The role of in situ coral nurseries in supporting mobile invertebrate epifauna

Coral nurseries are commonly employed to generate coral material for reef restoration projects, but observations of epifaunal organisms utilising the nurseries for food and shelter indicate that they can also provide important functions beyond that of coral propagation. To examine the level of biodiversity that can be supported by coral nurseries, and investigate if epifaunal communities were influenced by the presence of live coral tissue, we compared the abundance, diversity and community composition of mobile invertebrate epifauna associated with live and dead fragments of three coral species (Pocillopora acuta, Echinopora lamellosa, Platygyra sinensis) that were reared in an in situ nursery. A total of 418 mobile invertebrates spanning 63 taxa were recorded from 22 coral colonies. The three coral species hosted significantly different epifaunal communities, most likely a consequence of the difference in growth forms of the coral hosts. Significant differences in epifaunal communities were only observed between live and dead colonies of P. acuta, indicating that resource provisioning in this species is particularly influenced by the presence of live tissue. Our findings showed that coral nurseries can support a range of mobile invertebrates and function as tools to conserve threatened mobile invertebrates. This ecological function is under-studied and should be assessed in restoration programs for the conservation of corals and associated fauna.     

THF INFLUENCE OF IRRADIANCE ON THF BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE PRYMNESIOPHYTE ISOCHRYSIS SP. (CLONE T-ISO)1

The effects of irradiance on the biochemical composition of the prymnesiophyte microalga, Isochrysis sp. (Parke; clone T-ISO), a popular species for mariculture, were examined. Cultures were grown under a 12:12 h light: dark (L:D) regime at five irradiances ranging from 50 to 1000 μE·m ²·s^?1 and harvested at late-logarithmic phase for analysis of biochemical composition. Gross composition varied aver the range of irradiances. The highest levels of protein were present in cells from cultures grown at 100 and 250 μE·m ³·s¹, and minimum levels of carbohydrate and lipid occurred at 50 μE·m^?2·s^?1. Because the cell dry weight was reduced at lower irradiances, different trends were evident when results were expressed as percentage of dry weights. Protein percentages were highest at Wand 100 μE·m^?2·s^?1 and carbohydrate at 100 μE·m^?2·s^?1. The composition of amino acids did not differ over the range of irradiances. Glutamate and aspartate were always present in high proportions (9.0–13.5%); histidine. methionine, tryptophan, cystine, and hydroxy-proline were minor constituents (0.0–2.6%). Glucose was the predominant sugar in all cultures, ranging from 23.0% (50 μE·m^?2·s^?1) to 45.0% (100 μE·m^?2·s^?1) of total polysaccharide. No correlation was found between the proportion of any of the sugars and irradiance. The proportions of the lipid class components and fatty acids showed little change with irradiance. The main fatty acids were 14:0, 16:0, 16:1(n-7), 18:1(n-9), 18:3(n-3). 18:4(n-3), 18:5(n-3), and 22:6(n-3). Proportions of 22: 6(n-3) increased, whereas l8:3(n-3). 18:3(n-6). and 18:4(n-3) decreased, with increasing irradiance. Pigment concentrations were highest in cultures grown at 50 μE·m^?2·s^?1, except for fucoxanthin and diadinoxanthin (100 μE·m^?2·s^?1). The concentrations of accessory pigments correlated with chlorophyll a, which decreased in concentration with increasing irradiance. On the basts of biochemical composition, an irradiance of 100 μE·m^?1·s^?1 (12:12 h L:D cycle)for the culture of Isochrysis sp. (clone T-ISO) may provide optimal nutritional value for maricultured animals, although feeding trials are now necessary to substantiate this.     

Studies on Gracilaria changii (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta) from Malaysian mangroves

Gracilaria changii, recorded from Malaysia and Thailand, is one of the more abundant agarophytic seaweeds found in Malaysia. A wild population of Gracilaria changii growing in mangroves was monitored for seasonal variation in agar content and gel strength as well as spore production. Agar yield and gel strength ranged from 12 to 25% dry weight and 294 to 563 g cm^–2, respectively, over a 15-month period. Gel strength but not yield was positively correlated with amount of rainfall. Cystocarps were observed throughout the study, but use of sporetraps showed that spore release peaked around July–August and January–February after the two monsoon periods.Mariculture of Gracilaria changii in shallow ponds in the mangroves, in an irrrigation canal and in a shrimp farm pond was conducted. Average growth rate of cuttings tied to monofilament lines was 3.3 ± 1.7% d^–1, 8.4 ± 1.8% d^–1 and 3.6 ± 1.6% d^–1 respectively. Cuttings were lost to siltation, wave action, predation and heavy epiphytisation.These studies show that Gracilaria changii has potential commercial application in the agar industry.     

Riboflavin content of six species of microalgae used in mariculture

Concentrations of riboflavin — a vitamin essential for maricultured animals—were measured in six species of microalgae commonly used in mariculture. These were two diatoms (Chaetoceros gracilis, Thalassiosira pseudonana); two prymnesiophytes (Isochrysis sp. (clone T.ISO),Pavlova lutheri); one chlorophyte (Nannochloris atomus) and one eustigmatophyte (Nannochloropsis oculata). Cultures were analysed during both logarithmic and stationary growth phase.The proportions of riboflavin (µg g^-1 dry weight) during logarithmic growth-phase ranged from 20 (T. pseudonana) to 40 µg g^-1 (Isochrysis sp. T.ISO). With the onset of stationary phase, the proportion of riboflavin increased in all species; the increase was most dramatic in cultures ofC. gracilis, T. pseudonana andN. atomus (2- to 3-fold).Chaetoceros gracilis contained more riboflavin (106 µg g^-1) than all other species (48 to 61 µ g^-1).Despite the differences in the composition of the different microalgae, across both logarithmic and stationary growth-phases, all species should provide a rich source of riboflavin for maricultured animals.Author for correspondence     

GROWTH DYNAMICS OF ULVA ROTUNDATA (CHLOROPHYTA) IN A FISH FARM: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOMITIGATION AT A LARGE SCALE1

Changes in biomass of several macroalgae [Ulva rotundata Bliding; Gracilariopsis longissima (S. G. Gmel.) Steentoft, L. M. Irvine et Farnham; Ulva intestinalis L.; and Cladophora sp.] and marine plants (Zostera noltii and Ruppia cirrhosa) growing naturally in earthen ponds of a fish farm (Acuinova, San Fernando, Southern Spain) were recorded during a year. The farm is mainly devoted to the culture of gilthered seabream (Sparus aurata). The most conspicuous algal species thriving in the ponds was U. rotundata, which reached densities up to 600 g dry mass · m⁻² and produced up to 20.45 g C · m⁻² · d⁻¹. Dissolved nutrients (phosphate and ammonium), tissue nutrient content, and growth rates of this species were estimated during 2001 and 2002. Evidence of natural biomitigation by U. rotundata when water circulates throughout the fish farm is presented. Due to the fish cultivation, both phosphate and ammonium increased as water circulated from the preculture ponds to the postculture ponds. As a consequence, U. rotundata tissue nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) increased from algae growing in preculture ponds to algae growing in the outflow channel, so that mean C:N:P ratio varied from 773:57:1 in preculture ponds to 567:64:1 in the outflow channel. Phosphorus limited growth of U. rotundata during the spring. As growth rates increased as a function of tissue P, data were fitted to the Droop equation. From this equation, the estimated maximal growth rate was 0.295 ± 0.041 d⁻¹, the subsistence quota was 0.05 ± 0.01% P of dry mass, and the critical quota was 0.215% P of dry mass. The results suggest that management of the fish farm based on a large-scale integrated mariculture system of fish and macroalgae may increase the total ecological and economic benefits, both for the farm and for the environment.     

汕头南澳养殖区表层沉积物中生源要素的分布及其污染评价

于2010年9月采集南澳海域鱼类养殖区、贝类养殖区、大型藻类栽培区和对照区4个功能区表层沉积物样品,分析沉积物中生物硅(BSi)、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)4种生源要素的含量。结果表明,南澳海域生源要素含量与国内外养殖区相比属于中等水平。鱼类养殖区TOC、TN、TP的含量最高,而BSi的最高含量出现在藻类栽培区(平均含量为0.30%)。鱼类养殖区BSi、TOC、TN和TP的平均含量分别为0.24%、0.89%、0.13%和0.097%。根据沉积物中TOC/TN比值分析,发现鱼类养殖区的TOC主要来源于水生,贝类、藻类和对照区TOC则主要来源于陆源。生源要素污染评价表明,4个功能区的TN均属于Ⅱ类污染,鱼类和贝类养殖区的TP属于Ⅱ类轻度污染。     

The Role of the Oldest Mariculture Farm in Restoration of Stock of the Japanese Scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis (Jay, 1856) in Posyet Bay, Sea of Japan

The pilot mariculture facility for rearing commercial invertebrates has existed in Minonosok Bay of Posyet Bay, Sea of Japan, since 1971. This bay is one of the few in Primorsky Krai where the risk of destruction of mariculture plantations from the effect of storms is a minimum. The total annually yield of spat of the Japanese scallop varied from 6 to 10 million individuals. Two-thirds of this amount was placed in cages for further rearing, and the rest was seeded on the bottom or passed to other enterprises. From 1972 to 2002 there were 104 million individuals of fitted juveniles (yearlings) and 24 million young-of-the-year seeded on the bottom in coastal water areas of the Primorsky Krai from Minonosok Bay. Thanks to the activity of the mariculture farm (two farms since 1994) in Posyet Bay, the stock of the Japanese scallop, which had been depleted by over-fishing in 1934–1935, was completely restored, and, according to our assumption, the total stock of the Japanese scallop was increased two times in Peter the Great Bay.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Vyshkvartsev, Regulev, Reguleva, Grigorjev, Lebedev.     

我国主要海域海水养殖碳汇能力评估及其影响效应——基于我国9个沿海省份面板数据

随着海水养殖业的碳汇功能逐渐被认识和肯定,海水养殖不再单是一项经济活动,而是对环境具有正向影响的碳汇生态活动。以我国沿海9个省份为例,选取海水养殖业碳汇主要贡献的贝类和藻类海产品,并按照各自的碳汇方式对我国沿海地区2008—2015年海水养殖碳汇能力测算,进一步将9个沿海省份按照主要海域划分为渤海、黄海、东海、南海,利用LMDI模型从海水养殖的结构效应和规模效应角度分析碳汇能力的区域差异和主要影响因素。研究结果显示,黄海沿岸海水养殖碳汇能力最强,南海沿岸海水养殖的碳汇转化比例最高,规模效应与我国沿海地区海水养殖碳汇能力始终呈正相关,结构效应的作用显著但不稳定。基于上述结论,我国沿海地区碳汇养殖业应首先提升碳汇养殖技术、稳定海水养殖产量,其次注重优化养殖结构,对碳汇潜力巨大的贝类多加关注。