Per-Arvid Wold

Molecular ontogenesis of digestive capability and associated endocrine control in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae.

We have profiled the expression of twelve genes, in order to provide an overview on the molecular ontogeny of digestive capability with the associated endocrine control during Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larval development. Enzyme activity levels for the key digestive enzyme, trypsin, was also measured. Specifically, transcripts for trypsin, amylase, lipolytic enzymes: bile salt activated lipase (BAL), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and Acyl CoA dehydrogenase (ACADM), regulatory peptides: neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin (OX) cholecystokinin (CCK) and cocaine and amphetamine-related transcript (CART), the somatotropic factors: growth hormone (GH), preprosomatostatin 1 (PPSS1) and thyroid hormone receptors (TRα and TRβ) were analyzed using quatitative (real-time) polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Trypsin and BAL mRNA levels peaked at approximately day 17 and 25 post-hatch, respectively, and thereafter displayed a decreasing pattern until metamorphosis. GH mRNA levels decreased moderately from 3 to 33dph, and thereafter, an increase was observed until 46dph. TRα mRNA levels showed a fluctuating pattern peaking at day 39 post-hatch. TRβ mRNA levels were too low to obtain quantitative measurements. Amylase mRNA slightly increased from day 3 to 17 post-hatch, and thereafter showed a steady decrease until day 60. Interestingly, PLA2 mRNA expression showed a consistent increase throughout the study period, indicating an increasingly important role during larval development. Overall, data from this study indicate that cod larvae show differential developmental mode of expression patterns for key genes and endocrine factors that regulate digestive capability, growth and development. These data are discussed in relation to larval trypsin enzyme activity and previous reports for other teleost species.

Integrated Membrane Bioreactor for Water Quality Control in Marine Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

The aquaculture live feed organisms Acartia tonsa (a calanoid copepod, experiment 1) and Brachionus “Cayman” (a rotifer, experiment 2) were cultivated in marine recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), respectively. The pilot plant was built as a combination of conventional RAS (cRAS) and as a modified RAS which implemented an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (MBR) for the removal of fine suspended solids and colloidal particles as part of the treatment system (mRAS). The two treatment schemes were connected to the same biofilter (a moving bed bioreactor). In the first experiment, the membrane was operated with no extraction of concentrate, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 hours (i.e., water exchange in the cultivation tanks of 4 times per day). In the second experiment, the membrane was operated with daily extraction of concentrate, and HRT of 12 hours. Results show that the MBR option is more efficient in removing particles from the recycle stream than conventional RAS. However, the impact this has on the number of particles in the live feed cultivation tanks is not readily apparent based on particle analysis. The amount of suspended solids added during feeding exceeds the amount removed in the recycle system. This requires a higher recirculation rate and different membrane operating conditions.

Allometric growth and development of organs in ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta Ascanius, 1767) larvae in relation to different live prey diets and growth rates

ABSTRACT Small fish larvae grow allometrically, but little is known about how this growth pattern may be affected by different growth rates and early diet quality. The present study investigates how different growth rates, caused by start-feeding with copepods or rotifers the first 30 days post-hatch (dph), affect allometric growth and development of nine major organs in ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae up to experimental end at 60 dph. Feeding with cultivated copepod nauplii led to both increased larval somatic growth and faster development and growth of organ systems than feeding with rotifers. Of the organs studied, the digestive and respiratory organs increased the most in size between 4 and 8 dph, having a daily specific growth rate (SGR) between 30 and 40% in larvae fed copepods compared with 20% or less for rotifer-fed larvae. Muscle growth was prioritised from flexion stage and onwards, with a daily SGR close to 30% between 21 and 33 dph regardless of treatment. All larvae demonstrated a positive linear correlation between larval standard length (SL) and increase in total tissue volume, and no difference in allometric growth pattern was found between the larval treatments. A change from positive allometric to isometric growth was observed at a SL close to 6.0 mm, a sign associated with the start of metamorphosis. This was also where the larvae reached postflexion stage, and was accompanied by a change in growth pattern for most of the major organ systems. The first sign of a developing hepatopancreas was, however, first observed in the largest larva (17.4 mm SL, 55 dph), indicating that the metamorphosis in ballan wrasse is a gradual process lasting from 6.0 to at least 15-17 mm SL. Summary: Allometric growth patterns of ballan wrasse were not affected by different diets, and larval functional development was found to be dependent on size and not age or growth rate.