Evolutionary transition to freshwater by ancestral marine palaemonids: evidence from osmoregulation in a tide pool shrimp

The transition from marine/brackish waters to freshwater habitats constitutes a severe osmotic and ionic challenge, and successful invasion has demanded the selection of morphological, physiological, biochemical and behavioral adaptations. We evaluated short-term (1 to 12 h exposure) and long-term (5 d acclimation), anisosmotic extracellular (osmolality, [Na(+), Cl(-)]) and long-term isosmotic intracellular osmoregulatory capability in Palaemon northropi, a neotropical intertidal shrimp. F northropi survives well and osmo- and ionoregulates strongly during short- and long-term exposure to 5-45 parts per thousand salinity, consistent with its rocky tide pool habitat subject to cyclic salinity fluctuations, Muscle total free amino acid (FAA) concentrations decreased by 63% in shrimp acclimated to 5%. salinity, revealing a role in hypoosmotic cell volume regulation; this decrease is mainly a consequence of diminished glycine, arginine and proline. Total FAA contributed 31% to muscle intracellular osmolality at 20 parts per thousand, an isosmotic salinity, and decreased to 13% after acclimation to 5 parts per thousand. Gill and nerve tissue FAA concentrations remained unaltered. These tissue-specific responses reflect efficient anisosmotic and anisoionic extracellular regulatory mechanisms, and reveal the dependence of muscle tissue on intracellular osmotic effectors. FAA concentration is higher in P. northropi than in diadromous and hololimnetic palaemonids, confirming muscle FAA concentration as a good parameter to evaluate the degree of adaptation to dilute media. The osmoregulatory capability of P. northropi may reflect the potential physiological capacity of ancestral marine palaemonids to penetrate into dilute media, and reveals the importance of evaluating osmoregulatory processes in endeavors to comprehend the invasion of dilute media by ancestral marine crustaceans.

Revisão taxonômica dos camarões de água doce (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae, Sergestidae) da Amazônia Peruana

Foi realizada uma revisão taxonômica das espécies de camarões de água doce da Amazônia peruana que abrangeu oito espécies da família Palaemonidae e uma espécie da família Sergestidae. São descritas duas novas espécies do gênero Pseudopalaemon e feitos os primeiros registros de Euryrhynchus amazoniensis Tiefenbacher, 1978, Macrobrachium jelskii Miers, 1877 e Palaemonetes ivonicus Holthuis, 1950 para o Peru. São fornecidos chave de identificação, dados distribucionais e ilustrações para as espécies estudadas.

Decapod crustaceans used as food by the Yanomami Indians of the Balawa-ú village, State of Amazonas, Brazil

The Yanomami are a group of South American Indians that live in the rainforest along the borderlands of Brazil and Venezuela. They depend on hunting, gardening and wild food for survival; crustaceans are a highly prized food item in their diet. Taxonomical and ethnozoological aspects of the Yanomami Indians of the Balawa-ú village, state of Amazonas, Brazil, related to the crustaceans are described. Information and specimens were obtained from August to December, 2003. Interviews were conducted with residents of the village and focused on questions about species exploited, indigenous names, modes of capture and use of the species. One shrimp species of the family Palaemonidae (Macrobrachium brasiliense) and two crab species of Trichodactylidae (Sylviocarcinus pictus, Valdivia serrata) as well as two of Pseudothelphusidae (Fredius fittkaui, F. platyacanthus) were recorded. The indigenous names applied to these species are: shuhu, for shrimp, oko and peimatherimi for each of the two pseudothelphusid crabs, and hesiki tôtôrema for both trichodactylid crabs.

Brachyuran crustaceans from the bycatch of prawn fisheries at the mouth of the Amazon river

The present paper is a pioneering study on the Brachyura bycatch associated with the artisan prawn fisheries at the mouth of the Amazon River. The study was conducted at four collection sites distributed along the mouth of the Amazon River between the months of January/2009 and January/2010. The animals were caught using handcrafted traps called "matapi", which are used by prawn fisherman in the region. Twenty matapis were used at each collection site. A total of 145 specimens were captured and six species were identified, all belonging to the Trichodactylidae family - Sylviocarcinus maldonadoensis, S. pictus, S. devillei, Valdivia serrata, Dilocarcinus septemdentatus and D. pagei. The most representative species, S. maldonadoensis, S. pictus and S. devillei were classified as regular. Regarding the composition of the capture, there were three specimens of D. pagei , only one male specimen of D. septemdentatus, forty-eight specimens of S. maldonadoensis, sixty-eight specimens of S. pictus, twenty-two specimens of S. devillei and three specimens of V. serrata. In all months, the brachyuran fauna showed a considerably lower biomass when compared to the prawns, representing only 5% of the catch, in a ratio of 1:0.06. For most species, the number of males was always higher than the number of females in almost all collection months.

Dinâmica trófica de Plagioscion squamosissimus (Perciformes, Sciaenidae) em trechos de influência da represa Capivara (rios Paranapanema e Tibagi)

Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) foi estudada em cinco trechos de influência da represa Capivara nos rios Paranapanema e Tibagi. As amostragens foram realizadas em dois períodos, 1992/1993 e 1994/1995, em coletas mensais, e sazonalmente no período 2001/2002. As capturas foram efetivadas com redes de espera simples com malhas entre 2 a 12 cm. Foram analisados 993 exemplares. Os itens alimentares identificados foram agrupados em categorias e analisados pelo método da composição percentual. A composição da dieta foi comparada entre os períodos de amostragens e entre trechos, pela análise de similaridade usando o coeficiente de Bray-Curtis. Os resultados indicaram que em todos os períodos e em todos os trechos houve uniformidade no consumo dos tipos de itens alimentares. Os itens encontrados foram agrupados em seis categorias: peixes, camarão, Odonata, Ephemeroptera, outros grupos de insetos e outros (material vegetal, detritos e organismos, raramente encontrados). Em todos os trechos e em todas as épocas analisadas, P. squamosissimus se manteve como carnívora, e no período 2001/2002 o item camarão (Macrobrachium amazonicum) foi o de maior participação em sua dieta. Concomitante com o fato de a corvina trocar de alimento substituindo peixes por camarão, mudou o comportamento quanto à freqüência na tomada de alimento e na variedade de tipos de itens consumidos. Quando P. squamosissimus utiliza camarão, maior número de indivíduos são encontrados nos estômagos, na maioria dos casos com apenas este tipo de item.

Diferença entre dois métodos de coleta utilizados na captura de crustáceos decápodes em um rio da Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, São Paulo

Durante os anos 2000 e 2001 foram realizadas coletas sazonais de crustáceos decápodes em dois pontos de um rio na Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, utilizando-se duas metodologias distintas (peneira e armadilha). Comparando-se ambos os métodos de coleta, foram constatadas diferenças quanto à composição e riqueza da carcinofauna capturada, grau de dominância e equitatividade, bem como tamanho e número de indivíduos coletados. Além disso, as razões sexuais de Macrobrachium acanthurus (Wiegmann, 1836) podem diferir dependendo do método de coleta utilizado. Devido à grande variedade de hábitats e hábitos dos crustáceos, pode-se inferir que, para um levantamento qualitativo e/ou quantitativo eficaz e apurado da comunidade de crustáceos decápodes dulcícolas de um determinado rio, é recomendado o uso de mais de um método de coleta.

Padrões ecomorfológicos associados à dieta de Plagioscion squamosissimus (Perciformes, Scianidae) em reservatório permanente, no Nordeste do Brasil

A alimentação de peixes e os padrões ecomorfológicos estão relacionados com vários fatores como ontogenia. O presente trabalho foi realizado a fim de testar a hipótese de que a dieta e os padrões ecomorfológicos apresentam correlações positivas entre os diferentes estágios de ontogenia de Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840), pois à medida que a espécie passa da fase jovem para adulta altera a sua alimentação e morfologia. A pescada foi escolhida por ser a espécie mais abundante no reservatório da Estação Ecológica de Tapacurá, Estado de Pernambuco. Os padrões ecomorfológicos foram avaliados e relacionados com a alimentação dos indivíduos capturados no reservatório no mês de abril de 2013. As medidas morfométricas foram retiradas de todos os indivíduos capturados e posteriormente recolhidos seus estômagos. Os peixes foram separados de acordo com a fase de desenvolvimento, juvenis e adultos. Também foram tomados seu peso total, comprimento padrão e aferidas onze medidas lineares, utilizadas para obter os índices que representam os atributos ecomorfológicos. Os itens alimentares foram identificados e separados até menor nível taxonômico possível, sendo o mais frequente o camarão Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862). Foi possível observar que nos juvenis os itens ingeridos apresentavam maior amplitude no tamanho em comparação com os adultos. Dos dados morfométricos observa-se que os valores de largura da cabeça são maiores nos juvenis e os valores da altura do corpo são mais elevados nos adultos, sendo estes fatores importantes para determinar o tamanho da presa ingerida pelo peixe. Conclui-se que a espécie Plagioscion squamosissimus mostrou relação positiva entre a morfologia e alimentação ao longo do desenvolvimento ontogenético evidenciado pela variação de comprimento dos itens ingeridos entre juvenis e adultos, porém não houve distinção em relação ao alimento ingerido entre eles.

Chemical composition and fatty acid contents in farmed freshwater prawns

The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical composition and fatty acid contents of Amazonian and giant river prawns. After four-month farming, with the same diet for both species, palmitic and stearic acids were the main saturated fatty acids. Oleic acid was the main monounsatured fatty acid, and the eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were the most abundant polyunsaturated acids. Amazonian prawn has higher levels of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids than those of the giant river prawn, which shows its potential for aquaculture.

Apptication of Biofloc Technology (BFI) in Ihe nunery rearing and farming of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachillm rosenbergii (de Man)

This thesis Entitled Application of Biofloc technology (BFT) In the Nursery Rearing and Farming of Giant Freshwater Prawn,Macrobrachium Rosenbergii(De Man). Aquaculture, rearing plants and animals under controlled conditions is growing with an annual growth rate of 8.3% in the period 1970-2008 (FAO, 2010). This trend of growth is essential for the supply of protein-rich food for ever increasing world population. But growth and development of aquaculture should be in sustainable manner, preferably without jeopardizing the aquatic environment.In the present study, the application of BFT in the nursery rearing and farming ofgiant freshwater prawn, M. rosenbergii, is attempted. The result of the study is organised into eight chapters. In the first chapter, the subject is adequately introduced. Various types of aquaculture practices followed, development and status of Indian aquaculture, present status of freshwater pravm culture, BF T and its use for the sustainable aquaculture systems, theory of BFT based aquaculture practices, hypothesis, objective and outline of the thesis are described. An extensive review of literature on studies carried out so far on biofloc based aquaculture are given in chapter 2. The third chapter deals with the application of BFT in the primary nursery phase of freshwater prawn. Several workers suggested the need for an intermediate nursery phase in the culture system of freshwater prawn for the successful production. Thirty day experiment was conducted to study the effect of BFT on the water quality, and animal welfare under the various stocking densities. The study concluded that stocking finfishes in biofloc-based monoculture system of freshwater prawns has the potential of increasing total yield. Prawns having a higher commercial value than finfishes besides ensuring economic sustainability. Results showed that prawn yield and survival was better in catla dominated tanks. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended to incorporate 25% rohu and 75% catla in the biofloc-based culture system of giant freshwater prawns. The results of the present study also recommend to stock relatively larger catla for biofloc-based culture system. Fish production was also higher in the 100% catla tank. When catla was added in higher percentages it should ensured that the hiding objects in the culture ponds shall be used in order to reduce the chance of cannibalism among prawns. rohu and catla equally have the ability to harvest the biofloc, catla consumes the planktonic contributes in the floc whereas rohu grazed on the bacterial consortium suspended in the water column. In Chapter 8, recommendations and future research perspectives in the field of biofloc based aquaculture is presented.

Studies on Reproductive Biology euui Mass Larval Rearing of Selected Species of Macrobrach

In India scientific commercial farming of Macrobrachium is yet to get a start, the major constraint being the lack of seed. Seed collection from the natural sources alone may not be sufficient, and in such cases seed production in hatcheries is inevitable. This necessitates knowledge of the reproductive biology of the species technology development for brood stock and larval rearing, and the optimum conditions required for larval development to undertake large scale seed production.The present study was taken up with the major objectives of developing a proper, simple and feasible technology for the larval rearing of Macrobrachium, with special emphasis on. mass larval rearing suitable for commercial level operations.

A marine bacterium, Micrococcus MCCB 104, antagonistic to vibrios in prawn larval rearing systems

marine bacterium, Micrococcus MCCB 104, isolated from hatchery water, demonstrated extracellular antagonistic properties against Vibrio alginolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. fluviallis, V. nereis, V. proteolyticus, V. mediterranei, V. cholerae and Aeromonas sp., bacteria associated with Macrobrachium rosenbergii larval rearing systems. The isolate inhibited the growth of V. alginolyticus during co-culture. The antagonistic component of the extracellular product was heat-stable and insensitive to proteases, lipase, catalase and α-amylase. Micrococcus MCCB 104 was demonstrated to be non-pathogenic to M. rosenbergii larvae

Stringed bed suspended bioreactors (SBSBR)for in situ nitrification in penaeid and non-penaeid hatchery systems

For establishing nitrification in prawn (non-penaeid, salinity 10–15 ppt) and shrimp (penaeid, salinity 30–35 ppt) larval production systems, a stringed bed suspended bioreactor (SBSBR) was designed, fabricated, and validated. It was fabricated with 5 mm polystyrene and low density polyethylene beads as the substrata for ammonia and nitrite oxidizing bacterial consortia, respectively, with an overall surface area of 684 cm2. The reactors were activated in a prototype activator and were transported in polythene bags to the site of testing. Performance of the reactors activated with the nitrifying bacterial consortia AMONPCU-1 (ammonia oxidizers for non-penaeid culture) and NIONPCU-1 (nitrite oxidizers for non-penaeid culture) was evaluated in a Macrobrachium rosenbergii larval rearing system and those activated with AMOPCU-1 (ammonia oxidizers for penaeid culture) and NIOPCU-1 (nitrite oxidizers for penaeid culture) in a Penaeus monodon seed production system. Rapid setting up of nitrification could be observed in both the static systems which resulted in a higher relative per cent survival of larvae

Kinetic Analysis of Gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase Activity in Selected Ontogenetic Stages of the Amazon River Shrimp, (Decapoda, Palaemonidae): Interactions at ATP- and Cation-Binding Sites

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Size-related shifts in dietary composition of Centropomus parallelus (Perciformes: Centropomidae) in an estuarine ecosystem of the southeastern coast of Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS of AMAZON RIVER PRAWN FARMING TO THE MARKETS FOR LIVE BAIT and JUVENILES IN PANTANAL, BRAZIL

The implementation of a hypothetical aquaculture facility with hatchery, nursery and grow-out earthen ponds for raising the Amazon River Prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum in the Pantanal was considered. Eight larviculture cycles per year were projected: four to produce post-larvae for stocking in grow-out bait ponds, and four to stock nursery tanks to sell juveniles as seed to grow-out farms, which produce prawns for human consumption. Annual production would be 146,880 dozen bait prawns and 2,938 thousand juveniles. The assumed sale prices were US$ 1.38 per dozen baits and US$ 15.39 per thousand juveniles. The net present value was US$ 555,890.79, internal rate of return was 48% per year, payback period was 2.4 years and benefit-cost ratio was 3.90. The breakeven price to cover total costs per dozen baits was US$ 0.70 and per thousand juveniles was US$ 17.00, indicating that the selling price assumed for juveniles in base scenario is not realistic. Net return was US$ 84,773.80. The results indicate that this activity would be a lucrative and attractive investment in the Pantanal.