Production of Pacific White Shrimp Polycultured with Swimming Crab at Different Densities,and Nutrient Budget in the Enclosure System

This study was to evaluate the effect of stocking densities on the nitrogen and phosphorus budgets for a polyculture of the crab Portunus trituberculatus and the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.The shrimps(initial weight,0.012 g)were cultured at a density of 45 shrimp m^-2,and juvenile crabs(initial weight,0.024 g)were cultured at five densities of 0,3,6,9,and 12 crabs m^-2.The treatments were grouped as C0S45,C3S45,C6S45,C9S45,and C12S45,respectively.Water quality parameters,growth of shrimp and crabs,and nitrogen and phosphorus budget were measured.The results indicated that the shrimp performances in polyculture treatments C3S45 and C6S45 were superior to those in the crab-free treatment(C0S45).The crab in treatments C3S45 and C6S45 exhibited a significantly higher final mean weight and carapace width/length than those in treatments C9S45 and C12S45.The final size and survival of crabs had a negative correlation with the increasing crab stocking density.The contents of total phos-phorus and total nitrogen and the comprehensive contamination index values were higher in the C9S45 and C12S45 treatments than in the other treatments.The conversion ratios of nitrogen for crab and shrimp growth in treatment C3S45 were significantly higher than those in the crab-free treatment.These findings indicate that polyculturing shrimp with crabs at suitable densities can improve productivity,profitability,nutrient utilization,and the environmental quality.From the 60-day treatments,the optimal culture densi-ties were 3-6 crabs m^-2 and 45 shrimps m^-2.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of Parachiloglanis hodgarti and its phylogenetic position within Sisoridae

The complete mitogenome of Parachiloglanis hodgarti was sequenced and characterized, which is the first mitogenome of the genus Parachiloglanis within Sisoridae. The mitogenome is 16 511-bp long and included 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs, and one control region. The genome composition was A+T biased (58.64%) and exhibited a positive AT-skew (0.095) and a negative GC-skew (?0.283). Compared with other Sisoridae fishes, the characteristics of nucleotide skews, codon usage, and amino acid usage of the P. hodgarti mitogenome are more similar to those of non-Glyptosternoid fishes. Furthermore, the phylogenetic trees show that Sisoridae fishes fall into four major clades and P. hodgarti (Clade I) is basal to the Sisoridae family, forming a sister clade to the Glyptosternoids (Clade IV). The topological structures constructed in this study raised doubts over the traditional classification system. These results will help better understand the features of the P. hodgarti mitogenome and provide a reference for further phylogenetic research on Sisoridae species.

     

Antioxidation and ATPase activity in the gill of mud crab Scylla serrata under cold stress

Mud crab (Scylla serrata) is an important commercial crustacean in China. An experiment was designed to study the effect of cold stress on S. serrata. After a one-week adaptation at 28oC, the temperature is suddenly reduced to 4oC. The crabs were sampled every 2 h for 10 h and dissected immediately to measure the enzyme activity. The crabs at room temperature (28oC) were used as the control group. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of 4 ATPases (Na , K -ATPase; Mg2 -ATPase; Ca2 -ATPase; Ca2 , Mg2 -ATPase) were measured biochemically. In contrast to the control group, the SOD activity increased significantly from 2 to 6 h after the cold stress, and then decreased. The CAT and GPX activities increased in 2 h, and then decreased gradually. The content of MDA increased gradually in 4 h. The activity of Na , K -ATPase decreased in 2 h, increased up to the top value at Hour 6, then decreased again. The activities of Mg2 -ATPase, Ca2 -ATPase and Ca2 , Mg2 -ATPase increased significantly in 6 h, insignificantly in any other hours. Under cold stress, the activity of antioxidative enzymes in S. serrata was reduced at first then stabilized, ROS-scavenging weakened, and MDA accumulated gradually in the gill after 6 h. The activity of the 4 ATPases in the crab decreased after 6 h, suggesting that the ability to regulate ion concentration has been paralyzed. Therefore, the maximum period to sustain healthy meat in the crab under cold stress is 6 hours.     

Metabolism of pectenotoxins in brown crabs <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cancer pagurus</Emphasis> fed with blue mussels <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus edulis</Emphasis>

We investigated the metabolism of pectenotoxins in brown crabs(Cancer pagurus).The crabs were fed with blue mussels(Mytilus edulis) for 21 d then depurated for 42 d.We extracted the toxins from the digestive glands of contaminated crabs,uncontaminated crabs(control group),and the meat of blue mussels using methanol.Extracts of the crab digestive glands were fractionated by liquid-liquid partitioning and solid phase extraction.The fractions were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spec...     

Changes during late-stage embryonic development from egg-juvenile to free-living hatchling in Chinese freshwater crab Sinopotamon yangtsekiense (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae)

This study expands on recent reports that direct development in the Chinese potamid freshwater crab Sinopotamon yangtsekiense involves the completion of all brachyuran larval stages (nauplius, zoea, and megalopa) inside the egg case during embryonic development. Detailed studies of embryonic development in this species revealed the presence of an additional larval stage (the egg-juvenile) between the megalopa and the free-living hatchling crab. We described and compared the appendages of the head, thorax, and abdomen of the egg-juvenile with those of the hatchling crab in S. yangtsekiense. Significant differences were found between most of the appendages of these two stages with a soft exoskeleton in the egg-juvenile, no joint articulation, a slimmer appearance, and a lack of setae when compared with the newly emerged free-living hatchling crab. These modifications of the appendages are related to the confinement within the egg case of the egg-megalopa and egg-juvenile during direct development, and the need for the free-living hatchling freshwater crab to move, feed, and respire. In marine crabs, the megalopa gives rise to the first crab stage whereas in freshwater crabs the egg-juvenile follows the megalopa and immediately precedes the free-living first crab stage.     

GROWTH, REPRODUCTION & POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE FRESHWATER CRAB SINOPOTAMON YANG TSEKIENSE BOTT, 1967, FROM ZHEJIANG, CHINA

Monthly investigatiom were made on the population of Chinese freshwater crab, Sinopotamon yangteskiense Bott, 1967 from April, 1984 to Match, 1985. The data on 4413 specimens show that the growth was affected mainly by temperature. During the April to November growth period, the crabs' major development occured from June through October. One year was required for a fine white oocyte to develop into a mature egg. The reproduction period was June-October. Females bearing eggs were taken from June-August, and crabs with young were found from July-October. The females reproduced once a year but could for more than one year. The number of eggs carried by a female varied greatly according to the size of the crab, ranging from 30 to 100 eggs. New-bom crabs become mature after 1-2 yeats. The sex ratio was approximately 1:1 in the overall population. However, the larger crabs are predominantly male. The age distribution of S. yangtsekinese was estimated from size frequency histograms. There were more adult crabs     

Accumulation and depuration of pectenotoxins in brown crab Cancer pagurus

Pectenotoxins (PTXs) are a group of marine algal toxins. In this study, the accumulation and depuration of pectenotoxins in brown crab Cancer pagurus were investigated. Crabs were fed with toxic blue mussels Mytilus edulis for 21 days and then depurated for 42 days. Toxins were extracted with methanol from the digestive glands of contaminated crabs, uncontaminated crabs (control group) and from blue mussels for comparison. Extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatograph coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The concentrations of PTX-2, PTX-2 SA, 7-epi-PTX-2 SA, and PTX-12 were analyzed in two batches of toxic blue mussels and the crabs. A one-compartment model was applied to describe the depuration of PTXs. The half-life of PTXs was estimated to be 6-7.5 days. After depuration for 42 days, the amount of PTXs measured in the crab digestive glands was less than 1 μg/kg.     

Genome-Wide Scan for Positively Selected Genes in Sessile Molluscs Highlights the Genetic Basis for Their Adaptation to Attached Lifestyle

Molluscs are one of the most diverse groups of animals and exhibit a rich and diverse variety of form and lifestyle. Most molluscs live with a free-moving lifestyle, while some molluscs are sessile. The adaptation to the two distinct lifestyles required complex changes, from molecules to organs, and physiology to morphology. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide scan for positive selection by comparing the available genomes of two sessile molluscs with four free-moving molluscs. A total of 40 genes were identified undergoing positive selection in the sessile molluscs by the branch-site model. Functional characterization showed that they were mainly enriched in two pathways, Oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS) and TGF-beta signaling pathway. The unexpected positive selection on OXPHOS genes in sessile molluscs suggests that the adaptation of OXPHOS involves many factors beyond enhancing ATP production. A modified OXPHOS regulatory system may allow sessile molluscs to better cope with biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, positively selected genes in TGF-beta signaling pathway probably have played a key role in the patterning of body plans and growth in metazoans. We speculate that these genes are associated with the body structure and organic adaptation to a sedentary lifestyle in sessile bivalve molluscs.     

Growth,reproduction & population structure of the freshwater crabSinopotamon yangtsekiense bott, 1967, from Zhejiang,China

Monthly investigations were mae on the population of Chinese freshwater crab,Sinopotamon yangtsekiense Bott, 1967 from April, 1984 to March, 1985. The data on 4413 specimens show that the growth was affected mainly by temperature. During the April to November growth period, the crabs' major development occurred from June through October. One year was required for a fine white oocyte to develop into a mature egg. The reproduction period was June–October. Females bearing eggs were taken from June–August, and crabs with young were found from July–October. The females reproduced once a year but could for more than one year. The number of eggs carried by a female varied greatly according to the size of the crab, ranging from 30 to 100 eggs. New-born crabs become mature after 1–2 years. The sex ratio was approximately 1∶1 in the overall population. However, the larger crabs are predominantly male. The age distribution ofS. yangtsekinese was estimated from size frequency histograms. There were more adult crabs (over 70%) from June to October and more immature crabs (over 50%) from November to May.     

Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Arius dispar(Siluriformes: Ariidae) and Phylogenetic Analysis Among Sea Catfishes

The mitochondrial genome(mitogenome) was 16792 bp in length, containing 13 protein coding genes(PCGs), two rRNA genes(12 S rRNA and 16 S rRNA), 22 tRNA genes, and two main non-coding regions. Among these 37 genes, 28 genes were encoded on the heavy strand, while 9 genes were transcribed on the light strand. The non-coding regions of A. dispar included a control region, a light strand replication and another 11 intergenic spacers. The CR of A. dispar contained 8 conserved sequence blocks(CSBs), a termination-associated sequence(TAS) and a pyrimidine tract. Phylogenetic analysis based on 12 PCGs revealed that A. dispar was genetically closest to Arius arius. The families Schilbeidae, Claroteidae, Mochokidae, and Ariidae formed a closely evolved clade. Molecular information from this research introduces mitogenomice data of A. dispar and suggests the phylogenetic relationships among Siluriformes.     

Mitochondrial phylogenomics reveal the origin and adaptive evolution of the deep-sea caridean shrimps(Decapoda:Caridea)

The deep-sea is considered as the most extensive ecosystem on the Earth.It is meaningful for elucidating the life origins by exploring the origin and adaptive genetic mechanisms of the large deepsea organisms.Caridean shrimps have colonized and successfully adapted to deep-sea environments.They provide an ideal model to analyze the origin and adaptive evolution of modern deep-sea fauna.Here,we conducted the phylogenetic analyses of mitocho ndrial genomes(mitogenomes) from carideans,including 11 newly sequences reported in this investigation to explore the habitat origins,divergence times,and adaptive evolution of deep-sea(seamounts and hydrothermal vents) caridean shrimps.The results showed that the species of deep-sea Caridea formed a monophyletic group.Phylogenetic analysis supported that the deepsea caridean shrimps may originated from shallow sea.The hydrothermal vents alvinocaridid shrimps and Lebbeus shinkaiae from Thoridae underwent a second range expansion from seamounts to vent ecosystems.Estimates of divergence time showed that the caridean shrimps invaded into deep-sea at 147.75 Ma.The divergence of most of the modern seamount and hydrothermal vent species are in the late Cretaceous/early Tertiary.This may associate with the geological events of the Western Pacific,the climate change,and the global deep-water anoxic/dysoxic events during this period.Twenty-two potentially important adaptive residues were detected in the deep-sea shrimp lineage,which were located in atp6,atp8,cox1,cox3,cytb,nad2,nad4 l,and nad5.This investigation adds our understanding of the evolutionary history of deep-sea caridean shrimps,and provides insights into the mitochondrial genetic basis of deep-sea adaptation in this group.     

Positive selection analysis reveals the deep-sea adaptation of a hadal sea cucumber (Paelopatides sp.) to the Mariana Trench

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - The Mariana Trench, the deepest trench on the earth, is ideal for deep-sea adaptation research due to its unique characters, such as the highest hydrostatic...     

A Comparative Study of Genetic Variation betwccn Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir Sinensis and Hepu Mitten Crab E. Hepuensis

Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the biochemical genetic structure of Chinese mittencrab Eriocheir sinensis and Hepu mitten crab E. hepuensis. Sixteen putative enzyme-coding loci were examined for forty-nineChinese mitten crabs and thirty-eight Hepu mitten crabs. Nine loci, AAT-1 *, AAT-2 *, G3PDH*, GPI*, IDHP-1 *, IDHP-2 *,MDH-1 *, MDH-2 * and PGM * , are polymorphic in Chinese mitten crab, and seven, AAT-1 *, AAT-2 *, GPI *, IDHP-1 *,MDH-1 *, MDH-2 * and PGM * , are polymorphic in Hepu mitten crab. The proportion of polymorphic loci and the expectedheterozygosity are 0.562 5 and 0.080 3 for Chinese mitten crab, and 0.437 5 and 0.075 4 for Hepu mitten crab. The Nei' s ge-netic distance between two species is 0.002 4.     

Complete mitochondrial genomes of two deep-sea pandalid shrimps,Heterocarpus ensifer and Bitias brevis: insights into the phylogenetic position of Pandalidae (Decapoda: Caridea)

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) analysis is a significant tool for investigating the evolutionary history of metazoan animals. The family Pandalidae is a...     

Accumulation and depuration of pectenotoxins in brown crab Cancer pagurus

Pectenotoxins (PTXs) are a group of marine algal toxins. In this study, the accumulation and depuration of pectenotoxins in brown crab Cancer pagurus were investigated. Crabs were fed with toxic blue mussels Mytilus edulis for 21 days and then depurated for 42 days. Toxins were extracted with methanol from the digestive glands of contaminated crabs, uncontaminated crabs (control group) and from blue mussels for comparison. Extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatograph coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The concentrations of PTX-2, PTX-2 SA, 7-epi-PTX-2 SA, and PTX-12 were analyzed in two batches of toxic blue mussels and the crabs. A one-compartment model was applied to describe the depuration of PTXs. The half-life of PTXs was estimated to be 6–7.5 days. After depuration for 42 days, the amount of PTXs measured in the crab digestive glands was less than 1 μg/kg. Supported by Norwegian Education Funding “Quata”(2005)     

Distinct influence of trimethylamine N-oxide and high hydrostatic pressure on community structure and culturable deep-sea bacteria

Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO) is one of the most important nutrients for bacteria in the deep-sea environment and is capable of improving pressure tolerance of certain bacterial strains.To assess the impact of TMAO on marine microorganisms,especially those dwelling in the deep-sea environment,we analyzed the bacterial community structure of deep-sea sediments after incubated under different conditions.Enrichments at 50 MPa and 0.1 MPa revealed that TMAO imposed a greater influence on bacterial diversity and community composition at atmospheric pressure condition than that under high hydrostatic pressure(HHP).We found that pressure was the primary factor that determines the bacterial community.Meanwhile,in total,238 bacterial strains were isolated from the enrichments,including 112 strains a ffiliated to 16 genera of 4 phyla from the Yap Trench and 126 strains a ffiliated to 11 genera of 2 phyla from the Mariana Trench.Treatment of HHP reduced both abundance and diversity of isolates,while the presence of TMAO mainly af fected the diversity of isolates obtained.In addition,certain genera were isolated only when TMAO was supplemented.Taken together,we demonstrated that pressure primarily defines the bacterial community and culturable bacterial isolates.Furthermore,we showed for the first time that TMAO had distinct influences on bacterial community depending on the pressure condition.The results enriched the understanding of the significance of TMAO in bacterial adaptation to the deep-sea environment.     

Effect of an escape vent in accordion-shaped traps on the catch and size of Asian paddle crabs <Emphasis Type="Italic">Charybdis japonica</Emphasis> in an artificial reef area

Accordion-shaped traps are widely used in China to catch the Asian paddle crab Charybdis japonica but traps of conventional design often catch juvenile crabs. A new type of accordion-shaped trap with an escape vent (L×W=4.3 cm×3.0 cm) was designed and a comparative study between the newly designed and conventional traps was performed in the artificial reef area of Zhuwang, Laizhou Bay, China from June to August 2012. The mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) of undersized crabs was significantly lower in the vented traps than in the conventional traps (paired t -test, n=30, P<0.001), while the CPUE of marketable crabs was significantly higher in the vented traps (paired t-test, n=30, P<0.001). The mean size of crabs (carapace length) caught in the vented traps was significantly larger than in conventional traps (paired t-test, n=29, P<0.001). The ratio of undersized crabs was 35.05±2.57% in conventional traps and 12.53±0.69% in vented traps (significantly lower, paired t-test, n=29, P<0.001). Therefore, a 4.3 cm×3.0 cm escape vent was considered appropriate for C. japonica fishing in the artificial reef area. This finding will assist the development of more sustainable and efficient crab fishing methods using accordion-shaped traps.