Activity in the pallial nerve of knobbed (Busycon carica) and channeled (Busycotypus canaliculatum) whelks recorded during exposure of the osphradium to odorant solutions

Adult horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are the preferred bait in the U.S. east coast whelk pot fishery, but their harvest is being restricted because of severe population declines in the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. To identify other baits, the activity in the pallial nerve of whelks was determined during exposure of the osphradium to odorant solutions prepared from horseshoe crab eggs, horseshoe crab hemolymph, and hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) tissue. All three elicited significant responses; bait based on them may provide an alternative to the use of adult horseshoe crabs, although extensive behavioral testing remains to be done. Channeled whelk did not respond to molecular weight fractions (>3 kDa and <3 kDa) prepared from horseshoe crab egg odorant solutions but did respond when the molecular weight fractions were recombined. Whelks appear to have broadly tuned chemoreceptors and manufactured baits may need to mimic the complex mixture of odorants derived from natural sources.

Small-scale Commercial Culturing of Northern Bay Scallops, Argopecten irradians irradians, in Atlantic United States and Canada

In recent decades, hatchery-growout culture of oysters, Crassostrea virginica, and northern quahogs, Mercenaria mercenaria, has been commercially successful in Atlantic United States and oysters in Atlantic Canada. Culturists have not had success, as yet, with northern bay scallops, Argopecten irradians irradians. Large mortalities occur during the culture process, mainly because the scallops are relatively delicate and some die when handled. In addition, too little edible meat, i.e. the adductor muscle, is produced for the culture operation to be profitable. However, three companies, one in Massachusetts, one in New Brunswick, and one on Prince Edward Island, Canada, have discovered that they can produce bay scallops successfully by harvesting them when partially-to fully-grown and selling them whole. In restaurants, the scallops are cooked and served with all their meats (adductor muscles and rims) and also with the shells, which have been genetically-bred for bright colors. The scallop seed are produced in hatcheries and then grown in lantern or pearl nets and cages to market size. Thus far, production has been relatively small, just beyond the pilot-scale, until a larger demand develops for this product.

History of Molluscan Fishery Regulations and the Shellfish Officer Service in Massachusetts

Oysters, Crassostrea virginica, and softshell clams, Mya arenaria, along the Massachusetts coast were harvested by European colonists beginning in the 1600’s. By the 1700’s, official Commonwealth rules were established to regulate their harvests. In the final quarter of the 1800’s, commercial fishermen began harvesting northern quahogs, Mercenaria mercenaria, and northern bay scallops, Argopecten irradians irradians, and regulations established by the Massachusetts Legislature were applied to their harvests also. Constables (also termed wardens), whose salaries were paid by the local towns, enforced the regulations, which centered on restricting harvests to certain seasons, preventing seed from being taken, and personal daily limits on harvests. In 1933, the Massachusetts Legislature turned over shellfisheries management to individual towns. Local constables (wardens) enforced the rules. In the 1970’s, the Massachusetts Shellfish Officers Association was formed, and was officially incorporated in 2000, to help the constables deal with increasing environmental problems in estuaries where fishermen harvest mollusks. The constables’ stewardship of the molluscan resources and the estuarine environments and promotion of the fisheries has become increasingly complex.

History of the Bay Scallop, Argopecten irradians, Fisheries and Habitats in eastern North America, Massachusetts through northeastern Mexico

This is a broad historical overview of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians, fishery on the East and Gulf Coasts of North America (Fig. 1). For a little over a century, from about the mid 1870’s to the mid 1980’s, bay scallops supported large commercial fisheries mainly in the U.S. states of Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina and on smaller scales in the states in between and in western Florida. In these states, the annual harvests and dollar value of bay scallops were far smaller than those of the other important commercial mollusks, the eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, and northern quahogs, Mercenaria mercenaria, but they were higher than those of softshell clams, Mya arenaria (Table 1). The fishery had considerable economic importance in the states’ coastal towns, because bay scallops are a high-value product and the fishery was active during the winter months when the economies in most towns were otherwise slow. The scallops also had cultural importance as a special food, an ornament owing to its pretty shell design, and an interesting biological component of

Quahogs in Eastern North America: Part II, History by Province and State

The northern quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria, ranges along the Atlantic Coast of North America from the Canadian Maritimes to Florida, while the southern quahog, M. campechiensis, ranges mostly from Florida to southern Mexico. The northern quahog was fished by native North Americans during prehistoric periods. They used the meats as food and the shells as scrapers and as utensils. The European colonists copied the Indians treading method, and they also used short rakes for harvesting quahogs. The Indians of southern New England and Long Island, N.Y., made wampum from quahog shells, used it for ornaments and sold it to the colonists, who, in turn, traded it to other Indians for furs. During the late 1600’s, 1700’s, and 1800’s, wampum was made in small factories for eventual trading with Indians farther west for furs. The quahoging industry has provided people in many coastal communities with a means of earning a livelihood and has given consumers a tasty, wholesome food whether eaten raw, steamed, cooked in chowders, or as stuffed quahogs. More than a dozen methods and types of gear have been used in the last two centuries for harvesting quahogs. They include treading and using various types of rakes and dredges, both of which have undergone continuous improvements in design. Modern dredges are equipped with hydraulic jets and one type has an escalator to bring the quahogs continuously to the boats. In the early 1900’s, most provinces and states established regulations to conserve and maximize yields of their quahog stocks. They include a minimum size, now almost universally a 38-mm shell width, and can include gear limitations and daily quotas. The United States produces far more quahogs than either Canada or Mexico. The leading producer in Canada is Prince Edward Island. In the United States, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island lead in quahog production in the north, while Virginia and North Carolina lead in the south. Connecticut and Florida were large producers in the 1990’s. The State of Tabasco leads in Mexican production. In the northeastern United States, the bays with large openings, and thus large exchanges of bay waters with ocean waters, have much larger stocks of quahogs and fisheries than bays with small openings and water exchanges. Quahog stocks in certified beds have been enhanced by transplanting stocks to them from stocks in uncertified waters and by planting seed grown in hatcheries, which grew in number from Massachusetts to Florida in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Quahogs in Eastern North America: Part I, Biology, Ecology, and Historical Uses

The northern quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria, ranges along the Atlantic Coast of North America from the Canadian Maritimes to Florida, while the southern quahog, M. campechiensis, ranges mostly from Florida to southern Mexico. The northern quahog was fished by native North Americans during prehistoric periods. They used the meats as food and the shells as scrapers and as utensils. The European colonists copied the Indians treading method, and they also used short rakes for harvesting quahogs. The Indians of southern New England made wampum from quahog shells, used it for ornaments and sold it to the colonists, who, in turn, traded it to other Indians for furs. During the late 1600’s, 1700’s, and 1800’s, wampum was made in small factories for eventual trading with Indians farther west for furs. The quahoging industry has provided people in many coastal communities with a means of earning a livelihood and has provided consumers with a tasty, wholesome food whether eaten raw, steamed, cooked in chowders, or as stuffed quahogs. More than a dozen methods and types of gear have been used in the last two centuries for harvesting quahogs. They include treading and using various types of rakes and dredges, both of which have undergone continuous improvements in design. Modern dredges are equipped with hydraulic jets and one type has an escalator to bring the quahogs continuously to the boats. In the early 1900’s, most provinces and states established regulations to conserve and maximize yields of their quahog stocks. They include a minimum size, now almost universally a 38-mm shell width, and can include gear limitations and daily quotas. The United States produces far more quahogs than either Canada or Mexico. The leading producer in Canada is Prince Edward Island. In the United States, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island lead in quahog production in the north, while Virginia and North Carolina lead in the south. Connecticut and Florida were large producers in the 1990’s. The State of Campeche leads in Mexican production. In the northeastern United States, the bays with large openings, and thus large exchanges of bay waters with ocean waters, have much larger stocks of quahogs and fisheries than bays with small openings and water exchanges. Quahog stocks in certifi ed beds have been enhanced by transplanting stocks to them from stocks in uncertified waters and by planting seed grown in hatcheries, which grew in number from Massachusetts to Florida in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

双壳贝类幼虫变态诱导及其机理研究

变态过程是双壳贝类由幼虫向成体转变的一个必不缺少的发育阶段。研究双壳贝类幼虫的变态过程及其机理，对于阐明它们的种群数量变动，促进重要经济双壳贝类增养殖的发展有重要的理论和实践意义。本论文除了用化学物质对几种双壳贝类(海湾扇贝、墨西哥湾扇贝和硬壳蛤)幼虫的变态进行诱导外，主要以激素和神经递质的作用方式为基础，通过直接测定双壳贝类(以海湾扇贝为代表)幼虫体内激素和神经递质、第二信使cAMP等生化物质含量的变化来研究双壳贝类幼虫变态过程中的信息传递途径，从分子生物学和神经生物学角度阐明双壳贝类幼虫变态机理。主要结果如下：1．通过参考国内外大量文献的基础上，较为系统地评述了近二十年来海洋无脊椎动物幼虫附着变态研究的一些进展情况，主要包括诱导因子、附着变态机理模型、人工诱导物的应用和延迟变态四个方面。到目前为止，人们已经发现了许多海洋无脊椎动物幼虫附着变态的诱导物质，主要分为天然诱导物和人工诱导物两大类，一些人工诱导物如GABA、肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素已经在经济贝类苗种生产中得到应用。幼虫附着变态机理模型主要有长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)幼虫附着变态的双调控模型、红鲍(Haliotis rufescens)幼虫附着变态的上行调节模型以及多毛类Phragmatopoma california幼虫附着变态的脂肪酸调控模型。本论文还评述了海洋无脊椎动物幼虫发生延迟变态的原因以及延迟变态对海洋无脊椎动物造成的影响，并提出了解决的方法和今后研究的重点问题。2．在室内用氯化乙酰胆碱、ATP和CaCl_2 3种化学物质对海湾扇贝幼虫的变态进行了诱导实验。结果表明，虽然在个别浓度和处理时间氯化乙酰胆碱和ATP有诱导作用，但总体诱导效果不显著。而10×10~(-3)～40×10~(-3M的CaCl_2在处理12～24h后诱导效果较显著，其诱导效果对处理时间的依赖性较显著，在浓度为40×10~(-3)M和处理时间为24h时诱导效果最好，与对照组相比，变态率提高23.18％。3种诱导物对幼虫死亡率均有显著影响，并且死亡率对浓度和处理时间均有显著的依赖性，浓度越高，处理时间越长，死亡率越高。3．用KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素和氯化胆碱进行了墨西哥湾扇贝(Argopectenirradians concentricus Say)幼虫变态的诱导作用实验。结果表明，KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素和氯化胆碱对墨西哥湾扇贝幼虫变态均有显著诱导作用。KCl在处理时间为12h～48h范围内均有诱导作用；13.42×10~(-3)M和20.13×10~(-3)M的KCl诱导效果较好，变态率平均提高10％以上。1．O×10~(-6)M～50×10~(-6)M的肾上腺素在处理时间为lh～12h较适宜，此时变态率均提高10％以上。1.0×10~(-6)M～50×10~(-6)M的去甲肾上腺素在处理时间为1h～24h都较适宜，变态率平均均提高10％以上，最高可提高31．07％。0.01×10~(-4)M～1.O×10~(-4)M的氯化胆碱在处理时间为12h～48h时诱导效果均较好，它们之间的平均变态提高率并没有显著差别，均在12％～13％之间。10×10~(-4)M的氯化胆碱在处理时间为12h时诱导效果较明显，变态率可以提高19.14％，超过12h，变态率明显下降，100×10~(-4)M的氯化胆碱明显产生毒害作用，幼虫变态率均为零，而幼虫的死亡率均为100％。4．用KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、L-DOPA、5-羟色胺(5-hydroxytryptamine，Serotonin，5-HT)和GABA(γ-氨基丁酸)进行了不同浓度不同处理时间对硬壳蛤(Mercenaria mercenaria L.)幼虫变态诱导实验。结果表明，KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、L-DOPA和5-羟色胺对硬壳蛤幼虫的变态均有诱导作用，而GABA的诱导 作用不显著。KCl的最佳诱导浓度随处理时间不同而有所不同。当处理时间为1～24h时，KCl的最佳诱导浓度为33.56×10~(-3)M，此时幼虫变态率均提高24％以上，当处理时间为48h时，KCl的最佳诱导浓度为20.13～26.85×10~(-3)M，处理时间为72h时，最佳诱导浓度为13.42×10~(-3)M。肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素的诱导作用与浓度和处理时间均有关。肾上腺素的最佳处理浓度为100×10~(-6)M，最佳处理时间均为8h，此时幼虫变态率提高最大，为36.97％。当去甲肾上腺素的诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M，处理时间为8h～16h时，幼虫变态提高率较高，均大于18％，死亡提高率均低于30％，当去甲肾上腺索诱导浓度为500×10~(-6)M时，虽然在8h～16h的处理时间范围内，幼虫变态提高率也较高，均大于18％，但当处理时间超过8h，在16～48h范围内，幼 虫死亡提高率明显升高，均大于50％。L-DOPA的适宜诱导浓度为10×10~(-6)M～50×10~(-6)M，适宜处理时间为8～24h，此时幼虫变态率均提高30％以上，最高可提高79.43％。5-羟色胺的诱导作用较强，其适宜诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M—1000×10~(-6)M，适宜处理时间为0.5～24h，此时幼虫变态率提高均在30％以上，当处理时间为8h时，最佳诱导浓度为1000×10~(-6)M，此时幼虫变态率提高57.5％，当处理时间为24h时，最佳诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M，此时幼虫变态率提高69.29％。GABA的诱导作用较弱，最佳诱导浓度随处理时间的不同而有所不同。处理时间为24h和48h时，最佳诱导浓度为0.1×10~(-6)M；处理时间为0.5～16h时，最佳诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M。5．KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺索、L-DOPA、5-羟色胺、GABA、茶碱和咖啡因8种诱导物对不同发育阶段海湾扇贝幼虫变态的诱导作用是不同的。13．42×10~(-3)M和20.13×10~(-3)M的KCl对第12天幼虫的变态有抑制作用，变态提高率为负值；之后当幼虫发育至第13和14天时，两浓度的KCl能够明显诱导幼虫变态，变态提高率均高于20％，而对于第16天的幼虫诱导作用有所减弱，变态提高率有所降低；26.85×10~(-3)M的KCl对第12和13天幼虫的变态均有抑制作用，变态提高率为负值，对第14和16天幼虫的变态却有明显的持续的诱导作用，变态提高率分别为22.98％和37.5％。神经递质肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、L-DOPA、5-羟色胺和GABA的诱导作用规律基本相似，即对第13天海湾扇贝幼虫的变态有明显的抑制作用，变态提高率均为负值，而对第14天幼虫的诱导作用较显著。茶碱和咖啡因作为影响细胞内cAMP的物质，它们的诱导作用规律与神经递质有所不同。它们对第13天海湾扇贝幼虫变态的诱导效果最好。6．测定了不同发育阶段及人工诱导后海湾扇贝幼虫体内去甲肾上腺素、多巴胺和5-羟色胺含量的变化规律。结果表明，海湾扇贝幼虫体内去甲肾上腺索含量在变态前和变态后没有明显变化，变态前为2352(pg／mg湿重)，变态后为2770(pg／mg湿重)。多巴胺和5-羟色胺含量在变态前随幼虫的发育而增加，变态前(第13天)急剧增加，第13天的幼虫比第12天的幼虫分别增加了2.8倍和5.7倍，变态后急剧下降，变态后幼苗比第13天的幼虫分别降低了25.1倍和16.4倍。海湾扇贝幼虫体内DA：NE比和5-HT：NE比在变态前和变态后变化比较剧烈。DA：NE比和5-HT：NE比在变态前(第13天)急剧增加，第13天的幼虫比第12天的幼虫增加了3.O倍(DA：NE比)和5.0倍(5-HT:NE比)；变态后急剧降低，变态后幼苗比第13天的幼虫降低了29.8倍(DA：NE比)和19.5倍(5-HT：NE比)。海湾扇贝幼虫经KCl和氯化钙诱导24h后，体内去甲肾上腺素、多巴胺和5-羟色胺以及DA：NE比和5-HT：NE比均有所降低。本实验的结果表明，多巴胺和5-羟色胺可能启动了海湾扇贝幼虫的变态过程。7．茶碱和咖啡因对墨西哥湾扇贝幼虫的变态均有明显诱导作用。它们的诱导作用均对浓度的依赖性较强，对处理时间的依赖性较弱。10×10~(-4)M的茶碱诱导效果最好，平均变态提高率达33％，其次为1.0×10~(-4)M和100×10~(-4)M的茶碱，平均变态提高率分别为23.15％和21.97％。处理时间对茶碱诱导效果影响不显著，在1～24h范围内，平均变态提高率在19.07～26.1％之间变动。10×10~(-4)M的咖啡因诱导效果最佳，4个处理时间的平均变态提高率为36.01％，其次为100×10~(-4)M，平均变态提高率为26.43％。处理时间对茶碱的诱导效果影响不大，在1～24h范围内，平均变态提高率在19.65～22.02％之间变动。8．采用直接测定cAMP的方法来研究cAMP是否参与了海湾扇贝幼虫的变态过程。结果表明，cAMP参与了海湾扇贝幼虫的变态过程。海湾扇贝幼虫体内cAMP含量随着发育阶段的不同而有所变化。在D形幼虫期最低，为73 pmol／(mg蛋白质)；当到达壳顶期幼虫时cAMP含量明显增加，比D形幼虫期提高了12.7倍。从壳顶期幼虫到眼点幼虫(100％，第13天)cAMP含量增加速度较慢，各发育阶段分别比前一发育阶段增加了0.4倍、0.3倍和0.2倍。但当幼虫变态后，体内cAMP含量又急剧增加，幼苗体内cAMP含量比眼点幼虫(100％，第13天)增加了6.1倍。当用KCl、肾上腺索和L-DOPA诱导后，幼虫体内cAMP含量明显增加，分别比对照组提高了7.8倍、1.5倍和10.7倍，说明cAMP参与了这3种诱导物诱导海湾扇贝幼虫变态的过程。9．在前面实验结果和参考有关文献的基础上，初步提出了以海湾扇贝为代表的双壳贝类幼虫变态机理模型：幼虫变态分为两个过程：启动过程和后续过程。当幼虫发育到一定阶段，在外界刺激因子的作用下，体内分泌多巴胺和5-羟色胺，多巴胺和5-羟色胺通过某种信号转导途径(如以DG和IP_3为第二信使)启动变态过程，变态过程启动后，又激活以cAMP为第二信使的信号转导途径(暂时称为后续过程)，两者共同完成了幼虫的变态过程。

硬壳蛤性腺发育和卵母细胞成熟机理初步研究

采用体外药物诱导的方法，研究了5-羟色胺（5-hydroxytryptamine，5-HT）诱导的硬壳蛤卵母细胞成熟过程中cAMP信号通路的作用。结果表明，5-HT （0.01—100µM）均能够显著地诱导硬壳蛤卵母细胞的成熟。磷酸二酯酶抑制剂—咖啡因、茶碱和IBMX（3-异丁基-1-甲基黄嘌呤）可以单独抑制卵母细胞的自发成熟，但效果不显著。10mM的咖啡因和茶碱以及5mM的IBMX能够显著地抑制5-HT的诱导效果。dbcAMP（双丁酰基环腺苷一磷酸）不但能够抑制卵母细胞的自发成熟，而且还可以抑制5-HT诱导的成熟。因此，cAMP信号通路参与了5-HT诱导的硬壳蛤卵母细胞的成熟过程，并且该信号通路起着负调控的作用。 研究了PLC（磷脂酶C）和PKC（蛋白激酶C）的激活剂/抑制剂对5-羟色胺诱导的卵母细胞成熟的影响。高浓度的新霉素（PLC抑制剂）可以抑制5-HT诱导的卵母细胞的成熟，而DMBA（9,10-Dimethy-1,2-benzanthracene，9,10–二甲基胆蒽，PLC激活剂）则能够促进成熟。PMA（phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate，佛波十四烷酸乙酸酯，PKC激活剂）能够抑制5-HT诱导的成熟，而Spingosine（PKC抑制剂）则可以促进卵母细胞的成熟。从而推测，5-HT诱导的卵母细胞成熟需要磷脂酰肌醇信号通路的激活。PLC浓度的降低能够抑制5-HT诱导的卵母细胞成熟；PKC浓度的降低则会促进卵母细胞的成熟。因此，在硬壳蛤卵母细胞的成熟过程中，PLC起促进的作用，DAG（二酰肌甘油）–PKC通路则起抑制的作用。 细胞外高浓度Ca2+能够促进硬壳蛤卵母细胞的成熟，Ca2+离子载体A23187也可以促进硬壳蛤卵母细胞的成熟。1-100µM异搏定（Verapamil，钙离子通道阻断剂）能够抑制卵母细胞的成熟，而100µM的Verapamil能够完全抑制其成熟。上述结果表明细胞外Ca2+对硬壳蛤卵母细胞的成熟是必需的，而且起到促进卵母细胞成熟的作用。三氟拉嗪（TFP，Ca2+与CaM结合的拮抗剂）能够抑制卵母细胞的成熟，高浓度的三氟拉嗪（1mM）能够完全抑制卵母细胞的成熟。说明CaM起到促进卵母细胞成熟的作用。可见，Ca2+通过与CaM的相互作用，共同起到促进硬壳蛤卵母细胞成熟的作用。 5-HT诱导成熟的卵母细胞可以完成受精过程，其受精过程以及幼虫发育情况与正常受精发育过程类似，没有显著差异。高浓度的新霉素可以抑制受精过程，而茶碱和咖啡因对受精没有影响。从而推测，磷脂酰肌醇信号通路参与了硬壳蛤卵母细胞的受精过程，而cAMP信号通路可能没有参与受精过程。 发现硬壳蛤的性腺发育与我国常见的双壳类如泥蚶相似。硬壳蛤卵母细胞中卵黄粒主要由线粒体、高尔基液泡、内质网和微吞饮泡形成。

牡蛎染色体的分子生物学分析

本研究应用显带技术和荧光原位杂交(Fluorescence in situ hybridization，FISH)技术，鉴定了牡蛎的染色体；应用FISH方法定位了一系列的重复序列和大分子的P1克隆DNA；制备了染色体特异性探针。应用FISH特异性探针成功地鉴定了长牡蛎的三体10。结果如下：1．分析了G带和C带在美洲牡蛎染色体上的分布。G带在每一条染色体上的带型不同，某些染色体间(如第1对和第4对染色体，第7对和第9对染色体)的带型差别不是很明显。G带型容易受染色体收缩程度的影响。C带型重复性较好，染色体带型较清楚，分布在染色体的端粒区域和着丝粒区域。G带和C带带型能够用来鉴定牡蛎的染色体，但是重复性低和带型差异不显著，并不适合常规的染色体鉴定。2．早期胚胎和担轮幼虫制备的染色体适合于FISH分析。染色体制备方法重复性好，可适用于其它贝类的染色体制备。3．研究了重复序列基因--rDNA的定位：1)18S-5.8S rDNA在研究的五种巨蛎属Crassostrea牡蛎均只有一个位 点。太平洋种(C.gigas，C. ariakensis和C. plicatula)中，杂交信号位于最短的染色体一第10对染色体长臂的端粒区域，在大西洋种(C. virginica和C. rhizophorae)中，同一序列定位在第2对染色体短臂的端粒区域。2)18S-28S rDNA在两种蛤中有两个位点。rDNA探针定位在侏儒蛤(Mulinis Lateralis)的第15对和第19对染色体的端粒区域，同一序列定位在硬壳蛤(Mercenaria mercenaria)的第10对染色体的长臂和第12对染色体短臂的端粒区域。信号强度在两对染色体之间有差异。 3)5s rDNA位于美洲牡蛎的第5对染色体的短臂上靠近着丝粒区域和第6 对染色体的短臂的中间区域。信号强度在两对染色体之间没有显著差异。5S rDNA探针可以作为鉴定和识别第5对和第6对染色体的特异性探针。4．研究了一些重复序列的定位1)两个短的重复序列1G8，1P2均产生很强的荧光信号分布在美洲牡蛎所有的染色体上。在低严谨条件下，这些序列均产生很强的信号散布在所有的染色体上。在高严谨条件下，信号强度大大减弱，但是信号仍散布在所有的染色体上。这些重复序列散布在美洲牡蛎的整个基因组中。2)高度重复序列Cgl70产生的信号分布在长牡蛎的7对染色体的着丝粒区域，没有发现间区信号。在第1对，第2对，第4对和第7对染色体上的荧光信号强且稳定。在第5对，第8对和第10对染色体上的信号相对弱且不稳定。在剩余的染色体上(第3对，第6对和第9对染色体)没有检测到荧光信号。结果表明此卫星序列是一个着丝粒卫星序列。在美洲牡蛎的染色体上没有检测到荧光信号，表明了这个着丝粒卫星序列在这两种牡蛎中的分布存在着显著的差异。3)脊椎动物端粒序列(TTAGGG)n的FISH信号局限在四种双壳贝类(美洲牡蛎，the mangrove oyster，硬壳蛤，侏儒蛤)所有染色体的端粒区域，没有发现间区信号的存在。研究结果与已报道的研究结果表明脊椎动物端粒序列或许存在于所有双壳贝类的染色体末端。双壳贝类是目前研究过的唯一含有脊椎动物端粒序列DNA的无脊椎动物。4)研究了RAPD探针在美洲牡蛎染色体上的定位。大多数RAPD探针产生了多个信号散布在间期细胞核和所有的染色体上。引物OPX-03，OPX-04，OPX—06，OPG-02，OPM—04，OPM-11，0PS-02制备的探针在适宜的条件下产生特异性荧光 信号，分布在牡蛎的特定的染色体上。PCR特异性带产生的探针OPX—06—310和0PG-02—300产生了特异性的荧光信号：OPX—06—310产生的信号位于第5对染色体的短臂的近端粒区域，0PG—02—300探针定位到第3对染色体的短臂上。这两个探针是鉴定美洲牡蛎单条染色体的特异性探针。5．研究了大分子Pl克隆DNA(插入片断为80～100 kb)在美洲牡蛎染色体上的定位。Pl克隆DNA通过切口平移方法标记digoxigenin—11-dUTP用作FISH的探针。Cot-1 DNA作为竞争剂有效地抑制了Pl克隆序列中的重复序列产生的信号。杂交信号用fluorescein标记的anti—digoxigenin抗体来检测，用两层抗体rabbit-anti-sheep抗体和FITC anti—rabbit抗体来扩增信号。9个P1探针成功地定位在特定的染色体上。46—1探针杂交到第1对染色体的长臂靠近着丝粒区域；47-10探针定位到第2对染色体的长臂近端粒区域；Cvpl和48-13两探针定位到第3对染色体上：Cvpl位于短臂的端粒区域，48-13探针位于长臂的近着丝粒区域；48—10探针杂交到第4对染色体的长臂上；48-1探针杂交到第5对染色体长臂的近着丝粒区域；49-11探针位于第7对染色体长臂上；探针49-10和44-11位于第8对染色体长臂上。同时我们成功地将2个P1探针杂交到同一染色体分裂相中，进一步确定了Pl探针在美洲牡蛎染色体 上的定位。6．应用18S-28S rDNA探针成功地鉴定出长牡蛎非整倍体中的三体10。经鉴定AF-35，AF-39和AF-3三体家系属于三体10家系。rDNA探针分布在三条染色体上，即多出的一条染色体为染色体10。相应地在间期细胞核上有三个信号出现。AF-34和AF-36家系不属于三体10家系。rDNA探针分布在两条染色体上，相应地在间期细胞核上有两个信号出现。FISH和染色体特异性探针为非整倍体的鉴定提供了一个快速准确可靠的方法和途径。

Production of a base population and its responses to F-1 selection in the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians Lamarck (1819)

A base population of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians Lamarck, was produced by crossing two cultured bay scallop populations. After 1 year of rearing, the top 10% truncation selection of the top 10% (i=1.755) was carried out in the base population of about 1300 adults. A control parental group with a an identical number to the select parental group was randomly selected from the entire population before isolation of the select parental group. The result showed that, at the larval stage, the growth rate of larvae in the selected line was significantly higher than that of the control (P < 0.05), and that the genetic gain was 6.78%. Owing to the lower density of control at the spat stage, the mean shell length of the control line was larger than that of the select line at day 100. When the same density was adjusted between two lines in the grow-out stage (from day 100 to 160), the daily growth rate of the selected line was significantly higher than that of the control line (P < 0.05). Survival of the select line was significantly larger than that of the control line in the grow-out stage. In conclusion, the results obtained from this experiment indicate that selective breeding from a base population with a high genetic diversity established by mass spawning between different populations appears to be a promising method of genetic improvement in bay scallop, A. irradians irradians Lamarck.

Simulated predator extinctions: Predator identity affects survival and recruitment of oysters

The rate of species loss is increasing at a global scale, and human-induced extinctions are biased toward predator species. We examined the effects of predator extinctions on a foundation species, the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). We performed a factorial experiment manipulating the presence and abundance of three of the most common predatory crabs, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), stone crab (Menippe mercenaria), and mud crab (Panopeus herbstii) in estuaries in the eastern United States. We tested the effects of species richness and identity of predators on juvenile oyster survival, oyster recruitment, and organic matter content of sediment. We also manipulated the density of each of the predators and controlled for the loss of biomass of species by maintaining a constant mass of predators in one set of treatments and simultaneously using an additive design. This design allowed us to test the density dependence of our results and test for functional compensation by other species. The identity of predator species, but not richness, affected oyster populations. The loss of blue crabs, alone or in combination with either of the other species, affected the survival rate of juvenile oysters. Blue crabs and stone crabs both affected oyster recruitment and sediment organic matter negatively. Mud crabs at higher than ambient densities, however, could fulfill some of the functions of blue and stone crabs, suggesting a level of ecological redundancy. Importantly, the strong effects of blue crabs in all processes measured no longer occurred when individuals were present at higher-than-ambient densities. Their role as dominant predator is, therefore, dependent on their density within the system and the density of other species within their guild (e.g., mud crabs). Our findings support the hypothesis that the effects of species loss at higher trophic levels are determined by predator identity and are subject to complex intraguild interactions that are largely density dependent. Understanding the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning or addressing practical concerns, such as loss of predators owing to overharvesting, remains complicated because accurate predictions require detailed knowledge of the system and should be drawn from sound experimental evidence, not based on observations or generalized models.

Environmental Effects and Aquatic Organisms: Investigations of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis

Cancers of the reproductive system are among the leading causes of mortality in women in the United States. While both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in their etiology, the extent of the contribution of environmental factors to human diseases remains controversial. To better address the role of environmental exposures in cancer etiology, there has been an increasing focus on the development of nontraditional, environmentally relevant models. Our research involves the development of one such model, Gonadal tumors have been described in the softshell clam (Mya arenaria) in Maine and the hardshell clam (Mercenaria spp.) from Florida. Prevalence of these tumors is as high as 40% in some populations in eastern Maine and 60% in Some areas along the Indian River in Florida. The average tumor prevalence in Maine and Florida is approximately 20 and 11%, respectively. An association has been suggested between the use of herbicides and the incidence of gonadal tumors in the softshell clam in Maine. The role of environmental exposures in the development of the tumors in Mercenaria in Florida is unknown, however, there is evidence that genetic factors may contribute to its etiology. Epidemiologic studies of human populations in these same areas show a higher than average mortality rate due to cancers of the reproductive system in women, including both ovarian and breast career. The relationship, if any, among these observations is unknown, Our studies on the molecular basis of this disease in clams may provide additional information on environmental exposures and their possible link to cancer in clams and other organisms, including humans.

Fate and effects of drilling wastes in a shallow estuarine mesocosm

To address concerns expressed about the possible effect of drilling mud discharges on shallow, low-energy estuarine ecosystems, a 12 month study was designed to detect alterations in water quality and sediment geochemistry. Each drilling mud used in the study and sediments from the study site were analyzed in the laboratory for chemical and physical characteristics. Potential water quality impacts were simulated by the EPA-COE elutriation test procedure. Mud toxicity was measured by acute and chronic bioassays with Mysidopsis bahia, Mercenaria mercenaria, and Nereis virens.^ For the field study, a relatively pristine, shallow (1.2 m) estuary (Christmas Bay, TX) without any drilling activity for the last 30 years was chosen for the study site. After a three month baseline study, three stations were selected. Station 1 was an external control. At each treatment station (2, 3), mesocosms were constructed to enclose a 3.5 m$\sp3$ water column. Each treatment station included an internal control site also. Each in situ mesocosm, except the controls, was successively dosed at a mesocosm-specific dose (1:100; 1:1,000; or 1:10,000 v/v) with 4 field collected drilling muds (spud, nondispersed, lightly-treated, and heavily-treated lignosulfonate) in sequential order over 1.5 months. Twenty-four hours after each dose, water exchange was allowed until the next treatment. Station 3 was destroyed by a winter storm. After the last treatment, the enclosures were removed and the remaining sites monitored for 6 months. One additional site was similarly dosed (1:100 v/v) with clean dredged sediment from Christmas Bay for comparison between dredged sediments and drilling muds.^ Results of the analysis of the water samples and field measurements showed that water quality was impacted during the discharges, primarily at the highest dose (1:100 v/v), but that elevated levels of C, Cr (T,F), Cr$\sp{+3}$ (T, F), N, Pb, and Zn returned to ambient levels before the end of the 24 hour exposure period or immediately after water exchange was allowed (Al, Ba(T), Chlorophyll ABC, SS, %T). Barium, from the barite, was used as a geochemical tracer in the sediments to confirm estimated doses by mass balance calculations. Barium reached a maximum of 166x background levels at the high dose mesocosm. Barium levels returned to ambient or only slightly elevated levels at the end of the 6 month monitoring period due to sediment deposition, resuspension, and bioturbation. QA/QC results using blind samples consisting of lab standards and spiked samples for both water and sediment matrices were within acceptable coefficients of variation.^ In order to avoid impacts on water quality and sediment geochemistry in a shallow estuarine ecosystem, this study concluded that a minimal dilution of 1:1,000 (v/v) would be required in addition to existing regulatory constraints. ^

Detection histories for eight species of Amazona parrots in Venezuela during the NeoMaps bird surveys in 2010

Documenting changes in distribution is necessary for understanding species' response to environmental changes, but data on species distributions are heterogeneous in accuracy and resolution. Combining different data sources and methodological approaches can fill gaps in knowledge about the dynamic processes driving changes in species-rich, but data-poor regions. We combined recent bird survey data from the Neotropical Biodiversity Mapping Initiative (NeoMaps) with historical distribution records to estimate potential changes in the distribution of eight species of Amazon parrots in Venezuela. Using environmental covariates and presence-only data from museum collections and the literature, we first used maximum likelihood to fit a species distribution model (SDM) estimating a historical maximum probability of occurrence for each species. We then used recent, NeoMaps survey data to build single-season occupancy models (OM) with the same environmental covariates, as well as with time- and effort-dependent detectability, resulting in estimates of the current probability of occurrence. We finally calculated the disagreement between predictions as a matrix of probability of change in the state of occurrence. Our results suggested negative changes for the only restricted, threatened species, Amazona barbadensis, which has been independently confirmed with field studies. Two of the three remaining widespread species that were detected, Amazona amazonica, Amazona ochrocephala, also had a high probability of negative changes in northern Venezuela, but results were not conclusive for Amazona farinosa. The four remaining species were undetected in recent field surveys; three of these were most probably absent from the survey locations (Amazona autumnalis, Amazona mercenaria and Amazona festiva), while a fourth (Amazona dufresniana) requires more intensive targeted sampling to estimate its current status. Our approach is unique in taking full advantage of available, but limited data, and in detecting a high probability of change even for rare and patchily-distributed species. However, it is presently limited to species meeting the strong assumptions required for maximum-likelihood estimation with presence-only data, including very high detectability and representative sampling of its historical distribution.