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Wild female Crassostrea corteziensis oyster (n=245) were analyzed over one year to understand the main ecophysiological events associated to gonad development. Different indicators (mainly biochemical) were analyzed to infer: i) utilization and accumulation of energy reserves (e.g. neutral lipids, carbohydrates, proteins; vitellogenin), ii) membrane components provided by the diet as essential nutrients and indicative of cell proliferation (e.g. highly unsaturated fatty acids linked to phospholipids, sterols), iii) indicators of food availability (chlorophyll a in water, pigments in tissues, specific fatty acids and sterols), iv) gonad development (e.g. gonad coverage area, vitellin). A PCA analysis was applied to 269 measured variables. The first PC (PC1) was composed of total carbohydrate and lipid concentration, percentage of esterified sterols, fatty acids specific of diatoms; 16:1n-7/16:0, 20:5n-3 in neutral lipids with positive loadings and non methylene-interrupted fatty acids (NMI) in neutral lipids with negative loadings. The second PC (PC2) was composed of 18:4n-3 in lipid reserves and the concentration of zeaxanthin, a pigment typical of cyanobacteria with positive loadings and the proportion of 20:4n-6 in polar lipids with negative loading. The third PC (PC3) was composed of gonad coverage area (GCA) and the concentration of vitellin. Variation in GCA confirms that gonad development began in April with an extended period of spawning and rematuration from April to November. The PCA further shows that a second period of minimal maturation from November to March corresponds to the accumulation of reserves (PC1) together with an initial high availability of food (PC2) at the beginning of this period. These two periods are in accordance with the classical periods of allocation of energy to reserves followed by gonad development reported for several mollusks., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There is a worldwide interest in seahorse culture to protect wild populations from human predation for aquaria and to establish an industry in developing countries. This study was undertaken to gather information on the lipid and fatty acid status of wild caught seahorses to inform the development of aquarium diets. Brood size, lipid classes, fatty acids, and pigments were analyzed in newbornHippocampus erectusjuveniles from recently captured pregnant wild males during January–March 2009–2010. The lipids of newborn seahorses are composed of phospholipids (mean 75–80%), free cholesterol (8–10%), cholesterol esters (4–9%), and acylglycerides (3–11%). The main pigments were total carotenoids (mean 58–79 µg/g). The most abundant fatty acids in newborn seahorses were 22:6n-3 (21–27%) and 20:4n-6 (7–9%). Both were higher than levels reported in other seahorses. A factor analysis showed that PC1 (48.7% of variation) was composed of the three main highly unsaturated fatty acids: 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and a negative contribution of 22:6n-3. PC2 contributed 18:5n-3 and several branched fatty acids. PC3 contributed 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3. Each of these three components correlated with different environmental factors. The results suggested that high levels of 22:6n-3 rather than 20:5n-3 could increase juvenile survival and assist them to tolerate salinity changes better. The results also suggest that a diet of live prey enriched with 22:6n-3 would be likely to increase the growth and survival in captivity, at least for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two feeding systems for maturing oysters were compared, one a continuous feeding system and the other a batch system in which the whole microalgal ration was supplied once daily. The maturation diet consisted in Isochrysis galbana (T-ISO) complemented with an enriched lipid emulsion. Survival and growth did not differ between the feeding systems after 3 weeks of conditioning. Maturation, biochemical composition, fatty acids in membranes and reserves, digestive enzymes activities and immune parameters in Crassostrea corteziensis were analysed. Only oysters fed using the once-daily system had vitellogenic oocytes, whereas the gonad of oysters fed using a continuous-drip system remained immature. Total and differential haemocyte counts were similar between both the systems, but respiratory burst was significantly higher in oysters fed using the once-daily system. Amylase, lipase and trypsin activities in oyster's digestive gland were similar between both the feeding systems. Total lipids, however, differed significantly in oyster tissue in relation to feeding system, with highest level in those fed using the once-daily system, but fatty acid composition in reserves and membrane were similar. No differences were found for biochemical parameters in haemolymph. These results suggest that feeding oysters using a batch, once-daily system allows more rapid initial gonad maturation without affecting general physiological condition and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides some mammals and a few model organisms, the presence of genetic variation in ovary or gonad development at ages before that of reproduction has not been established for marine oviparous species nor has the correlation with reproductive traits at maturity. In this investigation, ovary development was evaluated for genetic variability in a full-sib family structured population of subadult shrimp. The numbers of each oocyte type that were present were counted, measured, and used to evaluate the following traits: total oocyte number, mean oocytes diameter, and ovary maturity (OM). The total ovary area was also measured for each female. Genetic variation was assessed through the estimation of the parameter ‘heritability’. The heritability ( h 2) of total number of oocytes was zero, but large heritability values were seen for mean oocytes diameter ( h 2=0.57±0.27) and OM ( h 2=0.71±0.26). Family means correlations between traits in subadults with traits measured in their full-sibs when adults (days to first spawn, total number of spawns, total fecundity, and fecundity at first spawn) indicated the existence of some significant associations between reproductive traits at the two ages. These findings point toward an early genetic determination of reproductive capacity in this crustacean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on the different criteria currently used to assess offspring quality of penaeid shrimp and the factors that affect this characteristic. The term ‘larval quality’ generally refers to the physiological condition of the larvae and is related to survival and growth rates during several larval developmental stages. The criteria fit into five general categories, depending on the approach used: biochemical, morphological, behavioral, production and survival to stress tests. Several variables at the broodstock management level are known or suspected to affect larval quality. These include variables that can be more easily controlled by producers or researchers than others. Broodstock nutrition is probably the best reviewed aspect and is supported by many papers on the metabolism of several components during maturation, use of fresh vs. artificial food and specific requirements of particular components, such as lipids and vitamins. Endocrine control of reproduction has been widely studied in crustaceans. Eyestalk ablation still represents the most commonly used endocrine manipulation to induce maturation and spawning. Other alternatives are considered although few evaluate larval quality and none has been used in production. More recently, the use of captive broodstock and genetic improvement programs have gained importance. The effect of other biological characteristics of shrimp, such as age and size, season of the year when induced to intensive maturation conditions, time spent in maturation tanks and consecutive spawnings are also considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract For production of shrimp larvae in a commercial hatchery, multiple spawning of females is highly desirable, provided spawn quality is not affected. Using biochemical and production approaches, 349 females were individually followed, and 69 spawns were sampled over a 3-month period. The quantity of eggs and nauplii per spawn was greater in females with multiple spawns. Several indicators of spawn quality, such as fertilization and hatching rates, per cent of viable spawns, and morphometric characteristics of eggs and nauplii were not affected by consecutive spawns. Analyses of egg and nauplii biochemical composition indicate that adequate transfer of nutrients to eggs is not compromised with successive rematurations and spawnings. Strategies that focus on the selection of shrimp with multiple spawning capacities could be a promising approach to increasing larvae production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n−6) is essential for oysters and has been implicated in reproduction and immune response of different mollusk species, probably by modulating the levels of prostaglandins. We tested the effect of dietary ARA on reproduction, PGE2 levels, and some immune variables in Crassostrea corteziensis. Oysters were fed Isochrysis affinis galbana, clone Tahiti (T-iso) for three weeks, which has low ARA and high DHA (22:6n−3) levels and that was supplemented with 0, 1 and 9% ARA-rich lipid emulsions at 10% of algal dry weight biomass using a once-daily batch system to supply the microalgae. Survival and growth were not affected by the ARA enrichment. More gonadic tissue was found in oysters fed 1% ARA but oysters fed the 9% ARA were in a more advanced stage of maturation. ARA-enrichment did not affect fatty acid concentration in membrane phospholipids, but ARA concentration was higher in triacylglycerols of oysters fed 9% ARA compared to 0% ARA diet. PGE2 and/or PGF1α concentration was higher in oysters fed the 9% ARA diet. Total hemocyte count was not affected by ARA enrichment, but the proportion of granulocytes and the superoxide anion activity (SOA) in relation to total hemocyte count were higher in oysters fed the 1% ARA diet. These results suggest that feeding moderate levels of ARA to oysters can boost immune system response and oocyte production. However, high levels of ARA favor final maturation and advanced stages of vitellogenesis but possibly at the expense of immune response. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]