What happened to the fishing boat that sank in piranha fish infested waters?
It came back with a skeleton crew
Just dropped off some stuff at AQWA.
Pea crabs in mussels.
Ever found one of these little white balls of a crab when you’re eating mussels?
I remember finding one as a kid and asked my dad what it was. It is a pea crab! They’re very cute little rotund crabs. What I thought then was a nice find, can actually cause production losses for mussel farmers.
| Aquaculture | |||||||||||||||||
| Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | |||||||||||||||||
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Impact of the parasitic pea crab Pinnotheres novaezelandiaeon aquacultured New Zealand green-lipped mussels, Perna canaliculus | ||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | Oliver Trottier, Dion Walker, Andrew G. Jeffs | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source: | Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Page Numbers: | 23 – 28 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Abstract: | Pea crabs are a common parasite of bivalves around the world and frequently cause problems for bivalve aquaculture through end-consumer complaints and rejections of consignments at international borders due to biosecurity concerns. However, the financial impact of pea crabs on aquaculture production has never been quantified for any bivalve species. A large scale systematic sampling of a typical green-lipped mussel farm in New Zealand revealed that pea crabs were present in 5.3% (±0.062 SE) of the mussels. The abundance of crabs increased gradually with decreasing water depth beneath the farm and greater distance from the shoreline. Mussels infected with pea crabs were 30% smaller in total wet weight [F1, 2573=669, p=0.00], had a 29% lower meat yield [F1, 2573=355, p=0.00], and shell dimensions were also significantly affected. A total production loss on the 1.71ha farm was estimated at 803kg at harvest. When this measured loss is extrapolated to current total mussel aquaculture production in New Zealand, pea crab infection represents an estimated loss to the industry of US$2.16 million annually. Our results indicate that parasitic pea crabs are producing a significant loss of production in shellfish farming aquaculture operations, even at low levels of infection, and therefore warrant a great deal more attention in terms of developing effective control measures. | ||||||||||||||||
| Citation: | Oliver Trottier, Dion Walker, Andrew G. Jeffs . Impact of the parasitic pea crab Pinnotheres novaezelandiaeon aquacultured New Zealand green-lipped mussels, Perna canaliculus. Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012), pp. 23-28, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4721B490FC09957E2DAE> | ||||||||||||||||
| URL: | http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4721B490FC09957E2DAE | ||||||||||||||||
Illegal Corals Seized at Manchester Airport
What manufactured foods do you feed your marine fish?
Following on from my recent post about teaching your fish to eat dried foods as a means of delivering medicines to fish if necessary in the future, I wonder what are some foods and their brands that you use that even the fussiest of eaters would accept?
Please do send me your comments and views. Tell me what brand, what form it comes in (flake, granules, pellets, sinking, floating, etc), the approximate cost and why you like it.
In-feed medication as a cure against white spot disease in marine fish.
In marine set-ups, it is not always possible to add medication to the water to cure many of the fish diseases because it could adversely affect the invertebrates in the system (e.g. coral, shrimp, molluscs). In-feed medication would be the better way to proceed provided the fish are eating and that they are able to accept dry/manufactured food in which medication can be applied to.
So, it is advisable to try and train your fishes to accept dry foods in the event that a disease outbreak occurs.
This paper shows results from research into a possible treatment for marine white spot disease in fish.
| Aquaculture | |||||||||||||||||
| Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | |||||||||||||||||
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Antiparasitic effect of dietary Romet®30 (SDMX–OMP) against ciliate Cryptocaryon irritans infection in the red sea bream Pagrus majorand tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes | ||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | Fumi Kawano, Noritaka Hirazawa, Kjersti Gravningen, Jan Oppen Berntsen | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source: | Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Page Numbers: | 35 – 39 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Abstract: | We investigated the effects of dietary Romet®30 (sulfadimethoxine–ormetoprim (SDMX–OMP)) on Cryptocaryon irritansinfection in red sea bream Pagrus majorand tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes. In Experiment I, 100% mortality of P. majordue to C. irritansinfection was observed at 10days and 21days after exposure to theronts (infective stage) in the a control group without Romet®30 and the group treated with 50mg Romet®30/kg body weight (BW)/day for 14days, respectively. Thus, mortality in the treated group was markedly delayed compared with that in the control group. In Experiment II, 100% mortality of P. majorin the control group due to C. irritansinfection was recorded at 11days after exposure to theronts. In contrast, mortality due to parasite infection was not observed in the group treated with Romet®30 at 50mg/kg BW/day for 14days, and no parasites were found in any surviving fish after 33days exposure. In addition, the number of parasites on the gills of T. rubripestreated with 50mg Romet®30/kg BW/day for 14days was significantly lower than that in the control group after 16days exposure. These results show that in-feed Romet®30 at 50mg/kg BW/day for 14days had antiparasitic and therapeutic effects against C. irritansin both P. majorand T. rubripes. Thus, dietary Romet®30 could be useful for controlling C. irritansinfection. | ||||||||||||||||
| Citation: | Fumi Kawano, Noritaka Hirazawa, Kjersti Gravningen, Jan Oppen Berntsen . Antiparasitic effect of dietary Romet®30 (SDMX–OMP) against ciliate Cryptocaryon irritansinfection in the red sea bream Pagrus majorand tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes. Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012), pp. 35-39, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4C4BA1F52453BCC01E99> | ||||||||||||||||
| URL: | http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4C4BA1F52453BCC01E99 | ||||||||||||||||
Effects of stocking density and sustained aerobic exercise on growth, energetics and welfare of rainbow trout.
| Aquaculture | |||||||||||||||||
| Volume 341, Number 5 (March 2012) | |||||||||||||||||
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Effects of stocking density and sustained aerobic exercise on growth, energetics and welfare of rainbow trout | ||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | D.J. McKenzie, E. Höglund, A. Dupont-Prinet, B.K. Larsen, P.V. Skov, P.B. Pedersen, A. Jokumsen | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source: | Aquaculture, Volume 341, Number 5 (March 2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Page Numbers: | 216 – 222 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Abstract: | Two stocking densities, “low” (L, between ~19 and ~25kgm-3) and “high” (H, between ~75 and ~100kgm-3) were compared for effects on specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion, energetics and welfare of rainbow trout reared at 14°C either in static water (S) or swimming in a gentle current of ~0.9 bodylengths s-1(C). Trout (initial mass ~110g) were reared for 9weeks in circular tanks (volume 0.6m3), in triplicate of four conditions (LS, LC, HS, HC). Fish were fed ad-libitum daily; waste pellets were swirl-collected at the outflow to calculate feed intake. SGR was measured each three weeks for the last six weeks of the trial. The tanks functioned as intermittent-stopped flow respirometers, to permit metabolic rate to be measured as instantaneous oxygen uptake once per hour. Mean (±SD) SGR was significantly lower at H than L (1.51±0.03 vs1.44±0.04% day-1, respectively, n=6) and lowest in HC. When compared over a similar interval of mass gain, H groups had approximately 25% higher metabolic rates than L, with the highest rates in the HC condition. As a result, fish in the H groups dissipated a greater amount of feed energy as metabolism and, across all groups, there was a direct negative relationship between the quantity of energy dissipated and their SGR. There was no evidence of a neuroendocrine stress response, plasma cortisol was around 1ngml-1in all conditions. An acute crowding stress increased plasma cortisol to above 120ngml-1in all groups, but C groups recovered to control levels within 8h whereas S groups required 20h. Respirometry on individuals revealed that H fish had approximately 14% higher metabolic rates than L fish, indicating that increased metabolic rate in rearing tanks was in part physiological. The H groups had approximately 15% lower critical swimming speeds than the L groups which, together with their raised metabolic rate, indicated a physiological impairment. Thus, high density reduced SGR by raising energy dissipation, at least partially as a physiological response by the fish, although there was no evidence of an endocrine stress response. The only beneficial effect of C was in recovery from acute stress. | ||||||||||||||||
| Citation: | D.J. McKenzie, E. Höglund, A. Dupont-Prinet, B.K. Larsen, P.V. Skov, P.B. Pedersen, A. Jokumsen . Effects of stocking density and sustained aerobic exercise on growth, energetics and welfare of rainbow trout. Aquaculture, Volume 341, Number 5 (March 2012), pp. 216-222, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4D9DBDAC247D45807360> | ||||||||||||||||
| URL: | http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4D9DBDAC247D45807360 | ||||||||||||||||
What is an “ocean trout”?
I was served an ocean trout for my meal last night. What fish is an ocean trout? It is not coral trout because it has red flesh and skin resembling Atlantic salmon. Is it the same thing?
Ocean trout is actually rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) that has been finished at sea and in this way, avoids the muddy taint in its meat.
Sending Sharks to School: Brain Evolution in Sharks and Their Relatives – seminar at UWA today.
It’s not the size of the brain, but how wrinkly is the brain.
Find out more from the email forward below.
From: Lorraine Dorn [mailto:lorraine.dorn@uwa.edu.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 8 May 2012 2:37 PM
To: Lorraine Dorn
Subject: FW: SESE/OI Seminar Series – Kara Yopak – 10th May 2012
School of Environmental Systems Engineering and The UWA Oceans Institute Seminar Series
Dr Kara E. Yopak
The University of Western Australia
School of Animal Biology and The UWA Oceans Institute
Neuroecology Group
Sending Sharks to School: Brain Evolution in Sharks and Their Relatives
Cartilaginous fishes are comprised of approximately 1185 species worldwide and occupy a range of niches and primary habitats. It is a widely accepted view that neural development can reflect morphological adaptations and sensory specializations and it has been shown that similar patterns of brain organization, termed cerebrotypes, exist in species of that share certain lifestyle characteristics. Clear patterns of brain organization exist across cartilaginous fishes, irrespective of phylogenetic grouping. Examination of brain size (encephalization, n = 151) and interspecific variation in brain organization (n = 84) across this group suggests that similar patterns of brain organization, termed “cerebrotypes”, exist in species that share certain lifestyle characteristics. Clear patterns of brain organization exist across cartilaginous fishes, irrespective of phylogenetic grouping and, although this study was not a functional analysis, it provides further evidence that chondrichthyan brain structures might have developed in conjunction with specific behaviours or enhanced cognitive capabilities. Larger brains, with well-developed telencephala and large, highly foliated cerebella are reported in species that occupy complex reef or oceanic habitats, such as Prionace glauca and Sphyrna zygaena. In contrast, benthic and benthopelagic demersal species comprise the group with the smallest brains, such as Cephaloscyllium spp. and Squatina californica, with a relatively reduced telencephalon and a smooth cerebellar corpus. There is also evidence of a bathyal cerebrotype; deep-sea benthopelagic sharks, such as Centroselachus crepidater and Harriotta raleighana possess relatively small brains and show a clear relative hypertrophy of the medulla oblongata. Despite the patterns observed and documented, significant gaps in the literature have been highlighted. Brain mass data are only currently available on c. 16% of all chondrichthyan species, and only 8% of species have data available on their brain organization, with far less on subsections of major brain areas that receive distinct sensory input. The interspecific variability in brain organization further stresses the importance of performing functional studies on a greater range of species. Only an expansive data set, comprised of species that span a variety of habitats and taxonomic groups, with widely disparate behavioural repertoires, combined with further functional analyses, will help shed light on the extent to which chondrichthyan brains have evolved as a consequence of behaviour, habitat and lifestyle in addition to phylogeny.
4.00 pm Thursday, 10th May 2012
Lecture Theatre 1, G17 Mathematics Building
ALL WELCOME
Convenor: Anya Waite (6488 3082)
Host: tba (6488 1690)
—
Lorraine Dorn
Academic Services (South Division)
School of Environmental Systems Engineering
The University of Western Australia
M015, 35 Stirling Highway
Crawley 6009 Western Australia
Phone: 6488 3701
Fax: 6488 1015
Email: lorraine.dorn@uwa.edu.au
What to do if you encounter Chlorine toxicity?
How uncanny!
Following in from my two recent posts on 2nd and 3rd May (“Refilling your pond with a hose? Beware!” and “How can you use water safely , straight from the tap?”).
Today, I received a call from a distraught goldfish owner who had left their hose on overnight! With 80% mortalities, asking what to do now?
My suggestion was to quickly purchase some anti chlorine from the LFS and some rock salt to dose the pond ASAP!
What a shame as they have had the goldfish for 12+ years! A sad day for everyone involved.
As a fish owner myself, I always have handy, a heap of anti chlorine, a heap of salt and a heap of activated carbon (and other veterinary medicines) on hand to tackle any such incidences. Make sure you too have a stash of these for emergencies.