 0.05) the spawn quality (hatch per spawn, nauplii per spawn, nauplii viability) and larval quality indices (P < 0.05). The egg and nauplii protein values exhibited a trend similar to carotenoids, confirming the influence of latter on protein stability previously reported by researchers. The study confirms the bioavailability of carotenoids from Spirulina to shrimp broodstock and recommends its regular inclusion in diet to preclude carotenoid deficiency‐related problems in shrimp hatcheries.     

Panagrellus redivivus mass produced on solid media as live food for Litopenaeus vannamei larvae

The free‐living soil nematode Panagrellus redivivus is well known to be an excellent food source for first feeding fish larvae. It represents an alternative to the highly expensive Artemia, which is commonly used. The lack of a proper method for mass production of P. redivivus has prevented its wider use in commercial hatcheries. A new cultivation method allows the production of a sufficient quantity of nematodes to deliver a standardized and permanently available live food of high quality, throughout the larval rearing period. In two experiments – carried out at the Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, Mexico – several feeding regimes were established to prove the quality of the mass produced P. redivivus for larvae of Litopenaeus vannamei, the Pacific white shrimp. Two different nematode treatments were compared with a no‐feed group and a control group that was fed with Artemia. All treatments had an additional algal co‐feed and were run in five replicates. Panagrellus redivivus was cultured on two different media (wheat/corn flour and oat flour) to compare these for their suitability as high‐quality live food for the larvae. Shrimp fed nematodes grown on wheat/corn medium reached the postlarval stage earlier than those from other treatments. The nematode treatments showed promising results; however, further research is needed on the development of improved culture media or enrichment methods to further increase the nutritional value of P. redivivus.     

Dietary potassium requirement of juvenile grass shrimp Penaeus monodon

ABSTRACT: A feeding trial was conducted to estimate the minimal dietary potassium (K) requirement for juvenile grass shrimp Penaeus monodon . Purified diets with seven levels (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0 g/100 g) of supplemental potassium were fed to P. monodon (mean initial weight 0.75 ± 0.01 g) for 8 weeks. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of shrimp. The rearing water contained 360 mg/L potassium. Weight gain and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of shrimp improved as dietary potassium supplementation level increased up to 1.5 g K/100 g diet and thereafter declined significantly ( P < 0.05). Feed efficiency (FE) of shrimp also showed a similar trend. However, whole body K concentration of the shrimp kept an increasing trend up to 2.0 g K/100 g diet. Analysis of the weight gain (percent) and PER of the shrimp by polynomial regression indicate that the minimal dietary potassium requirement in growing P. monodon is approximately 1.2 g/100 g.     

Dietary magnesium requirement and physiological responses of marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei reared in low salinity water

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the dietary magnesium (Mg) requirement and physiological responses of Litopenaeus vannamei in low salinity water of 2 g L^?1. Casein–gelatin‐based diets supplemented with seven levels of Mg (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, 6.4 and 8.0 g kg^?1) were fed to juvenile shrimp. Prior to the experiment, the postlarvae were gradually acclimated to the low salinity media and fed with a basal diet (0.5 g Mg kg^?1) for 2 weeks. After 8 weeks of feeding, survival ranged from 80.11% to 85.65% with no significant difference among the treatments. Hepatopancreas Mg²⁺‐ATPase and Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activities and muscle content of lipid and protein were not significantly affected by graded levels of Mg. The weight gain and mineral (calcium, potassium, sodium and total phosphorus) content of different tissues were significantly affected by dietary Mg levels, while there were no significant differences in ash and zinc content in tissues. The Mg content in tissues except hepatopancreas was maintained relatively constant regardless of dietary treatments. The dietary Mg requirement for optimal growth was 2.60–3.46 g Mg kg^?1 by using the polynomial regression analysis based on growth.     

Effect of culture system on the nutrition and growth performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed different diets

Two 8-week feeding trials were conducted with juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) to compare the growth and performance of animals fed a series of experimental and commercial pelleted shrimp and fish feeds and dietary feeding regimes within an indoor running-water culture system and an outdoor zero-water-exchange culture system. The best overall shrimp growth performance was observed for animals fed the experimental shrimp diet and all-day feeding regime under outdoor zero-water-exchange culture conditions. Final body weight and average weekly growth rate under these conditions were 2.8 and 3.4 times greater, respectively, than animals of similar size fed with the same diet under indoor running-water culture conditions. Although direct comparison between indoor and outdoor culture systems is difficult because of the lower indoor water temperatures, and consequently lower mean daily feed intake of animals, it is believed that the higher growth and feed performance of animals reared under outdoor `green-water' culture conditions was primarily due to their ability to obtain additional nutrients from food organisms endogenously produced within the zero-water-exchange culture system. The most promising features of zero-water-exchange culture systems are that they offer increased biosecurity, reduced feed costs and water use for the farmer, and by doing so provide a potential avenue of moving the shrimp culture industry along a path of greater sustainability and environmental compatibility.     

A review of extracellular virulence product of Vibrio species important in diseases of cultivated shrimp

Shrimp aquaculture is an important industry that experiences significant losses from Vibrio species, especially at the larval and juvenile stages. Proteinaceous virulence factors, including alkaline proteases, metalloproteases, cysteine proteases and alkaline serine proteases, have been identified as important elements in Vibrio pathogenesis. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the principal pathogenic Vibrio species in shrimp, with emphasis on relevant exotoxins and their modes of action, principal characteristics and molecular database. This pathogenic factors and their relation with other molecules produced by microorganisms may be help to understand the virulence mechanisms present in Vibrio strain.     

Haemolymph metabolic variables in relation to eyestalk ablation and gonad development of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Boone

The present study analyses some biochemical variables in haemolymph proposed as predictive indicators of the maturation capability following eyestalk ablation. Haemolymph of captive females was obtained before and 8 days after eyestalk ablation, and levels of haemocyanin, total proteins, glucose, lactate, cholesterol, triacylglycerides and vitellogenin were determined. Biochemical variables were also analysed in the hepatopancreas at the end of the experiment. Females were grouped as immature (previtellogenic stage) and mature (vitellogenic and cortical stages) based on histological analysis done 8 days after eyestalk ablation. To analyse haemolymph variables before eyestalk ablation in relation to maturation capability, immature females were classified as those with a low maturation capability and mature females as those with a high maturation capability. Females of high maturation capability had significantly higher vitellogenin levels before eyestalk ablation than females of low maturation capability. No significant differences were found for the other biochemical variables. Vitellogenin was also higher in mature than in immature females at the end of the experiment. These results indicate that vitellogenin levels in haemolymph could be used as possible predictive criteria of maturation capability, possibly because they reflect the degree of ovarian development at the time of eyestalk ablation.