Jian G. Qin

A single phase of food deprivation provoked compensatory growth in barramundi Lates calcarifer

Compensatory growth of juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch) was investigated at 28 °C for 8 weeks. Fish were divided into four feeding groups including one group with continuous feeding (C) and three other groups with food deprivation for 1 week (S1), 2 weeks (S2) and 3 weeks (S3), respectively. All starved fish resumed feeding in week 4. Changes in body weight, specific growth rate, feeding rate, food conversion efficiency and apparent digestion rate were examined weekly during the re-feeding period. Chemical compositions of fish were separately determined at the end of week 3 and week 8. Fish starved for 1 week reached the same weight as the control fish after re-feeding for 3 weeks, indicating that complete compensatory growth occurred. Although the specific growth rate in S2 or S3 fish was greater than that in the control fish after re-feeding, neither S2 nor S3 fish reached the same body weight of the control fish at the end. The feeding rates of S1, S2 and S3 fish were greater than those of control fish for a period of 2, 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. No significant differences in feeding rates were found among S1, S2 and S3 fish in the second week of re-feeding. Neither food conversion efficiency nor apparent digestion rate was significantly different among all treatments except that conversion efficiencies of S1 and the control fish were greater than those of S2 and S3 fish in week 7. At the end of food deprivation, the ratio of lipid to lean body mass (LBM) and the concentration of lipid, energy and moisture in S1, S2 and S3 fish were significantly less than those in the control fish, but the protein concentration in the control fish was greater than that in S2 or S3 fish. After re-feeding for 5 weeks, no difference in the concentrations of protein, ash, energy and moisture were detected among all treatments; however, the lipid concentration in S2 and S3 fish was less than that in the control fish. All fish deprived of food displayed a lower ratio of lipid to lean body weight than that in the control fish. Our results indicate that compensatory growth occurred in barramundi and the magnitude and duration of compensatory growth depended on the length of food deprivation.

Gene discovery from an ovary cDNA library of oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense by ESTs annotation

The oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, is an important crustacean species in aquaculture. However, early gonad maturity is a ubiquitous problem which devalues the product quality. While husbandry and nutritional management have achieved little success in tackling this issue, a molecular approach may discover the genes involved in reproduction and development, which will provide the basic knowledge on reproductive control. In this study, a high-quality cDNA library of prawn was constructed from the ovary tissue. A total of 3294 successful sequencing reactions yielded 3256 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) longer than 100 bp. The cluster and assembly analyses yielded 1514 unique sequences including 414 contigs and 1168 singletons. About 719 (47.49%) unique sequences were identified as orthologs of genes from other organisms. By sequence comparability analysis, 28 important genes including cathepsin B, chromobox protein, Cdc2, cyclin B, DEAD box protein and ADF/cofilin protein were expressed. These genes may be involved in reproductive and developmental functions in prawn. Peritrophin consisting of cortical rods was also found in this species. The identification of these EST sequences in M. nipponense would improve our understanding on the genes that regulate reproduction and development in prawn species. This study also lays the groundwork for development of molecular markers related to ovary development in other prawn species.

Biology of Moina mongolica (Moinidae, Cladocera) and perspective as live food for marine fish larvae: review

Moina mongolica, 1.0-1.4 mm long and 0.8 mm wide, is an Old World euryhaline species. This paper reviewed the recent advances on its autecology, reproductive biology, feeding ecology and perspective as live food for marine fish larviculture. Salinity tolerance of this species ranges from 0.4–1.4‰ to 65.2–75.4‰. Within 2–50‰ salinity, Moina mongolica can complete its life cycle through parthenogenesis. The optimum temperature is between 25 °C and 28 °C, while it tolerates high temperature between 34.4 °C and 36.0 °C and lower temperature between 3.2 °C and 5.4 °C. The non-toxic level of unionised ammonia (24 h LC50) for M. mongolica is <2.6 mg NH3–N l−1. Juvenile individuals filter 2.37 ml d−1 and feed 9.45×106 algal cells d−1, while mature individuals filter 9.45 ml d−1 and consume 4.94×106 algal cells d−1. At 28 °C, M. mongolica reaches sex maturity in 4 d and gives birth once a day afterward; females carry 7.3 eggs brood−1 and spawn 2.8 times during their lifetime. A variety of food can be used for M. mongolica culture including unicellular algae, yeast and manure, but the best feeding regime is the combination of Nannochloropsis oculata and horse manure. Moina mongolica reproduces parthenogenetically during most lifetime, but resting eggs can be induced at temperature (16 °C) combined with food density at 2000–5000 N. oculata ml−1. The tolerance to low dissolved oxygen (0.14–0.93 mg l−1) and high ammonia makes it suitable for mass production. Biochemical analyses showed that the content of eicospantanoic acid (20:5ω3) in M. mongolica accounts for 12.7% of total fatty acids, which is higher than other live food such as Artemia nauplii and rotifers. This cladoceran has the characteristics of wide salinity adaptation, rapid reproduction and ease of mass culture. The review highlights its potential as live food for marine fish larvae.

Growout performance of diploid and triploid Chinese catfish Clarias fuscus

Abstract Culture performance of diploid and triploid Chinese catfish Clarias fuscus was evaluated at two temperatures (21.5 and 25.0°C), and with two feed formulations. New Age Pacific (NAP) feed (49% crude protein and 18% crude lipid) and Catfish No. 2 (C2) feed (36% crude protein and 23% crude lipid) were provided once daily at 5% body weight. After 175 days, triploid fish gained more weight than diploids. Both diploids and triploids grew faster at 25°C than at 21.5°C. At the lower temperature, C2 feed enhanced fish growth compared with NAP feed in both ploidies, while triploid fish gained more weight than diploids only with C2 feed. Male C. fuscus grew faster than females regardless of ploidy. Neither fish survival nor condition factor differed among treatments, but the condition factor in diploid males was lower than others. If our results apply to commercial scale, culture of triploids at temperatures >25°C could improve total yield and profitability.

Transcriptome and Molecular Pathway Analysis of the Hepatopancreas in the Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei under Chronic Low-Salinity Stress

The Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei is a euryhaline penaeid species that shows ontogenetic adaptations to salinity, with its larvae inhabiting oceanic environments and postlarvae and juveniles inhabiting estuaries and lagoons. Ontogenetic adaptations to salinity manifest in L. vannamei through strong hyper-osmoregulatory and hypo-osmoregulatory patterns and an ability to tolerate extremely low salinity levels. To understand this adaptive mechanism to salinity stress, RNA-seq was used to compare the transcriptomic response of L. vannamei to changes in salinity from 30 (control) to 3 practical salinity units (psu) for 8 weeks. In total, 26,034 genes were obtained from the hepatopancreas tissue of L. vannamei using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 system, and 855 genes showed significant changes in expression under salinity stress. Eighteen top Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were significantly involved in physiological responses, particularly in lipid metabolism, including fatty-acid biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism and glycosphingolipid and glycosaminoglycan metabolism. Lipids or fatty acids can reduce osmotic stress in L. vannamei by providing additional energy or changing the membrane structure to allow osmoregulation in relevant organs, such as the gills. Steroid hormone biosynthesis and the phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism pathways were also involved in the adaptation of L. vannamei to low salinity, and the differential expression patterns of 20 randomly selected genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). This study is the first report on the long-term adaptive transcriptomic response of L. vannamei to low salinity, and the results will further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying osmoregulation in euryhaline crustaceans.

Physiological responses of Egeria densa to high ammonium concentration and nitrogen deficiency

High ammonia (i.e. the total of NH(3) and NH(4)(+)) concentration or nitrogen deficiency in water can exert stress on growth and health of many aquatic plants. To investigate the physiological impacts of high ammonia-N (NH(4)Cl) concentration and nitrogen deficiency on plant physiology, apical shoots of submerged macrophyte Egeriadensa were first treated with five levels of nitrogen: 0, 1, 10, 30, 60 mg L(-1) ammonia-N (NH(4)Cl) for 5d. After having explored the stress range of ammonia-N, its effect on E. densa was further examined at three levels of ammonium (0, 1, 30 mg L(-1) ammonia-N) and at six exposure times (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7d). In testing the concentration-dependent stress, the increase of ammonia-N reduced the amounts of total chlorophyll (chl a and b), soluble proteins and soluble carbohydrates, but increased the activity levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and peroxidase in E. densa. In the N-free medium, total chlorophyll, soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrates and the activities of SOD and peroxidase in E. densa decreased significantly compared with the control (1 mg L(-1) ammonia-N). When comparing the ammonia-N impacts over time, the plants showed a declining trend in total chlorophyll, soluble proteins and soluble carbohydrates, but an rising trend in MDA, SOD, peroxidase and catalase in 30 mg L(-1) ammonia-N over 7d. Compared with the control, the N-free medium significantly decreased the amounts of total chlorophyll, soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrates, SOD and peroxidase in E. densa over time. Our study indicates that high ammonium (ammonia-N ≥ 10 mg L(-1)) affects the growth of E. densa through inducing oxidative stress and inhibiting photosynthesis, and nitrogen deficiency can also induce an abiotic stress condition for the E. densa growth by reducing photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrates, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Effects of ammonia stress, dietary linseed oil and Edwardsiella ictaluri challenge on juvenile darkbarbel catfish Pelteobagrus vachelli

A two-stage study was carried out to test the response of juvenile darkbarbel catfish Pelteobagrus vachelli to ammonia stress, dietary lipid and bacterial challenge. At stage 1, the catfish (0.99 ± 0.01 g) fed a commercial diet were exposed to 0.01 and 5.70 mg L(-1) total ammonia nitrogen in nine replicates for 14 days. At stage 2, all fish previously exposed to either low or high ammonia were separately transferred into low ammonia (<0.01 mg L(-1)), and divided into three feeding groups. Fish were then fed three levels of linseed oil (0, 2 and 4%) in triplicate for 46 days. Fish growth performance and immune response were low in high ammonia at stage 1. At stage 2, fish growth and immune response were not significantly different between fish previously exposed to low and high ammonia in all diets. Fish fed 4% linseed oil showed the greatest weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit, and achieved higher lysozyme activity, phagocytic index, respiratory burst and total immunoglobulin than fish fed 0% linseed oil, but did not differ from fish fed 2% linseed oil regardless of previous ammonia exposure. After 14-day infection of Edwardsiella ictaluri, cumulative mortality of fish previously exposed to low ammonia was lower than that of fish exposed to high ammonia in all diets. Cumulative mortality of fish fed 0% linseed oil was highest, but the antibody titer of fish fed 4% linseed oil was highest regardless of previous ammonia treatments. This study indicates that ammonia stress has a lasting effect even after ammonia is lowed, but the adverse effect on fish can be mitigated through manipulation of dietary oil inclusion, especially under the challenge of pathogenic bacteria.

Biomanipulation: a review of biological control measures in eutrophic waters and the potential for Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii to promote water quality in temperate Australia

Biomanipulation is a method of controlling algal blooms in eutrophic freshwater ecosystems. The most common approach has been to enhance herbivores through a reduction of planktivorous fish and introduction of piscivorous fish. The method was originally intended to reduce grazing pressure on zooplankton, thereby increasing grazing pressure on phytoplankton to increase water clarity and promote the growth of aquatic macrophytes. Biomanipulation has received considerable attention since it was proposed in 1975 where innovative approaches and explanations of the processes have been developed. Although many successful biomanipulation exercises have been conducted internationally, it has received comparatively little attention in the Southern Hemisphere and has not been trialled in the southern temperate climate of South Australia. This is a review to speculate upon the criteria for and against the application of biomanipulation in southern temperate Australia using the native species Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) and to suggest future research.

Transcriptome Profiling and Molecular Pathway Analysis of Genes in Association with Salinity Adaptation in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus.

Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus is a freshwater fish but can tolerate a wide range of salinities. The mechanism of salinity adaptation at the molecular level was studied using RNA-Seq to explore the molecular pathways in fish exposed to 0, 8, or 16 (practical salinity unit, psu). Based on the change of gene expressions, the differential genes unions from freshwater to saline water were classified into three categories. In the constant change category (1), steroid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, fat digestion and absorption, complement and coagulation cascades were significantly affected by salinity indicating the pivotal roles of sterol-related pathways in response to salinity stress. In the change-then-stable category (2), ribosomes, oxidative phosphorylation, signaling pathways for peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, and fat digestion and absorption changed significantly with increasing salinity, showing sensitivity to salinity variation in the environment and a responding threshold to salinity change. In the stable-then-change category (3), protein export, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, tight junction, thyroid hormone synthesis, antigen processing and presentation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis—keratan sulfate were the significantly changed pathways, suggesting that these pathways were less sensitive to salinity variation. This study reveals fundamental mechanism of the molecular response to salinity adaptation in O. niloticus, and provides a general guidance to understand saline acclimation in O. niloticus.

Effect of N:P ratio on growth and chemical composition of Nannochloropsis oculata and Tisochrysis lutea

The understanding of how nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) ratios regulate growth and chemical composition of algae is important to control the nutritional value of microalgae for industrial application. This study compared the impacts of N:P ratio manipulations on the growth, elements, lipid, fatty acids and protein contents of Tisochrysis lutea and Nannochloropsis oculata. F/2 medium was used as the basal formula to obtained six N:P ratios of 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, 60:1 and 120:1 and tested on the algae species in triplicate. Growth rate was similar in both algal species across all N:P ratios, and the carbon content in T. lutea was higher than in N. oculata. However, the carbon contents were high in the N:P ratios of 5:1 and 120:1 and low from 10:1 to 60:1 N:P ratios for both T. lutea and N. oculata. There were no significant differences in cellular N and P, but the protein contents depended on algae species and were significantly affected by N:P ratios. The N:P ratio of 20:1 favoured algal growth and protein content, while the N:P ratio of 120:1 reduced algal growth and protein synthesis but increased lipid in both algae. The 20:1 N:P ratio favoured eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) production in N. oculata and the 30:1 N:P ratio favours docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production in T. lutea. This study indicates that N:P ratio manipulation is an effective strategy to change biochemical composition in algae and N or P limitation tends to lower polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contents in algae.