Depth and timing of settlement of veligers from different populations of giant scallop, Placopecten magellanicus (Gmelin), in thermally stratified mesocosms

The present study was conducted to evaluate the relative roles that water column stratification intensity and possible inter-population behaviour differences play in determining depth of larval settlement of giant scallops, Placopecten magellanicus, in relation to thermoclines. Differences in timing of settlement of larvae from various populations were also examined. Two separate experiments were conducted in a 10.5-m-deep, 3.7-m-diameter, thermally stratified tank with larvae spawned from scallops collected from several adult beds located in areas with differing oceanographic regimes (Georges Bank, Mahone Bay, Passamaquoddy Bay). Previous mesocosm experiments had shown that veligers from these various populations differ in their vertical migration patterns. In the first experiment (December 1992-February 1993), larvae from all three populations were held in separate 9.5-m-deep tubes and exposed to a 1.5 °C temperature differential established over a depth interval of 1 m. The number of settled juveniles (spat) of each population collected at the end of the experiment increased with depth and showed no peak at or above the thermocline. This depth distribution of spat was most likely driven by preferential larval settlement. In the second experiment (February-May 1994), larvae spawned from Georges Bank and Passamaquoddy Bay stocks were held in 9.0-m-deep tubes and exposed to a 5 °C temperature differential established over a depth interval of 1 m. The number of settled spat of both populations was greater above this thermal boundary and increased with decreasing depth. This depth distribution was most likely driven by preferential settlement above the thermocline followed by upward post-settlement migration. The results from the two experiments indicate that larvae from various populations show similar trends in settlement patterns in response to similar thermal stratifications. Stratification intensity, however, does affect depth of larval settlement. In the second experiment, both populations of larvae settled throughout the time interval of collector deployment (larvae 32-82 days old). These results extend the range of planktonic developmental times generally reported in the literature and may be more indicative of natural planktonic development in the field. While Georges Bank larvae settled in consistent numbers through time, Passamaquoddy Bay larvae showed peaks in settlement at certain time periods, indicating that pulses of larval settlement may occur even from an individual spawning event.     

Effects of salinity and temperature on the survival and byssal attachment of the lion's paw scallop Nodipecten nodosus at its southern distribution limit

The lion's paw scallop, Nodipecten nodosus, is subject to wide temperature variations on seasonal and short-term scales, and may be exposed to low-salinity events, caused by oceanographic and meteorological processes at its southern distribution limit (Santa Catarina State, Brazil). Such variations may have important implications on the distribution and on aquaculture site selection. The upper and lower temperature tolerances and the percentage of byssal attachment at different temperatures (11 to 35 °C) were studied for spat, juvenile and adult scallops. The lethal and sublethal effects of reduced salinity (13‰ to 33‰) on spat, juvenile and adult scallops were studied at ambient temperature (23.5 °C) and on spat also at low (16 °C) and high (28 °C) temperatures during 96-h bioassays. In addition, the influences of short exposure (1 h) to low salinity (13‰ and 17‰) at different temperatures (16 and 28 °C), and the effects of exposure (2 and 4 h) to high temperature (33 °C) at ambient salinity (33‰) were studied. N. nodosus is a moderately eurythermal but stenohaline tropical species, adults having lower tolerance to high temperature and low salinity than spat. Lethal temperatures for a 48-h exposure (LT₅₀) were 29.8 °C for adult and juveniles, and 31.8 °C for spat. Maximum rate of byssal attachment occurred in a narrower temperature range for juveniles and adults (23 to 27 °C) than for spat (19 to 27 °C), which are suggested as the optimum ranges of temperatures for growth. Lethal salinities (LC₅₀) for a 48-h exposure at ambient temperature were 23.2‰, 23.6‰ and 20.1‰ for adults, juveniles and spat, respectively, but the percent byssal attachment was significantly reduced below salinities of 29‰ indicating that scallops were physiologically stressed. A 1-h exposure to 17‰ was lethal to spat at 28 °C, but at 16 °C there was a 28.5% survival, 96 h after the exposure. Temperatures and salinity in coastal areas of southern Brazil can reach levels leading to sublethal effects, and in some sites, it may surpass the limits of tolerance for the survival of the species.     

Prey selection and the functional response of sea stars (Asterias vulgaris Verrill) and rock crabs (Cancer irroratus Say) preying on juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus (Gmelin)) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis Linnaeus)

Predators in nature include an array of prey types in their diet, and often select certain types over others. We examined (i) prey selection by sea stars (Asterias vulgaris) and rock crabs (Cancer irroratus) when offered two prey types, juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), and (ii) the effect of prey density on predation, prey selection, and component behaviours. We quantified predation rates, behavioural components (proportion of time spent searching for prey, encounter probabilities) and various prey characteristics (shell strength, energy content per prey, handling time per prey) to identify mechanisms underlying predation patterns and to assess the contribution of active and passive prey selection to observed selection of prey. Sea stars strongly selected mussels over scallops, resulting from both active and passive selection. Active selection was associated with the probability of attack upon encounter; it was higher on mussels than on scallops. The probability of capture upon attack, associated with passive selection, was higher for mussels than for scallops, since mussels can not swim to escape predators. Sea stars consumed few scallops when mussels were present, and so did not have a functional response on scallops (the target prey). Rock crabs exhibited prey switching: they selected mussels when scallop density was very low, did not select a certain prey type when scallop density was intermediate, and selected scallops when scallop density was high relative to mussel density. The interplay between encounter rate (associated with passive selection) and probability of consumption upon capture (associated with both active and passive selection) explained observed selection by crabs. Scallops were encountered by crabs relatively more often and/or mussels less often than expected from random movements of animals at all scallop densities. However, the probability of consumption varied with scallop density: it was lower for scallops than mussels at low and intermediate scallop densities, but tended to be higher for scallops than mussels at high scallop densities. When mussels were absent, crabs did not have a functional response on scallops, but rather were at the plateau of the response. When mussels were present with scallops at relatively low density, crabs exhibited a type II functional response on scallops. Our results have implications for the provision of protective refuges for species of interest (i.e., scallops) released onto the sea bed, such as in population enhancement operations and bottom aquaculture.     

Genetic variation in fitness parameters associated with resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in male and female Trichoplusia ni

Resistance of insects to insecticides is often associated with reduced fitness in the absence of selection. We examined fitness trade-offs associated with resistance to the microbial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), across full-sib families in a resistant population of Trichoplusia ni. Significant genetic variation in and heritability of susceptibility to Bt occurred among the full-sib families. Male pupal weight was positively correlated with Bt susceptibility, indicating a potential fitness cost, but no such correlation occurred for females. Significant heritability for pupal weight was present for males but not females. A significant negative genetic correlation existed between development time and Bt susceptibility, indicating that resistant larvae developed more slowly than susceptible larvae. Selection for Bt resistance in T. ni resulted in changes in life-history traits that affected males more than females.     

Restricted index selection in mice designed to change body fat without changing body weight: direct responses

Summary Replicated within full-sib family restricted index selection was conducted for eight generations in mice for high or low epididymal fat pad weight (EF) holding body weight (BW) constant. Pooled realized heritability estimates of index units based on high, low and divergent selection were 0.42±0.20, 0.44±0.19 and 0.42± 0.05, respectively, which were not different from the base population estimate of 0.33±0.10. Realized responses per generation pooled across replicates in the high-fat restricted index lines were in the expected directions for EF (17.5±7.2 mg; P<0.05) and BW (0.03±0.58 g; P>0.05), but responses in the low-fat restricted index lines were discrepant for EF (0.3±5.1 mg; P>0.05) and BW (0.38±0.01 g; P<0.01). Consequently, the realized responses in component traits were decidedly asymmetric (P<0.05). A technique for estimating realized genetic parameters from index selection lines gave realized heritabilities for BW and EF of 0.68±0.04 and 0.45±0.05, respectively, and a realized genetic correlation between BW and EF of 0.93±0.01 compared with base population estimates of 0.43±0.08, 0.49±0.10 and 0.78±0.05, respectively. Possible explanations for the disparity between observed and expected responses in the low-fat restricted index lines include genetic drift, poor estimates of base population parameters, changes in genetic parameters with selection, linkage disequilibrium resulting from selection and asymmetric realized relative index weights.The research reported in this publication was funded by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS), Raleigh, NC 27695-7643, USA. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the NCARS, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned     

The effect of photoperiod on the reproductive development of the northern bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians

One-year-old bay scallops, Argopecten irradians irradians (58 ± 2 mm, 22 ± 1 g live weight) were exposed to four replicated photoperiod treatments (24D, 8L:16D, 16L:8D, and 24L where D = dark hours, L = light hours) in order to measure the effect on gonad weight and maturation during the conditioning process. Results indicated that day-lengths of more than 8 h are necessary to promote gonad maturation in bay scallops. After 6 wk, the mean gonad weight for scallops in the 16-h and 24-h light regimes was similar at 0.6 ± 0.1 g dry weight compared to a mean of 0.2 ± 0.1 g dry weight for those in the 8-h and 0-h light regimes. Histological assessment indicated significantly more follicular tissue development in both the male and female portion of the gonad in the two longer photoperiod treatments. Overall, gamete maturity was highest for the scallops in the 16-h light regime; the incidence of mature eggs was 50% compared to 35% in the 24-h light regime, 20% in the 8-h light regime and 10% in the 0-h light regime. Assessment of feeding rates indicated no significant difference in algal cell consumption among treatments. Total dry tissue weight doubled over the 6-wk conditioning trial with no significant differences among treatments. One-year-old bay scallops appear to be non-responsive to conditions suitable for gonad maturation (i.e. appropriate temperature and food levels) unless they receive more than 8 h of light exposure. This finding has important implications for northern hatcheries which typically condition broodstock indoors during the early spring.     

象山港熊本牡蛎幼体分布、附着及生长的空间格局

牡蛎幼体迁移与附着影响着牡蛎的空间分布、资源补充、种群维持及生态服务功能。本研究通过野外调查,监测了1个完整潮汐周期(9个潮时采样)内象山港2个试验点(采苗场和产卵场)表层、底层水体中熊本牡蛎幼体的时空动态,并开展野外附着试验,检验了熊本牡蛎在2个试验点和3个潮区(上层T、中层M和底层B)附着及生长的空间格局。结果表明: 在1个完整潮汐周期内,2个试验点表层水体中牡蛎幼体丰度均有显著的时间变化,采苗场表层水体中熊本牡蛎幼体丰度最大值(20.8±5.6 ind·L^-1)出现于高平潮时,显著高于其他8个潮时;而产卵场相反,高平潮时牡蛎幼体丰度最低(0.1±0.1 ind·L^-1);2个试验点底层水体中牡蛎幼体丰度在不同潮时之间均无显著差异。采苗场附着牡蛎总丰度、成活率和壳高在不同潮区间差异显著,牡蛎总丰度大小顺序为B>T=M,成活率和壳高的大小顺序为T>M>B,活体牡蛎丰度在潮区之间无显著差异。产卵场附着牡蛎总丰度、成活率、活体牡蛎丰度和壳高在不同潮区之间均无显著差异。表明高平潮时是熊本牡蛎附着的主要时段,产卵场和采苗场具有相似的牡蛎稚贝附着密度。     

Food acquisition responses of the suspension-feeding bivalve Placopecten magellanicus to the flocculation and settlement of a phytoplankton bloom

In situ technologies were employed to monitor suspended particle flocculation and floc settlement and utilization by a cohort of sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) during the 2000 spring phytoplankton bloom in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada. The objectives were to determine the effect of bloom flocculation and settling on food acquisition and utilization by scallops, and to assess the potential role of flocculation in enhancing the bioavailability of trophic resources and particle-reactive contaminants to bivalve filter feeders. The development and flocculation of the phytoplankton bloom were monitored within the surface layer (10 m depth) by in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence and silhouette camera observations. Sedimentation rate, seston abundance and composition, and sea scallop functional responses were monitored at 20 m depth (below the bloom) to provide insight into the potential forcing of feeding and digestion processes by changes in the abundance, composition and properties of the ambient food supply. The bloom began in mid-March and median floc diameter at 10 m depth increased rapidly from 200 μm to greater than 400 μm between 21 and 28 March. Flocs were observed to be abundant in the surface layer up to 4 April. Daily vertical particle flux was high during the last week of March and declined to near zero by 1 April. Clearance rates of scallops held at 20 m depth were relatively high (average ± S.D.; 11.7 ± 4.0 L h^− 1) during the period of bloom settlement and declined rapidly to low levels (0.4 ± 0.9 L h^− 1) after 31 March. Average absorption efficiency also declined (0.88 ± 0.01 to 0.78 ± 0.05) after bloom settlement. Daily biodeposition rates by scallops were poorly correlated with temporal variations in the quantity (total particulate matter and chlorophyll a concentration) or quality (organic content) of seston available to the scallops, but were significantly correlated with sedimentation rate. Comparison of disaggregated inorganic particle size distributions for suspended particulate matter, settled particles, and scallop feces indicated that fine-grained particles (1 to 4 μm) were effectively ingested by sea scallops—an indication of whole floc ingestion. The settlement of flocs produced during the spring bloom appears to be important in regulating this species physiological energetics and for enhancing the bioavailablility of fine particles (including picoplankton) and particle-reactive contaminants.     

Quantifying horizontal transmission of Nosema lymantriae, a microsporidian pathogen of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lep., Lymantriidae) in field cage studies

Nosema lymantriae is a microsporidian pathogen of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar that has been documented to be at least partially responsible for the collapse of L. dispar outbreak populations in Europe. To quantify horizontal transmission of this pathogen under field conditions we performed caged-tree experiments that varied (1) the density of the pathogen through the introduction of laboratory-infected larvae, and (2) the total time that susceptible (test) larvae were exposed to these infected larvae. The time frame of the experiments extended from the early phase of colonization of the target tissues by the microsporidium to the onset of pathogen-induced mortality or pupation of test larvae. Upon termination of each experiment, the prevalence of infection in test larvae was evaluated. In the experiments performed over a range of pathogen densities, infection of test larvae increased with increasing density of inoculated larvae, from 14.2 ± 3.5% at density of 10 inoculated per 100 larvae to 36.7 ± 5.7% at 30 inoculated per 100 larvae. At higher densities, percent infection in test larvae appeared to level off (35.7 ± 5.5% at 50 inoculated per 100 larvae). When larval exposure to the pathogen was varied, transmission of N. lymantriae did not occur within the first 15 d post-inoculation (dpi) (11 d post-exposure of test larvae to inoculated larvae). We found the first infected test larvae in samples taken 20 dpi (16 d post-exposure). Transmission increased over time; in the cages sampled 25 dpi (21 d post-exposure), Nosema prevalence in test larvae ranged from 20.6% to 39.2%.     

Fatty acid composition in adductor muscle of juvenile scallops (Pecten maximus) from five Norwegian populations reared in the same environment

Adductor muscle fatty acid (FA) composition was compared in Pecten maximus juveniles originating from five locations along the Norwegian coast from 59°N to 65°N to detect possible population differences. Broodstock sized scallops were translocated to sea conditions by a scallop hatchery near Bergen (60°N) before spawning in February 2006. The scallop larvae and juveniles were reared in the same environment for two years and 10 individuals from each population were sampled in May 2007 and in May 2008 for analysis of the FAs in the adductor muscle. The total lipid content determined as total amount of FAs were 5.7 ± 0.3 mg per g tissue, and no significant difference was found among the five populations. The polyunsaturated FAs made up close to 60% of the total, with 20:5n3 and 22:6n3 dominating. The saturated FA content was approximately 30%, while the monounsaturated FA were less abundant (7–10%). The FA composition of the muscles of the five populations was similar within each year, with larger differences between the years. Multivariate, supervised learning method PLS, applied pairwise, showed distinct FA composition, between the scallops from the five locations, indicating population differences. The relatedness between the populations was different in the two years, but the distinct FA profiles of the adductor muscle could be used to distinguish between scallop populations on a local scale. The results indicate habitat-specific lipid metabolism which may have important implications for the scallop aquaculture industry in the context of producing well adapted individuals for the specific locations.     

Heat tolerance, behavioural temperature selection and temperature-dependent respiration in larval Octopus huttoni

This study reports temperature effects on paralarvae from a benthic octopus species, Octopus huttoni, found throughout New Zealand and temperate Australia. We quantified the thermal tolerance, thermal preference and temperature-dependent respiration rates in 1-5 days old paralarvae. Thermal stress (1 °C increase h⁻¹) and thermal selection (∼10-24 °C vertical gradient) experiments were conducted with paralarvae reared for 4 days at 16 °C. In addition, measurement of oxygen consumption at 10, 15, 20 and 25 °C was made for paralarvae aged 1, 4 and 5 days using microrespirometry. Onset of spasms, rigour (CT_max) and mortality (upper lethal limit) occurred for 50% of experimental animals at, respectively, 26.0±0.2 °C, 27.8±0.2 °C and 31.4±0.1 °C. The upper, 23.1±0.2 °C, and lower, 15.0±1.7 °C, temperatures actively avoided by paralarvae correspond with the temperature range over which normal behaviours were observed in the thermal stress experiments. Over the temperature range of 10 °C-25 °C, respiration rates, standardized for an individual larva, increased with age, from 54.0 to 165.2 nmol larvae⁻¹ h⁻¹ in one-day old larvae to 40.1-99.4 nmol h⁻¹ at five days. Older larvae showed a lesser response to increased temperature: the effect of increasing temperature from 20 to 25 °C (Q₁₀) on 5 days old larvae (Q₁₀=1.35) was lower when compared with the 1 day old larvae (Q₁₀=1.68). The lower Q₁₀ in older larvae may reflect age-related changes in metabolic processes or a greater scope of older larvae to respond to thermal stress such as by reducing activity. Collectively, our data indicate that temperatures >25 °C may be a critical temperature. Further studies on the population-level variation in thermal tolerance in this species are warranted to predict how continued increases in ocean temperature will limit O. huttoni at early larval stages across the range of this species.     

Occurrence and characterization of a nucleopolyhedrovirus from Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) isolated in the azores

A nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpliMNPV-Az) was isolated from diseased larvae of Spodoptera littoralis, collected at the Island of S. Miguel in Azores. The virulence of this isolate was tested against S. littoralis larvae in laboratory. LD₅₀ against 2nd and 3rd instars were not significantly different, 1.44 × 10⁴, 3.89 × 10⁴ OBs per larvae, respectively, but both were significantly different from that against 4th instar, which was 61.3 × 10⁴ OBs per larvae. The complete codons sequence of SpliMNPV-Az Polh gene obtained was 750 bp (NCBI GenBank Accession No. AY600451). This sequence was compared to other 38 polyhedrin genes from NPVs and to 6 granulin genes from GVs and resulted to be identical to the sequence of a SpliMNPV previously published, thus indicating that the natural host of SpliMNPV-Az must be S. littoralis. Genetic distances estimated from restriction enzymes profiles showed SpliMNPV-Az is close to the Egyptian SpliMNPV type B, despite some degree of genetic divergence suggested by slight differences observed on PstI profile.     

Lipid class dynamics during larval ontogeny of sea scallops, Placopecten magellanicus, in relation to metamorphic success and response to antibiotics

This study examines ontogenetic changes in lipid class composition in relation to survival and growth of five batches of sea scallops, Placopecten magellanicus, from egg to dissoconch stages. It also investigates the effects of antibiotic addition during metamorphosis to determine whether transient treatment during this critical period is effective in increasing metamorphic success. The top-performing larvae (growth rate: 4.7-5.0 μm day^− 1, dissoconch survival: 32-57%) were characterized by a pronounced increase in absolute (ng larva^− 1) and relative concentrations (wt.% of total lipid) of triacylglycerol (TAG) during the pre-metamorphic period, followed by utilization during metamorphosis (0.5-1.4 μg day^− 1 larva^− 1). In contrast, the low-performing scallops (growth rate: 3.6-4.5 μm day^− 1, dissoconch survival < 1%) exhibited a constant, low level of TAG. These results strongly suggest that the accumulation of TAG during the pre-metamorphic period is a good predictor of scallop performance as measured by survival to dissoconch stage. Antibiotic treatment enhanced absolute and relative TAG concentrations in pre-metamorphic scallops and resulted in higher post-metamorphic survival and TAG concentration than in non-treated controls. However, the proportion of dissoconch to live larvae at the end of the experiment was significantly lower with antibiotic treatment (8% vs. 20% in controls), thus resulting in comparable yields of dissoconch larvae ∼ 8% irrespective of treatment. A possible negative effect of antibiotic treatment on bacterial induction of settlement and metamorphosis of sea scallop larvae is suggested.     

Replicated selection for insulin-like growth factor-1 and body weight in mice

Summary Five generations of divergent selection for plasma concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and for 12-week body weight were carried out in mice, including randomly selected control lines for each trait. All lines were replicated once (12 lines in total). Each replicate line consisted of eight male and eight female parents per generation. Litter size was standardized to eight pups at birth. Mass selection was applied in the selected lines and within-family random selection in the control lines. Blood was taken from the orbital sinus of individual mice at 12 weeks of age for IGF-1 assay. Realized heritabilities were 0.10±0.01 for IGF-1 and 0.41 ± 0.02 for 12-week weight. The realized genetic correlation between IGF-1 and 12-week weight was 0.58 ± 0.01, with a phenotypic correlation of 0.38. Although the genetic correlation between IGF-1 and body weight in mice is moderately positive, 12-week weight responded 3.5 times as fast to weight selection as to selection for IGF-1.     

An isometric virus of the potato tuber moth Tecia solanivora (Povolny) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has a tri-segmented RNA genome

A small isometric virus has been isolated from larvae of the Guatemala potato tuber moth, Tecia solanivora (Povolny), collected in Ecuador. It was designated the Anchilibi virus (AnchV). The non-enveloped viral particles have an estimated diameter of 32 ± 2 nm. Three major proteins were found in virions, with estimated sizes of 102.0 ± 2.1, 95.8 ± 2.0 and 92.4 ± 1.5 kDa for AnchV as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis, the genome of AnchV appeared to be a tri-segmented single-stranded RNA with fragment sizes of 4.1 ± 0.2, 2.8 ± 0.2 and 1.65 ± 0.2 kb. In addition to a high virulence towards its original host, AnchV also caused high mortality in larvae of two other potato tuber moth species, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and Symmetrischema (tangolias) plaesiosema (Turner). Electron microscopy confirmed that AnchV replication occurs in the cell cytoplasm, mainly in vesicles. Several important characteristics exhibited by this virus differ from those reported for known families of insect viruses. Thus, AnchV might be member of a new taxonomic group.     

家蚕二化性杂交品种部分数量性状遗传参数的初步评估

采用完全随机设计法根据10头老熟幼虫体重、全茧重、茧层量、茧层率（%）、存活率、万蚕茧层量和茧丝长等指标,对两对二化性家蚕Bombyx mori L. 杂交品系（SH6×NB₄D₂和CSR₂×CSR₄）杂交一代的22个子代个体进行了遗传参数估算,以缩小优质蚕品种的候选范围,并且计算出直接筛选的参数,如遗传力和遗传进度等,使这些信息可用于以筛选高产新品种为目的的育种和选择过程中。杂交子代2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 16, 19和20号个体在这几个指标中表现出显著的优越性。全茧重、万蚕茧层量和茧丝长的遗传力和遗传进度较大,可以简单地从表现型的差异对这些性状进行选择并取得遗传性状改良。其他几个指标(10头老熟幼虫体重、茧层量、茧层率(%)和存活率)的遗传力和遗传进度较低,对这些性状进行直接选择来改良品种的效果较差。     

Stage dependent habitat use under conflicting predation pressure: An experimental test with larval and juvenile two-spotted gobies, Gobiusculus flavescens Fabricius

The effect of size, predator types and presence of multiple predators on the microhabitat use of larvae and juveniles of a sublittoral, semipelagically schooling fish, the two-spotted goby (Gobiusculus flavescens), was tested in two experiments. Larvae (15 and 25 days old, Experiment I) and juveniles (mean ± 1 S.E.: small, 15.9 mm ± 1.28; medium, 19.2 mm ± 1.43; and large, 23.4 mm ± 1.67, Experiment II) were allowed to choose between two sections of the tanks; an upper, representing a water column habitat, and a lower, artificially vegetated, representing the hyperbenthic habitat. Position of larvae or juveniles and the activity level of juveniles were recorded. Predator treatments were: (I) no predators (control), (II) a pelagic predator, the jellyfish Aurelia aurita L., (III) a hyperbenthic predator, the mysid Praunus flexuosus O.F. Müller or (VI) both predator types simultaneously. In Experiment I predators were restricted to the habitat which they were chosen to represent, while goby larvae could move freely. In Experiment II both predators and juvenile gobies were allowed to move freely between compartments.Increasing age caused larval gobies, but not juveniles to shift downwards. Only 25-day-old larvae and small juveniles avoided the mysid by shifting upwards. Larval response to A. aurita was also size dependant: 25-day-old larvae avoided medusae by shifting downwards, while 15 day olds did not. Emergent multiple predator effects were found for the vertical distribution of 15-day-old larvae and small juveniles. Larger juveniles were more active than smaller, both in the upper and the lower sections of tanks. P. flexuosus caused juvenile gobies in their vicinity (i.e. in the lower section) to increase their activity level, while small juveniles (but not medium-sized or large) increased their activity level even when further away (i.e. in the upper section). The presence of A. aurita led to a reduction in activity of small juveniles in its vicinity (i.e. in the upper section), while no response was observed among older juveniles or juveniles further away from the predator (i.e. in the lower section). Emergent multiple predator effects on the activity level of juveniles were not observed.     

Distribution and residual activity of two insecticidal proteins, avidin and aprotinin, expressed in transgenic tobacco plants, in the bodies and frass of Spodoptera litura larvae following feeding

To understand how a major cosmopolitan pest responds to two very different insecticidal proteins and to determine whether herbivorous insects and their frass could be environmental sources of recombinant proteins from transgenic plants, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) larvae were fed on tobacco leaves expressing either the biotin-binding protein, avidin, or the protease inhibitor, aprotinin. Control larvae received non-transgenic tobacco. Samples of larvae were taken after 5, 6 or 7 days’ feeding and frass was collected after two 24-h periods at 6 and 7 days. Insects in all treatments grew significantly during the experiment, but the avidin-fed larvae were significantly smaller than the others on Day 7. Avidin was found in all samples of avidin-fed larvae (7.0±0.86 ng mg⁻¹, n=45), at a lower level than in their frass (31.9±5.08 ng mg⁻¹, n=30), and these frass levels were lower than those of the the leaves fed to the larvae (69.0±6.71 ng mg⁻¹, n=45). All of the avidin detected in these samples was capable of binding biotin. On average, between 10 and 28% of avidin was recovered with the methods used, whereas almost full recovery of aprotinin was effected. Aprotinin levels in larvae (8.2±0.53 ng mg⁻¹, n=45) were also lower than aprotinin levels in frass (77.4±6.9 ng mg⁻¹, n=30), which were somewhat lower than those in the leaves fed to the larvae (88.6±2.51 ng mg⁻¹, n=45). Approximately half the trypsin-binding ability of aprotinin was lost in larvae, and in frass, aprotinin had lost about 90% of its ability to bind trypsin.     

Effect of varying levels of dietary essential fatty acid during early ontogeny of the sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus

This study investigated the biological effects of various dietary essential fatty acids levels to sea scallop larvae, Placopecten magellanicus. Scallop larvae were fed three diets from D-veliger to settlement. Diet A consisted of Isochrysis sp. and Pavlova lutheri, diet B was a mix of Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros muelleri and diet C consisted of the same two species, but C. muelleri was grown under silicate deprivation to alter the fatty acid composition. Pediveligers (28 days old) were sampled prior to settlement for fatty acid analysis, growth measurement and survival assessment. Survival and settlement success were measured at the end of the experiment (day 40). Our results show that feeding regime greatly influenced larval size, settlement and fatty acid composition. Diet A was severely deficient in arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA), leading to the poorest larval growth, survival and lipid content. Nevertheless, larvae fed diet A selectively accumulate AA by a factor three compared to the dietary amount. Shell size of 28-day-old larvae was positively correlated with AA content and negatively correlated with eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA)-AA ratio, thus suggesting that these two variables are of major interest for the optimisation of larval growth in sea scallops. Finally, larvae fed diet C displayed 20% higher shell size at day 28 than larvae fed diet A and B, likely in relation to the dietary amount of saturated fatty acid (SFA). However, the moderate survival and settlement success of these groups of larvae might be associated with a relative deficiency in docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA). This study underlines that the overall balance between polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) needs to be considered to adequately fed sea scallop larvae.     

Behavioural mechanisms of sea stars (Asterias vulgaris Verrill and Leptasterias polaris Müller) and crabs (Cancer irroratus Say and Hyas araneus Linnaeus) preying on juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus (Gmelin)), and procedural effects of scallop tethering

We compared predation rates and behaviours of sea stars (Asterias vulgaris and Leptasterias polaris) and crabs (Cancer irroratus and Hyas araneus) preying on juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus, 25-35 mm shell height) in laboratory. These predatory species co-occur with sea scallops on the sea bed of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, and limit scallop survival in seeding operations. We also examined, under controlled conditions, the effect of tethering scallops on predator-prey interactions. Predation rates, time budgets and encounter behaviours observed for A. vulgaris and C. irroratus preying on free (untethered) scallops were comparable to previous studies. C. irroratus were more effective predators as they consumed 3.1 scallops predator^− 1 day^− 1, although they spent only 0.9% of their time searching for prey. A. vulgaris consumed 0.9 scallops predator^− 1 day^− 1 and spent 7.6% of their time searching. Sea stars L. polaris had a lower predation rate (0.02 scallop predator^− 1 day^− 1) than A. vulgaris. The frequent avoidance behaviour of L. polaris and its low ability to capture scallops support the notion that scallops are not a main component of this sea star's diet. Crabs H. araneus had similar predation rates (1.3 scallops predator^− 1 day^− 1) and behaviours to C. irroratus, although the probability of consumption upon capture was affected by relatively high numbers of rejections and post-capture escapes of scallops. As expected, the tethering procedure increased predation rate of L. polaris (about 19 times higher), but surprisingly did not significantly affect that of A. vulgaris. Examination of behaviours indicated that A. vulgaris offered tethered scallops tended to have a higher probability of capture, but spent less time searching for prey (possibly because satiation was reached) than A. vulgaris offered free scallops. Predation rates and behaviours of both crab species were not affected by tethering, since encounter rate was the primary determinant of crab-scallop interactions. Identification and quantification of behaviours underlying the predation process allowed us to mathematically model predator-related mortality for the four predator species.